“My first passion was set design so I appreciate design and beautiful things. Now my raison d’etre is to share the legacy of Brussels with the next generation.”
My Favourites:
1. Musée Magritte Museum
"The first piece of art I bought was from here, it’s a special place for me"
2. The flea market at Place du Jeu de Balle
"It’s a game; if you’re lucky you’ll find a treasure that the seller doesn’t know the true value of"
3. Horta Museum
"this was his home so coming here, I feel like I’m stepping into his world"
4. Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon
"the windows are my favourite part, the colours are wonderful, and there’s a large antiques market that surrounds the church"
5. La Monnaie opera house
"we only have one opera in Brussels, and it’s exceptional"
A Passion For Art
It’s part of the job of the concierge that, in our personal lives, we go out and explore the city, gain information to share with our guests. That means I’m always out and about. In my past life I was a set designer for theatre shows, so I have an eye for good design and a passion for art, interiors and fashion. I love art fairs, particularly contemporary art, that’s my favourite thing.
We’re so fortunate in Brussels as we have lots of art fairs, such as the BRAFA Art Fair, COLLECTIBLE and Art Brussels. At Art Brussels, there was one piece that I instantly fell in love with, by New York artist Tamara Kostianovsky. She made an artwork that looked like pieces of meat hanging at the butchers, but it was all made of fabric, with flowers, totally crazy!
Best art exhibition of the year
The Diane von Furstenberg exhibition, “Woman Before Fashion”, at the Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum is incredible. We got to go to the opening. Diane came to our hotel, she was meeting with other famous figures like Christian Louboutin. As it happens, she has created the Diane von Furstenberg Suite at Hotel Amigo. I actually got to meet her. She’s really friendly and approachable, with that air where you just know she’s a really powerful woman. Her suite is a tribute to all things DVT, celebrating fashion and the power of femininity. I’m a bit jealous I don’t get to stay in it myself.
Must See Art and Culture
Okay, let’s start with the big ones. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium covers three museums in one area. There’s the Oldmasters Museum which is a must for fans of the Flemish masters. There you can see some big famous works, like Bruegel's "The Fall of Rebel Angels" but it's also nice to stumble upon pieces you might not have been familiar with.
My favourite part of the collection is the Musée Magritte Museum. The first piece of art I bought was from here, a small print of “L'empire des lumières” or “The empire of light”. I love visiting here and go whenever I can.
An artistic stroll around the city
I love the flea market. So that’s where I’d head first – it's at Place du Jeu de Balle. I love the atmosphere there, all sorts of people come looking for treasures. You can go on Saturday or Sunday.
Maybe I’ll walk to the Square du Petit Sablon, see the 15th century church – with its Gothic-Baroque style, it’s really quite something. There’s also an antiques market there which is an added attraction. Plus, around the Sablon there are a few great art galleries and decoration shops – there’s one called Flamant that I have been visiting a lot recently.
Then I would have a walk inside the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. These are covered glass galleries, traditional arcades. The structure is so impressive, the smell of all the chocolates inside – I always make a point of passing through.
When I have the time off...
I recently saw “The Nose” at La Monnaie opera house. It shows how a well-known piece can be reinterpreted in a fresh, new way. I especially like the lights and scenography, the lighting and how it reflects on the costumes. It’s incredible how the costumes are made on site. You can only rarely see how they’re made and I’m lucky that I’ve visited during one of those times.
The restaurant I love the most at the moment is SAN Sablon. They are revisiting dishes that are very traditional from the country but with an Asian touch. The chef is Japanese. The concept is you have a bowl and just a spoon – no fork and no knife. It’s a real explosion of flavours.
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.
Phone Number*
Address
Rue de l'Amigo
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.
Phone Number*
Address
Rue de l'Amigo
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.
Phone Number*
Address
Rue de l'Amigo
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels