What's on this week: 21-27 July

A new event has been added to the plethora of things to do on Belgian national day this Friday. The Brol National will be a special black, yellow and red edition of the celebrated flea market in the Marolles (one of the only daily flea markets in the world). Starting at 8.00, the merchants will be selling wares with a Belgian accent: portraits, collections, stamps, Atomiums, Tintin effigies, postcards and more. To add to the action Friterie De Corte will be on hand and open early, not to mention all the cafés and restaurants around the square.

Created in 2012, the Resto National was an immediate hit. On the afternoon of Belgian national day, starting at 16.00, everyone gathers on long tables that fill the Place du Jeu de Balle in the Marolles to participate in a giant, expertly cooked moules-frites dinner. Starting at 18.00 the Mignonettes & Mamygnonettes (majorettes of all ages and shapes) will entertain the diners as only they can, and then starting at 19.00 Etoile Musette will serenade everyone with waltzes, java, mazurka, polkas, tarentelle and more. Finally at 20.30, Bruxelles Zingt will lead everyone in a giant karaoke of popular songs from Ray Charles to Will Tura. Everything ends in time for the crowd to make its way uptown to the fireworks at 23.00. Some 300 meals will be offered for €1 to those without means, subsidised by a number of Brussels restaurants and personal contributions.

Ever since King Baudouin asked the non profit SI Brussels Promotion 1886 to shake things up and turn the National Day festivities from a fusty military parade and fireworks display into a fun day of countless activities, the uptown area from the Palace of Justice to the federal parliament has been a hotbed of amusements. The Royal Park is filled with children's activities and live concerts, Rue de la Régence and Royal Square are home to parading folkloric giants, something called the Phenomenal Truck, and demonstrations by various federal services, including the opportunity to sit in an F-16. The Sablon is host to a variety of live pop concerts and the Place Poelaert features the Police Village and demonstrations of the popular K-9 division. Wall climbing and other feats are possible on the Mont des Arts. All the public buildings and cultural institutions in the neighbourhood are open for the day and are either free or cost €1. As part of Mixity, dance performances will abound. Check the website for all the 98 activities. At 16.00 it's the military parade and the fireworks close the festivities at 23.00. Tip: if the Place des Palais is overfilled with fireworks spectators (which it usually is), a side but still impressive view of the display is available from the Place du Trône around the statue of Leopold II.

As usual since 1965, the Royal Palace of Brussels will be open from the day after National Day until 3 September. As well as a tour of many of the grand rooms, the visitor can enjoy a number of exhibitions on the theme Science and Culture in the palace. The National Geographic Institute and the 10 federal scientific institutions are presenting The Sky! which shows the heavens through different concerns and points of view. The Flemish centre for science and technology Technopolis is presenting To Your Health, an exhibition that teaches us to know the human body better. And the Royal Association of the Dynasty and Cultural Heritage is presenting an exhibition of the art work of Charles of Flanders, Prince, Regent and Artist. To finish the tour, as always, the Hall of Mirrors with Jan Fabre's extraordinary scarab ceiling will be full of interactive displays for the young and young-at-heart to enjoy.
22 July-3 September, Royal Palace, Brussels, free

The Waterbus is a service that connects Vilvoorde and Brussels and all places between them along the canal to provide commuters and day-trippers with a stress- and traffic-free option. This Sunday is a perfect occasion to sample the service as they are inaugurating a second boat and will be doubling the schedule for the day. All the stops are chosen for their proximity to other public transport as well as attractions such as the spectacular Domein Drie Fonteinen. There are many other sightseeing non-commuter trips available on waterways around Brussels. During the summer it also provides an easy way to get to Brussels Beach. Bicycles always welcome.

Cinéma Galeries and Brussels Beach are collaborating to present an indoor/outdoor summer film festival. All the films presented this year take place in Tokyo. This Friday it's Akira, Saturday it's Stupor & Trembling and next Thursday it's The Tomb of the Fireflies, all outstanding movies. Screenings start at 22.00 (21.00 arrival strongly suggested). Deck chairs and blankets available free while supplies last, ID must be presented as deposit.

Want to get back to basics after all the National Day madness? This weekend Madame Moustache is ready to take you back to the time when "dancing was a religion" with 1980s French golden disco and pop hits. If you've never experienced the friendly, weird, unusual party atmosphere of MM here's a perfect opportunity.
22 July 22.00 or 23 July 16.00, Madame Moustache, Brussels

The Brussels Royal Yacht Club, ensconced in a corner of the canal in Laeken, is a perfect getaway from the city while staying in the city, with its excellent but not expensive bar restaurant and terrace overlooking the club's marina. From 24-28 July they are offering a summer holiday sailing workshop for children aged seven to 14. Email info@bryc.be or call 02.216.48.28

It's the last week to be able to see Le S de l'Ange - an installation at the Bellone by Mathilde Laroque. It's a video installation that deals with the fractured life of dance genius Vaslav Nijinsky and the writings that he produced as he lost his mind. According to his daughter we will never know if he was institutionalised because he was crazy or if he went crazy because he was institutionalised.
Until 29 July, La Bellone, Brussels

Brussels tourist office visit.brussels has been bringing forth its Mixity.Brussels 2017 programme since announcing the project with a massive open-air concert last autumn. Now, with dozens of summertime events on the agenda, the year-long showcase of cultural diversity is reaching its climax. Its centrepiece is Yo: Brussels Hip-Hop Generations. Hosted by Bozar, the immersive, archival exhibition spans 35 years of urban youth culture in the capital. Other highlights include the Humans of Brussels exhibition at experience.brussels and Mixity 183, a traveling pop-up museum wending its way through the capital all summer.
Until 17 September, across Brussels

Josaphat Park in Schaerbeek will be overrun with enchanting entertainment for young and old, including circus acts, street theatre, magicians, jugglers, balloon artists, stilt-walkers and more.
22-23 July 14.00-17.00, Parc Josaphat, Schaerbeek, Brussels; free

Be the first in your set to be hip to the new incarnation of the Rue de Flandre by taking a moment this summer and discovering the ongoing metamorphosis of the venerable street. One of the oldest streets in Brussels, it's always been interesting - from classic café Le Laboureur to outstanding offal restaurant Viva M'Boma by way of the hat store La Maison de la Casquette - but recently a whole new generation of quirky stores and restaurants has developed. Ernest offers "essential accessories and remarkable curiosities" while Settebello specialises in small producer Italian foodstuffs. Two small offbeat bookstores have opened, Tulitu and Les Editeurs. Oh La Vache is a restaurant with nothing but beef dishes (and no WiFi; they suggest we pretend it's 1995 and talk to each other) while Chez Yvonne does gourmet sandwiches. SAN, the new venture of celebrated Korean-Belgian chef Sang-Hoon Degeimbre serves all its dishes in one bowl with one spoon. Weebot has all the latest individual people movers to get you through traffic and Bel’Arte sells only Belgian creations by Belgian designers. And there's much more including a wine seller whose window is filled with empty wine bottles.