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Neighbourhood life

Belgium building

Discussing iconic Belgian architecture with urban planners, architects, writers and curators.

Do the right thing

Weekly listings of exhibitions, concerts, openings, parties and events to do over the weekend.

Area codes

Local heroes reveal their favourite neighbourhood hotspots and hangouts – from bars and bookshops to restaurants and galleries.

This is Belgium

The best Belgian-only art, food, photography, music, travel, architecture and neighbourhood tips from the magazine’s team of editors.

hub heroes

We team up with hub.brussels, Brussels’ Business Support Agency, and shine a light on 50 of the Region’s start-up success stories driving the capital city’s economic landscape forward. From the eco-conscious manufacturer to the technology-enabled post-production imprint, our 50-strong selection of portraits and interviews plays testament to the Region’s dense and dynamic culture of entrepreneurship.

The Brussels Bike Hundred

We’re teaming up with Bike for Brussels to put together a 100-strong selection of local heroes shaping the city each in their own way. From designers and DJs to performers and publishers, these are the creatives riding Brussels forward.

The Mechelen Hundred

Nestled between Brussels and Antwerp, Mechelen has often been overshadowed by its larger neighbours. Yet teaming up with the City of Mechelen, our line-up of 100 of the city’s most prominent people, places and projects proves the extent of its potential. From artists and creatives to critical thinkers and fighters, these are the powerhouses driving Mechelen forward one step at a time.

The House Hundred

We’re teaming up with Bulldog to select 100 essential people, places and projects in Belgian house music. From producers and DJs to record labels and festivals, these are the forces driving the homegrown house scene forward, one BPM at a time.

The Leuven Hundreds

We’ve joined forces with Leuven to highlight 100 local people, places and projects that contribute towards making the city what it is today. From artists and architects to producers and professors, these are the driving forces powering Leuven forward one ingenious initiative at a time.

The Antwerp Hundreds

We've teamed up with This is Antwerp to bring you The Antwerp Hundreds, a 100-strong selection of local movers and shakers setting the tone for the neighbourhood of tomorrow.

Art

On-design

An in-depth look at the work of Belgian design studios, published monthly.

Favourite Belgian movies

Selections of essential Belgian movies handpicked by artistic directors, curators and all-round cinema connoisseurs.

Curator talks

Intimate conversations with curators dissecting the ambitions, intentions and narratives of their recently opened exhibitions.

Exhibition reviews

Visual documentaries of recently opened contemporary art exhibitions in Belgium.

Portfolio reports

Reviewing the practice of Belgium-based artists through in-depth looks at their recent works.

Studio visits

Exploring the environments and artistic spaces of some of the country’s foremost contemporary artists.

The art throwaway project

Insights into the lives of local contemporary art movers and shakers through our office Quicksnaps.

Music

Exclusive mixes

Hour-long mixes recorded by the crème de la crème of Belgian DJs and producers exclusively for us.

Favourite Belgian releases

Selections of essential Belgian tracks handpicked by local tastemakers, from DJs and producers to record label heads and record store clerks.

The music throwaway project

Backstage antics, tour tales and onstage adventures with some of the country’s most exciting musical talents captured with our office Quicksnaps.

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menu The Word Magazine

Neighbourhood life, 
art and music
made in Belgium

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Music Favourite Belgian releases
Mugwump’s Geoffroy handpicks 12 essential Belgian releases

Mugwump’s Geoffroy handpicks 12 essential Belgian releases

With Mugwump's latest release Drape hot off the press, Brussels-based house DJ Geoffroy Dewandeler picks his 12 Belgian bangers.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Leuven-based DJ Hassel Dehaes’ 10 Belgian gems

Leuven-based DJ Hassel Dehaes’ 10 Belgian gems

Leuven-based DJ and The Word Radio resident host Hassel Dehaes selects his 10 Belgian bangers ahead of his next show tomorrow Friday.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Ghent-based producers Asa Moto handpick 10 essential Belgian stompers

Ghent-based producers Asa Moto handpick 10 essential Belgian stompers

Allez Allez, Dan Lacksman, Lavvi Ebbel, Snowy Red and The Weathermen come together in the Ghent-based producers' selection of Belgian essentials.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Kristof Vandenhende handpicks 10 iconic New Beat tracks

Kristof Vandenhende handpicks 10 iconic New Beat tracks

Ahead of his double release party around all things New Beat this Saturday at Vooruit, Kristof selects his 10 essential Belgian New Beat tracks for us.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Out The Frame lays down 10 Belgian bangers

Out The Frame lays down 10 Belgian bangers

All Eyes On Hip Hop's Willem Vandesande and Vooruit's Wouter Vanhaelemeesch have handpicked 10 of their standout Belgian releases ahead of Out The Frame, a brand new indoor hip-hop festival taking place this Saturday.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Perron Zes selects 15 essential Belgian tracks

Perron Zes selects 15 essential Belgian tracks

The boys behind Brussels' multidisciplinary music collective Perron Zes handpicked their 15 finest Belgian releases for us.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Favourite Belgian Releases: Locked Groove

