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Flower Carpet in Brussels’ city center

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It’s that time again when the Grand Place turns into a beautiful ocean of flowers, the Flower Carpet is back!

WHAT?
Every two years, the Brussels Grand Place is adorned with its most magnificent attire and becomes a gigantic flower oasis. Being a UNESCO heritage, the Grand Place is the perfect location right in the city center to display this marvelous scene that takes place from the 12th up until the 15th of August 2016.

This year will be even more special, as the famous carpet of flowers will be celebrating its 20th anniversary! With its Japanese theme, celebrating 150 years of friendship between Japan and Belgium, it is bound to be a blooming surprise.

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Flower Carpet night

BEGONIAS?
The city’s flower carpet will consist of over 600.000 bright begonias, a typical Belgian flower fostered with great care in the beautiful city of Ghent. The robust tuberous begonia lends beauty and freshness to the flower carpet. A native of the West Indies, the hearty begonia is resistant to all weather conditions: intense sunshine, violent winds, rain, cold… Begonias come in a rich palette ranging from the most vivid colours to delicate pastel shades, with in between the many-coloured and white flowers that reflect sunlight so well. Belgium is the world’s largest producer of begonias: 60 million bulbs each year! 80% of the total production, cultivated almost exclusively in the area of Ghent since 1860, is exported, primarily to the Netherlands, France and the United States.

Flower Carpet

WHO?
More than 100 volunteer gardeners put together this giant floral puzzle in less than four hours. The day before the opening, the spaces between the floral motifs are filled in using rolls of sod. The flowers are so closely-packed (300 per square meter, i.e. around 600,000 flowers in all!) that they can´t be blown away, and indeed they create their own micro-climate! If there´s a heat wave, the sod is watered to prevent it from wilting. If the weather is too wet, the grass can grow by 4 to 5 centimeters in 3 days. The flowers remain fresh and preserve their splendour during the four days.

IS THAT IT?
No, there’s more… Not only delighting the eyes and the ears (the flowers have a wonderful scent), there will also be a concert to kick off the this event with music that perfectly suits this exciting floral event in the capital.

To make the perfect picture, you can enter the city hall and go right to top for the perfect picture!

WHEN?
The Flower Carpet is open for the public from Friday 12th of August up until Monday 15th of August included. Access to the balcony:

August 12th: from 1 pm to 6 pm
August 13th to 15th: from 10 am to 10 pm

Flower-Carpet-Eric-Danhier1

Flower Carpet

 

MORE INFORMATION?
Official website: www.flowercarpet.be
The Hotel event website: www.thehotel.be

Tomorrowland at The Hotel

Posted on by in Brussels, Events, Uncategorized

TML

Tomorrowland is one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world, taking place in Boom, 32 kilometres north of Brussels. Since its first edition in 2005, Tomorrowland has become one of the most notable global music festivals. And there’s no wonder why… With internationally rewarded DJ’s, fairy tale surroundings and people from all across the world, it guarantees an experience which you will never forget! This year, it starts on July 22nd up until July 24th. The Hotel is excited to take part in this experience and is completely ready for the madness! Are you?

Event details

  • Dates: 22, 23, 24 July 2016
  • Location: PRC de Schorre, 2850 Boom

More information on: www.tomorrowland.com

Frunching in Brussels

Posted on by in Uncategorized

The city of Brussels invites you to come together every Friday at noon with your colleagues or friends to FRUNCH!

Blog Frunch 2

For the third year in a row, Frunch is back on the courtyard of the BIP in Brussels, a 5-minute walk from The Hotel.

Frunch is a combination of “Friday” and “lunch” and it’s the perfect way to end the week or to jumpstart the weekend! From 12h up until 14h30, the courtyard is transformed into a temporary terrace with international food trucks, a bar and a DJ set. And in case of rain, a venue will be arranged with tables, bar and music. So no reason not to show up!

Blog Frunch

For more information, visit their site bit.ly/1sC0X3V

The place to be
BIP
Rue Royale 1-2
1000 Brussels

#SeeYouInBrussels

Posted on by in Brussels, The Hotel., Uncategorized

SEEYOUINBRUSSELS

Brussels is more alive than ever, showing everyone the power of its attitude and philosophy. Share your love for Brussels by sending a card to friends and family across the world!

