Brussels, the comic strip capital

Are you a comic strip fan? Great, because Brussels is the comic capital! Whether you are a fan of traditional comic strips, manga or comic books, Brussels offers many different activities based around this art: mural discovery, museums, events, specialist bookstores, etc. Discover all the comic strip activities that await you in Brussels.

While strolling through the streets of Brussels, you will notice a large number of murals dedicated to comic heroes: Tintin, Asterix, the Smurfs, Corto Maltese, Thorgal, Blake & Mortimer and others. More than 80 works in total adorn the walls of the capital.  The urban nods to the comic strip don't stop there. Statues and even street signs bearing the names of famous characters are dotted around the region: rue Boule et Bill, Place Marsupilami, boulevard Michel Vaillant, etc.. Go in search of around 80 signs!

Would you prefer to be accompanied as you explore? Follow the guides from the Comic Strip Museum, Brussels by Foot or Bruxelles Bavard. Do you want to follow the route by bicycle? Ride with Pro Velo. If you’re a keen runner, City Run will guide you as you run!

Good to know: In 2021, the City of Brussels undertook a process to recontextualise certain murals of the Comic Strip Trail – particularly the oldest ones – to incorporate them into a contemporary narrative and bring them into line with current sensibilities. The Brussels Studies Institute, together with the ACME comic research group and the Belgian Comic Strip Center, led a series of discussions between 2021 and 2022 involving various academics, experts, comic strip industry stakeholders, members of civil society, and students from ULB and VUB. These exchanges contributed to the drafting of texts that contextualise these murals without justifying them, inviting collective critical reflection. These are accessible via QR codes. More information is available on the City of Brussels website.

The Comics Art Museum is the place to be for fans of the genre: learn the history of the ninth art and its founding fathers in a magnificent Art Nouveau setting designed by Victor Horta. It also regularly presents exceptional temporary exhibitions. Feeling a little hungry? Enjoy a gourmet break at the Brasserie Horta.

Just across the street you’ll find Marc Sleen House, which is part of the Comic Strip Museum and is open for special events or appointments.

The Brussels Comics Figurines Museum presents thousands of figurines in the settings in which the characters experience their adventures: the Smurfs' village, Lucky Luke's western, Tintin and his friends on the Moon... This is an original way to rediscover your favourite series as well as the stages involved in adapting them for the small and big screen.

Another unusual address dedicated to comics is Autrique House, an Art Nouveau gem designed by Victor Horta. It presents a large number of themed exhibitions set in decor designed by François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters, famous authors of The Obscure Cities series.

Louvain-la-Neuve, around 30 kilometres from Brussels and a university town in Walloon Brabant, is home to the Hergé Museum. It has a unique collection of archives, documents, original plates, photos and objects allowing visitors to get to know the father of Tintin, who was a cartoonist, scriptwriter, graphic designer, publicist and much more.

The Art & History Museum has been a source of inspiration for many authors. It houses a pre-Columbian statuette that inspired Hergé to create Tintin - The Broken Ear, as well as seven Inca mummies that gave rise to the album Tintin - the Seven Crystal Balls and its memorable mummy. The institution also inspired Edgar P. Jacobs and Grzegorz Rosinski. Next door, Autoworld has two permanent exhibitions dedicated to Tintin, Michel Vaillant and their iconic racing cars. 

Rounding off this cultural landscape, a series of specialist art galleries (such as Champaka, Brüsel, Galerie Martel and Huberty-Breyne) provide a prestigious showcase for comic book authors, reminding us that the genre is not called the ninth art for nothing.

Do you dream of diving into the world of a comic book? It's possible in Brussels! Spend the night immersed in your favourite comic book at the Yooma Hotel. Choose your room from among the 60 suites with decor based on no fewer than 31 series. The hotel is entirely decorated in the theme of the Franco-Belgian comic strip. From the bedrooms to the restaurant, not forgetting the bar and the corridors, wander through an immersive decor. And it doesn't stop there! Enjoy the entertainment available: arcades, game rooms, reading rooms, cinemas and even a shop, all centred around the ninth art and your favourite heroes.

Just a stone's throw from the Grand-Place, the Hotel Amigo has an official Tintin suite that immerses you in Hergé's work, with decoration, objects, bedding and more. Devour your favourite albums and go on a treasure hunt on the comic book trail. It's a great way to spend an unforgettable stay in the comic strip capital!

Also close to the Grand-Place, the Hilton Brussels Grand Place offers you a stay in the company of the Smurfs. A charming family room, delicately decorated with a Peyo-style touch of fun.

The BD Comic Strip Festival is not to be missed during your visit to Brussels; visit exhibitions, participate in events and meet your favourite authors. Made in Asia and Comic Con Brussels are events for fans of pop and geek culture: lots of activities and meetings are organised around manga, comics, anime, cosplay, gaming and TV series. Anima presents animated films from around the world for all ages and audiences. The Foire du Livre is another unmissable event; lots of comic book authors attend this fair to meet you and sign your albums.