Favourite Belgian Releases: Locked Groove

Berlin-based Locked Groove is back for one night in Ampere, and lays down 10 of his all-time favourite Belgian releases for the occasion.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Mauro Antonio Pawlowski’s 10 Belgian deep cuts for Deep in the Woods

Mauro Antonio Pawlowski’s 10 Belgian deep cuts for Deep in the Woods

In light of his artist residency at Deep in the Woods, renowned showman Mauro Pawlowski reveals 10 of his fail-safe Belgian releases.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Favourite Belgian Releases: 15 Hush Hefner gems

Favourite Belgian Releases: 15 Hush Hefner gems

15 Belgian tracks that holds a special place in the Antwerp-based DJ and promoter's heart.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Senz Beats handpicks his 15 favourite Belgian rap classics

Senz Beats handpicks his 15 favourite Belgian rap classics

Montreal-based Senz Beats cooked up a largely Brussels-based hip-hop playlist made up of tracks that inspired him growing up, and even became a sort of template for his own current beats.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The Perrier Playlist: 25 necessary Belgian electronic tracks

The Perrier Playlist: 25 necessary Belgian electronic tracks

We've planned a trip around Belgium’s contemporary electronic scene, picking up some of the most recent releases from all the different genre corners along the way.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Oswald Moris (Mensch, erger je Niet / Brokers) dives into 16 of his favourite Belgian cuts

Oswald Moris (Mensch, erger je Niet / Brokers) dives into 16 of his favourite Belgian cuts

Expect a journey into the lesser-known fringes of Belgian jazz, funk, fusion, disco and rock together with a few crunchy insider anecdotes added to the mix for good measure.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The Perrier Playlist: 25 essential Belgian prog-rock, cold wave and post-punk tracks

The Perrier Playlist: 25 essential Belgian prog-rock, cold wave and post-punk tracks

Part three of our collaborative series with Perrier sees us tend to our harsher side and select 25 iconic Belgian prog-rock, cold wave and post-punk cuts.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Favourite Belgian Releases: Offshore§’s heavy rotation

Favourite Belgian Releases: Offshore§’s heavy rotation

Brussels' long-standing DJ/producer - and lastest addition to our team - Offshore§ handpicked a set of Favourite Belgian Releases for us.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The Perrier Playlist: 25 of our favourite Belgian jazz, funk and soul cuts

The Perrier Playlist: 25 of our favourite Belgian jazz, funk and soul cuts

We dig deep to select 25 of our favourite Belgian jazz, funk and soul cuts.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Louis Vogue’s 11 Favourite Belgian Releases

Louis Vogue’s 11 Favourite Belgian Releases

Brussels-based DJ and all-round music lover Louis Vogue reveals some of his Favourite Belgian Releases, in light of his set at our upcoming Release Party.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Slagwerk co-founder Trime’s 10 favourite Belgian releases

Slagwerk co-founder Trime’s 10 favourite Belgian releases

A collection of gems by the DJ, promotor, agent and Slagwerk collective co-founder.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The Perrier Playlist: 25 essential Belgian rap tracks

The Perrier Playlist: 25 essential Belgian rap tracks

We team up with Perrier for a four-part series of essential Belgian cuts. In part 1, we zoom in on the country's rap legacy.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 10 favourite Belgian releases of Fire is Gold curator Jon Tyler

The 10 favourite Belgian releases of Fire is Gold curator Jon Tyler

We're handing out some duo tickets for the festival's first edition this weekend, and to help you navigate its hefty line-up, we asked Fire is Gold's artistic director for his all-time favourites, and names that you shouldn't miss in Vilvoorde this Sunday.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The man whose passion single-handedly archived Belgium’s minimal synth scene one tape at a time

The man whose passion single-handedly archived Belgium’s minimal synth scene one tape at a time

We sit down with Lieven De Ridder, the 51-year-old label head, collector, DJ and radio host to discuss how a very personal passion blossomed into a very real business, one that relied solely on reissuing bands that barely even made it to the fringes.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Favourite Belgian Releases: Emi’s heavy rotation

Favourite Belgian Releases: Emi’s heavy rotation

We got the latest addition to our team, Emi, to pick some of her Favourite Belgian releases for us.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 16 favourite Belgian releases of Ben and Bert Verstreken

The 16 favourite Belgian releases of Ben and Bert Verstreken

Whether it's new beat, contemporary electronica or heavy guitar riffs, the two brothers, DJs and radio hosts are sure to set you up with a playlist for the weekend to come.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 14 favourite Belgian releases of Roman Hiele and Lieven Martens Moana

The 14 favourite Belgian releases of Roman Hiele and Lieven Martens Moana

From pre-teen crushes and local birds to football anthems and cool pianists.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 14 favourite Belgian releases of Piano Club singer Anthony Sinatra

The 14 favourite Belgian releases of Piano Club singer Anthony Sinatra

The Liège-based Piano Club singer shares his favourite local cuts from both sides of the linguistic divide.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Best Belgian releases of 2016 (part two)

Best Belgian releases of 2016 (part two)

Part two of our selection of best Belgian releases of the year.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Best Belgian releases of 2016 (part one)

Best Belgian releases of 2016 (part one)