HOW?
Step 1: Write a postcard! Find them at the hotels in Brussels or at stands across the city.
Step 2: Drop your card! Drop it in one of the collecting boxes at the hotels, we’ll take care of the rest.
Step 3: #SeeYouInBrussels – Ask your friend who got the card to take a picture with it and  the hashtag #SeeYouInBrussels

.seeyouinbrussels

WHERE?
The Hotel. Brussels will post your card for free, so feel free to come by and drop them off at the reception! Other participating hotels are Hotel Bloom, Holiday Inn Brussels Airport, Hilton Brussels City, Scandic Grand Place and Crowne Plaza Brussels – Le Palace.

So spread the happiness and #SeeYouInBrussels ! More info on www.seeyouinbrussels.be

Let’s dine for Brussels!

Posted on by in Bar, Brussels, Events, Food

Let’s raise knife and fork, support restaurants in Brussels.

After the attacks on the 22nd March, restaurants in Brussels are suffering. The restaurants and bars that make this city proud stay empty. We can’t let fear take over. That is why De Tijd and L’Echo, two Belgian newspapers launched #DiningForBrussels

DiningForBrussels_ENG_PRESSKIT_image-headline

How can you show your support?

1. Go have dinner in Brussels, take a picture of your finished plate with your cutlery placed in a peace sign.

2. Share the photo with #DiningForBrussels on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and you might even win a dinner for two in a starred restaurant in Brussels.

Bon appétit!

More info on the official website.

Museum Night Fever 2016

Posted on by in Art, Events, Exhibition, Exposition, Museum

On the night of Saturday 5 March 2016, Brussels’ museums will be the place to be. For the 9th Museum Night Fever, the annual big night out in the city’s museums, no less than 24 museums will be showing off the best they have to offer. Expect an offbeat programme with music, performances, dance, video, workshops and DJs + afterparty at Bloody Louis!MNF4

Between 7pm and 1am, nocturnal creations from musicians, dancers, performers, visual artists, designers and actors are going to be invading these museums. The idea behind Museum Night Fever is to provide an alternative to the classic museum visit and present the collections to the public in a contemporary way. The programme is the result of close collaboration between the museums and almost 500 young people from art schools, academies, youth clubs, artists’ collectives and a circus school as well this year.

Practical information / tickets:
Tickets available on line at www.museumnightfever.be + in all participating museums, Fnac, Brussels tourist offices (visit.brussels + Toerisme Vlaanderen) and the ULB PointCulture.

PASS STANDARD (24 museums + shuttle buses)
= € 10 (presale 15.02 – 04.03.2016)
= € 14 (05.03.2016)

PASS COMBI (24 museums + shuttle buses + afterparty)
= € 17 (presale 15.02 – 04.03.2016)
= € 21 (05.03.2016)

Tickets available on line at www.museumnightfever.be + in all participating museums, Fnac, Brussels tourist offices (visit.brussels + Toerisme Vlaanderen) and the ULB PointCulture.

More information about Museum Night Fever: www.museumnightfever.be

A culinary experience in Brussels – EAT Brussels

Posted on by in Brussels, Featured, Restaurant, The Hotel.

EAT Brussels is a unique occasion to experience the creations of the top restaurants and food artisans in Brussels. Guests will be able to discover tasters from the 4-corners of the culinary world, and this year will be able to marry them with glasses of Bordeaux, as they are the ‘wine’ guests of honour at this year’s event.EAT Brussels 2015

EAT Brussels (10-13/09/2015)

The Capital region of Brussels and the city of Brussels invite you, for the fourth consecutive year, to the Brussels Restaurants Festival. The wine region of Bordeaux will be presenting, once again this year, its revamped Brussels version of the ‘Bordeaux Fête le Vin’ (Bordeaux Celebrates Wine).
Eat Brussels - Atmosphere
The menu will offer an explosion of tasty discoveries coming from the four corners of the world made available to you at the heart of the Festival eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX, representing the symbol of the culinary variety which we have available here within the city of Brussels. Restaurants representing many countries from around the globe, which have been established here in our capital, will double their efforts in creativity in order to surprise and please everyone interested, even the gourmands among us.
Eat Brussels Atmosphere
In order to give your discovery another dimension we have the ” Wine Pass “, this will give you the possibility to step into the shoes of a sommelier as well as a chance to get to know the Bordeaux wine world.
Eat Brussels Atmosphere
For Brussels, cosmopolitan as well international City/Region, this festival represents a great opportunity to get to know, as well as give proper respect to, the regions, the provinces and cities we are linked with by way of cooperative agreements. This year, in collaboration with the Ministry of Exterior Relations and the Department of Exterior Relations of that Ministry, we will strengthen our bilateral partnerships through their specific cuisines.
Eat Brussels Atmosphere
While taking a break in between tasting sessions we recommend some recreational workshops where you can satisfy your culinary and wine related curiosity. Culinary artisans will be on hand and they will let you in on their talents and know-how.

