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 70 works in total adorn the walls of the capital. Take the official guide to find your way through the maze of Brussels. 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, Itinéraires or Bruxelles Bavard. Do you want to follow the route by bicycle? Pro Vélo will take you by bike. If you are a running enthusiast, City Run will guide you as you run!

The Comics Art Museum is the place to be for comic book fans: learn the history of the comic book 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.

Then take a short hop to the Marc Sleen Museum, located just across the street in a former newspaper building. It is dedicated to the star of Dutch-language comic strip and its legacy in contemporary creation. Enter Marc Sleen's reconstructed studio, where his hero, Nero, was born. The museum also hosts different creative spaces occupied by young authors.

The MOOF 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 the 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.

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, as if you were really there. And it doesn't stop there! Enjoy the entertainment available: arcades, game rooms, reading rooms, cinemas and even a shop, all centred around comic books 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!

The Comics 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 Book Fair is another great event; lots of comic book authors attend this fair to meet you and sign your albums.