What’s on 16-22 Jan 2025
This Week's Top Picks
Jazz Piano: Alex Koo. Perfect for music lovers seeking an intimate and unique experience.
Daniel Herskedal + CHVE (Bruges Got Talent Club). This event offers a blend of musical beauty and depth.
James Ensor Exhibition at the Groeningemuseum. A chance to delve into the works of one of Belgium’s most famous artists.
🎨 🎻 🧺 Art, Music & Markets
Jazz piano: Alex Koo. “Join acclaimed pianist Alex Koo for an exclusive pre-release listening session of his upcoming album, followed by an insightful discussion about the inspirations behind the music. On 7 Feb, Alex Koo will release his latest record together with his trio consisting of bassist Lennart Heyndels and drummer Dré Pamaerts.” This event operates on a "PAY WHAT YOU CAN" basis. 16 Jan, 20:00. KAAP, The Groenplaats, Groenestraat 19B.
KAAP is an arts centre operating in Bruges and Ostend “dedicated to fostering encounters between artists and the public through residencies, salons, try-outs, and open studios, while integrating art into society across various disciplines.”
https://www.kaap.be/over-ons. https://www.kaap.be/toont/hear-here-invites-alex-koo
Jazz in Style featuring Frank Deruytter (saxophone), Zjef Van Steenbergen (bass), and Kobe Gregoir (drums). Tickets: Pre-sale €15, Doors, €20). 19 Jan, 17:00. De Brug, Centrum voor het Vrije Denken, Hauwerstraat 3A.
Bipolar Bows and The Broken Heart of Mati Le Dee. In a BRUGOTTA event (Bruges Got Talent Club), experience “a deeply personal and empowering album blending the minimalism of Melanie De Biasio with the theatricality of Nick Cave. It tells a story of loss, grief, resilience, love, and the absurdity of life. Bipolar Bows, a string duo, offers a rich fusion of folk, classical, jazz, blues, and funk, drawing influences from the Balkans to the Appalachians.” Tickets: €5-10. 16 Jan, 20:15. MaZ - Magdalenastraat 27. https://www.ccbrugge.be/agenda/4311//bipolar-bows-the-broken-heart-of-mati-le-dee
Music: Daniel Herskedal + CHVE will also perform as part of BRUGOTTA CLUB (Bruges Got Talent Club). “In the dark month of January, these gentlemen bring musical beauty into the darkness.” Tickets: €9-18. 17 Jan, 20:00 with a post-concert talk in the foyer. MaZ, Magdalenastraat 27. https://www.ccbrugge.be/agenda/4312//daniel-herskedal-chve?slash2=
“Art's Birthday” featuring Fran Van Coppenolle. “Art’s birthday” is celebrated every year. It has become an international event, conceived in 1963 by French Fluxus artist Robert Filliou. This exhibition celebrates the work of Fran Van Coppenolle who “creates colorful, playful and natural structures, effortlessly and uninhibited. They never look forced, but rather like elegant, newly discovered life forms that seem to float up from the depths of the ocean.”
FREE. 17-19 Jan, 14:00-18:00. Galerie Sabine Pinsart - Genthof 21. info@pinsart.be https://www.pinsart.be
Photo exhibition: Trui Hanoulle “Baanbrekers” (translates as Trailblazers). Trui Hanoulle “documents resilient women worldwide who defy traditions and laws, capturing their stories in villages, cities, and remote regions. From celebrities to housewives, each is a trailblazing role model.” This exhibition is included with admission to the Concertgebouw Circuit. https://www.concertgebouw.be/nl/concertgebouw-circuit
Until 2 Feb. Concertgebouw (‘t Zand 34). https://www.concertgebouw.be/nl/baanbrekers
“Trespassers”. Diego Latruwe's exhibition features digital animation, installations, and graphic works exploring our desires and the boundaries they encounter. “His incorporation of 3D printing and scanning blurs the lines between reality and virtuality”. FREE. Until 7 Feb. The central mural piece can be viewed until 20 Jun. Exporuimte Biekorf (Sint-Jakobsstraat 8).
https://www.ccbrugge.be/agenda/4366/trespassers/diego-latruwe
"Renarrative". A group exhibition exploring the power of storytelling in reshaping narratives, curated by The Constant Now, a nomadic curatorial platform led by Magali Elali. This is part of Cultuurcentrum Brugge's BRUGOTTA CLUB (Bruges Got Talent Club) series. FREE. Until 2 Feb. Hallen Belfort (Georges Rodenbachzaal - Markt 7). https://www.ccbrugge.be/agenda/4368/lou-cocody-valentino-randa-maroufi-kevin-osepa-imge-ozbilge-joseph-thabang-palframan-badi-rezzak/renarrative
https://www.ccbrugge.be/agenda/themas/36/brugotta
James Ensor: 75 years after his death. The Groeningemuseum (Dijver 12) is hosting a collection presentation dedicated to James Ensor, 75 years after the artist's death. The Groeningemuseum is also home to "Ensor: Master on paper". This separate exhibition showcases Ensor's artistic talent through drawings and etchings, highlighting his grotesque and macabre imagery, including masks and skeletons. Museum ticket prices are up to €15, children under 13 go FREE. This Ensor exhibition will run at the Groeninge until 18 Feb. https://www.visitbruges.be/en/whats-on/events-calendar/ensor-master-paper
Bach Academy Bruges 2025. Enjoy a series of performances of JS Bach’s music. “'Authentic': a flag that covers many loads in Bach's work and is not limited to style or instrumentation. Johann Sebastian Bach composed from an authentic religious conviction: in his cantatas and passions he points the way to divine trust and surrender.” Ticket prices vary across performances. 21-26 Jan. Concertgebouw (‘t Zand 34).
https://www.concertgebouw.be/nl/bach-academie-brugge-2025
Weekly markets. The Saturday market (18 Jan) will be on ‘t Zand and the market on Wednesday (22 Jan) will be on the Grote Markt.
🎬 🎭 Stage, Screen, and Scene
Cinema. Cinema Lumière (Sint-Jakobsstraat 36) will be showing a variety of films over the next week. These include The Room Next Door, Flow, Milano, Pedagogy and Babygirl.
Ticket prices are up to €12, with a family film option before 16:30 costing €9. Visit the cinema’s website for films, timings and bookings: https://lumiere-brugge.be/agenda-lumiere-brugge/
Kinepolis (Koning Albert l-laan 200) will offer films over the coming week including Vaiana 2, Gladiator II, Wicked, Young Hearts and A Real Pain. A standard ticket costs €14,10. Visit https://kinepolis.be/nl/nl/movies/overview/ for more information and bookings.
⚽ Game On: Sports & Recreation
Football fans visiting Bruges can watch the city’s two world famous clubs, Brugge KSV (“Club Brugge”) and Cercle Brugge KSV (“Cercle Brugge”) play during the season at the city’s Jan Breydel stadium (Koning Leopold III-laan 50).
Club Brugge will play Beerschot VA in the Jupiler Pro League. 18 Jan, 20:45. There will also be a UEFA Champions League match Club Brugge v Juventus on 21 Jan, 21:00. https://tickets.clubbrugge.be/
Freestyle Afro Dance. Talkpoint, Bruges invites you to dance together to Afro beats. “Dance freely or learn some African moves during this relaxing dance workshop!” FREE. Contact: otienberyl741@yahoo.com / 0477 22 78 29, 17 Jan, 18:00. Hof van Watervliet, Oude Burg 27.
🍻🎶 Bruges After Dark: Nightlife
Happy New Queer Brugge. “Hosted by Maria Kleopatra, drag performer, visual artist, model, DJ, and activist, who will guide us through an unforgettable show.” Tickets: €12,50-17,50. 22 Jan, 20:00. Koninklijke Stadsschouwburg - Vlamingstraat 29
https://www.ccbrugge.be/agenda/4452/antwerp-queer-arts-festival-i-s-m-queer-leuven/happy-new-queer
🌈 Family Fun: Events & Adventures
Expo Bodyworlds. Visit this award-winning exhibition showcasing real, plasticised human bodies. Explore the functions, development, and resilience of the human body while learning about the effects of diseases and lifestyle choices. Tickets: €15-19. Until 25 March. Site Oud Sint Jan, Mariastraat 38. https://bodyworlds.be
Atelier Matinée", Concertgebouw (Concert hall). The entrance hall of the Concertgebouw transforms into a play, craft, and discovery zone on (almost) every Sunday morning. FREE, next on 19 Jan, 09:30. https://www.concertgebouw.be/nl/atelier-matinee-en-workshops
Concertgebouw tours. The concert hall also offers tours of its architecture and (sound) art exhibition. https://www.concertgebouw.be/nl/concertgebouw-circuit Guided tours are available on some days (including 18, 19 Jan.) Tickets: €6-12, FREE for children under 6. Concertgebouw ('t Zand 34.) https://ticketshop.ticketmatic.com/concertgebouw/shop
🌤️🌧️ Weather
Make sure to dress warmly, as it will be cold throughout the week! Expect mainly cloudy weather over the coming week, with daytime temperatures between -2°C and a high of 7°C. Stay updated with the latest forecasts covering Bruges :https://www.meteo.be/en/belgium