  • Eat Brussels - LogoFrom the 10th until the 13th of September 2015.
  • The gourmet promenade will be held at the heart of the Parc de Bruxelles (Warandepark) for the first time.
  • Entrance is free.
  • More info: www.eatbrussels.be

EAT Brussels package by The Hotel

Enjoy a taste of the high life at The Hotel and make your stay in Brussels one that you’ll never forget.

EAT Brussels 2015

The offer includes a night at The Hotel for 2 people in a Deluxe Panorama room, a healthy breakfast, and access to the Urban Spa & Fitness. You will also receive a duo pass for the EAT Brussels food festival itself including 2 wine passes, 20 tastings, 46 food tokens and special access to The Restaurant by Pierre Balthazar stand where culinary director Pierre Balthazar himself will surprise you with some extraordinary creations.

In the package there is also a complete map of Brussels and an exceptional bottle of olive oil from The Restaurant to inspire you in your own culinary adventures.

>>> Book the EAT Brussels package via The Hotel website! <<<

Book Now Your Stay at The Hotel

EAT Brussels menu by The Restaurant by Pierre Balthazar

• Marinated tuna, quinoa “bio” with tomatoes en grated lemon, gazpacho / 14€
• Belgian endives served in cappuccino’s way, perfume of coffee, roasted hazelnuts / 8€
• Salsify carbonara, egg at 63° and truffels / 14€
• Leeks, pan-fried mossels, red curry and Thai basil / 12€
• 1 scoop of ice cream child or adult / 2€
• 2 scoops of ice cream child or adult / 3€

Uptown Design 2015

Posted on by in Art, Boulevard de Waterloo, Brussels, Design, Events, Exhibition, Exposition, Featured, Hotel, The Hotel.

Uptown Design presents talented designers living in Belgium in shops and hotels of Boulevard de Waterloo, Avenue de la Toison d’Or and Avenue Louise [SEPTEMBER 2015].

Uptown Design Logo

Uptown Design

This year the second edition of the Uptown Design, located in the upper part of Brussels, doubled its size and welcomes many new prestigious locations! The challenges, remain the same: present talented designers living in Belgium in shops and hotels of Boulevard de Waterloo, Avenue de la Toison d’Or and Avenue Louise. Those areas, well known to gather famous brands from Belgium or all over the world, must become a discovery place for Belgian creation as well. Once a year, they become privileged partners for belgian design.

“A luxury limited edition“

Each designer will present a set of a limited edition or new pieces designed in luxurious or precious material: leather, corian, precious woods, metals and stones…

The pieces will be available for sale, on the spot, directly from the designer. Uptown Design’s assets is to offer exceptional Belgian items to target an audience of collectors and lovers of art and design.

Design by Pol Quadens

Paul Quadens

If many people consider the Belgian artist Pol Quadens as a designer in the art market, his creative way is completely sculptural. Every piece is selected for its exclusivity, the choice of material but mostly for its unique character which gives advantage to expressivity rather than to functionality. When a bench is not really a bench anymore, or when a lamp becomes a cinetic piece of art… Then design challenges its own goal and free itself towards a new world.

Paul Quadens - Banc Paul Quadens - BancThe Hotel. Brussels  / Pol Quadens
Boulevard de Waterloo 38 – 1000 Bruxelles
September 2015
www.polquadens.com

Flowertime in the heart of Brussels

Posted on by in Events, Exhibition, Exposition, Featured

Flowertime, a splendid dream of fragrance and colour in the heart of Brussels

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Flowertime

Something beautiful is burgeoning in the EU capital city. This summer a major international plant and flower arrangement event takes place in Brussels’ City Hall and at Brussels’ Grand-Place.

The second edition of this magnificent international plant and flower event takes place from 13 to 16 August 2015. The event has now a name that will appeal to flower lovers from all four corners of the globe: Flowertime. This is a dream occasion for a group excursion.

Brussels is a priceless treasure trove of parks, gardens, forest, and squares – all exceptional green spaces which add to its “green melody”. So if the city chooses to join forces with the renowned Ghent Floraliën, these walks in the garden will naturally find their place in the calendar of European capital’s festive traditions! Flowertime takes place every two years, alternating with an event that is well known by all amateurs of aesthetics: the Brussels Flower Carpet.

Book Now Your Stay at The HotelStay in Brussels during Flowertime 2015:

Book your luxurious stay in Brussels during the Flowertime event
via The Hotel website.

Italian Baroque and flowers in the centre of Brussels

Twenty-five talented floral creatives from Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia are responsible for decorating the City Hall in flowers, and derive their inspiration from the key principles of Baroque art: the rich and opulent use of materials, bilateral symmetry, complex patterns and the extravagant use of decoration. Just like the Italian Baroque painters the florists seek inspiration from the theme and the colours of the historic setting and their refined and creative flower arrangements testify to their great craftsmanship.

Grand Place

On the Grand Place you can nonchalantly stroll along an avenue of majestic cypress trees that arouse your curiosity and make you eager to discover the masterpieces inside the City Hall; a first subtle reference to Italy. Proceed through the gate to the inner courtyard of the City Hall and discover the charm of Italian inner courtyards with a series of oleanders and Mediterranean plants. De Groene Verbeelding, a flower arranging school from Mater – inspired by nature and technical possibilities – will decorate the square with abstract nests.

Flower-Time (13)

City Hall

Allow yourself to be amazed, in the building’s various prestigious rooms, by beauty, flourishing ideas and the very latest decorative trends: the hall, the corridors, the offices, the meeting rooms and the reception rooms of Brussels City Hall will be decorated with dozens of unique and breathtaking flower arrangements for four whole days.

Flower-Time (8)

NEW: Italian Aperitivo in the heart of Brussels!

This year, visitors of the floral exhibition will have the opportunity to enjoy an Italian style “Aperitivo” with high quality Italian products that will be presented in a small market in front of the City Hall.

Driving forces

The driving forces behind Flowertime are the City of Brussels, the Flower Carpet Association – which organises the famous Brussels flower carpets – and the Floralies of Ghent, which has been a pioneer in the Belgian flower and plant art world for centuries.

Participating florists

Charlotte Bartholomé, Stephan Brassaert, Lieve Buysse, Mark Colle, Vanessa Colle, Sofie Cooymans, Davy Fredrix, Joelle Ghion, Ness Klorofyl, Tom Nackaerts, Olivier Papeleux, Olivier Petillion, Chantal Post, Natallia Sakalova, Olivier Seghin, Stijn Simaeys, An Theunynck, Sören Van Laer, Frederiek Van Pamel, Moniek Vanden Berghe, Jolien Vanderstappen, Christine Verhelst, KUFB/URFB (Royal Union of Belgian Florists)

Book Now Your Stay at The HotelStay in Brussels during Flowertime 2015:

Book your luxurious stay in Brussels during the Flowertime event
via The Hotel website.

Flowertime Practical information:

  • Entrance fee: 5.00 EUR (free for children under the age of 10 years)
  • Date: from 13 to 16 August 2015, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Nocturnals: from 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Further info: www.flowertime.brussels

Flowertime Points of sale:

The Belgians: A Story Of Fashion

Posted on by in Brussels, Exhibition, Exposition, Fashion, Museum

You’re already familiar with some of Belgium’s fashion ambassadors, but you always wanted to know more? Seize this unique opportunity and discover ‘The Belgians’, an inspiring exhibition about the DNA of Belgian fashion history.

The Belgians: A Fashion Story

Set the tone for an exceptional day by waking up in one of the Deluxe Panorama rooms. Don’t let go of the view and relax in the Panorama Lounge, also known as the cosiest place to browse our collection of fashion books. Your stay includes an entry pass to ‘The Belgians’ exhibition, which you will find at only 10 minutes walking distance through the Sablon neighbourhood. End your day in style at the Panorama Lounge with a glass of champagne and the collector book ‘The Belgians. An Unexpected Fashion Story’.

More information

Bozar – Centre for Fine Arts
Rue Ravenstein, 1000 Brussels
Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 > 18:00
Thursday 10:00 > 21:00

 

Book Now Your Stay at The HotelStay in Brussels during The Belgians: A Story Of Fashion.

Book your luxurious stay in Brussels during The Belgians event
via The Hotel website.