It's that time of the year again. Keep your eyes out for part two which drops end of week.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 14 favourite Belgian releases of Ewald Dupan (Captain Starlight)

The 14 favourite Belgian releases of Ewald Dupan (Captain Starlight)

Weird and wonderful local cuts by the Brussels-based DJ and digger.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 9 favourite Belgian releases of Spencer Clark (Typhonian Highlife)

The 9 favourite Belgian releases of Spencer Clark (Typhonian Highlife)

The mythical sound wizard shares a compelling selection, filled to the brim with new-age, daunting and exotic sounds.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Dig this: From musique concrète to punk

Dig this: From musique concrète to punk

A 10-track selection that sees us go from experimental to punk / new wave territory.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 11 favourite Belgian releases of Elzo Durt (Teenage Menopause Records)

The 11 favourite Belgian releases of Elzo Durt (Teenage Menopause Records)

Early 80s punk, disco-punk, synth punk and garage punk. All Belgian.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Dig this: 8 essential Dominique Lawalree cuts

Dig this: 8 essential Dominique Lawalree cuts

A selection of 8 essential cuts by the Brussels-based pianist, composer and arranger.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 15 favourite Belgian releases of Frédéric Alstadt (Ångström Records)

The 15 favourite Belgian releases of Frédéric Alstadt (Ångström Records)

With a knowledge of the Belgian musical landscape that runs deep, the label boss and mastering engineer reveals his 15 favourite Belgian cuts.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 13 favourite Belgian releases of Beautés Soniques’ Loïc Bodson

The 13 favourite Belgian releases of Beautés Soniques’ Loïc Bodson

Local love from the curator of Namur's finest festival.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Dig this: 10 obscure punk and new wave cuts

Dig this: 10 obscure punk and new wave cuts

We start things off ambient and adventurous, to ends things resolutely punk.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 15 favourite Belgian releases of Brice Deloose (BEM)

The 15 favourite Belgian releases of Brice Deloose (BEM)

Co-founder of Brussels Electronic Marathon reveals his favourite Belgian releases.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Dig this: 10 ambient, punk and new wave Belgian tracks

Dig this: 10 ambient, punk and new wave Belgian tracks

Further incursions into the depth of underground Belgian music.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Dig this: 15 oddball Belgian new wave, disco and house cuts

Dig this: 15 oddball Belgian new wave, disco and house cuts

Some old stuff, some new stuff, lots of Crammed Discs stuff as well as a 5-track Deewee Records-special to end things on the dance floor.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 14 favourite Belgian releases of Slice of Pie’s Maxim de Buyl

The 14 favourite Belgian releases of Slice of Pie’s Maxim de Buyl

A pitch-perfect selection of 14 Belgian favourites by the hip hop promoter.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 12 favourite Belgian releases of Marc Jacobs (BEAF)

The 12 favourite Belgian releases of Marc Jacobs (BEAF)

Bozar Electronic Art Festival's co-curator Marc Jacobs selects 12 of his favourite Belgian releases ahead of the festival's upcoming edition.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 10 favourite Belgian releases of Horst’s Jochem Daelman

The 10 favourite Belgian releases of Horst’s Jochem Daelman

We task the festival co-curator to handpick a few of his favourite Belgian cuts. Funk, house, disco, soul and rave

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Ultra Eczema’s Dennis Tyfus’ 10 favourite Belgian releases

Ultra Eczema’s Dennis Tyfus’ 10 favourite Belgian releases

The Antwerp-based visual artist, label owner and radio host shares his ten favourite Belgian tracks.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 15 favourite Belgian releases of DJ Athome (Front de Cadeaux)

The 15 favourite Belgian releases of DJ Athome (Front de Cadeaux)

From dirty disco to cold wave, the Brussels-based DJ-producer reveals a highly personal selection of favourite Belgian releases.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Pictures of last week’s Favourite Belgian Release get together at The Hope in Brussels

Pictures of last week’s Favourite Belgian Release get together at The Hope in Brussels

23 disposable camera photographs of last week's favourite Belgian releases listening session at The Hope in Brussels.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 9 favourite Belgian releases of Bert Moerman (Deep in the Woods)

The 9 favourite Belgian releases of Bert Moerman (Deep in the Woods)

A tribute to the lesser-known talents emerging from the country's underground - save for Soulwax.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Rapper Convok’s 16 favourite Belgian releases

Rapper Convok’s 16 favourite Belgian releases

The infamous Brussels rapper shares his favourite tracks.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Dig this: 8 Brussels tribute tracks

Dig this: 8 Brussels tribute tracks

From afrofunk to prog-rock, we've compiled a list of eight essential Brussels cuts.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Bart Sibiel’s 15 favourite Belgian releases (part 2)

Bart Sibiel’s 15 favourite Belgian releases (part 2)

Another selection of mostly obscure Belgian cuts from DJ, connaisseur and collector Bart Sibiel (Onda Sonora).

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Consouling Sounds co-founder Mike Keirsbilck’s 11 favourite Belgian releases

Consouling Sounds co-founder Mike Keirsbilck’s 11 favourite Belgian releases

The man behind the underground record imprint guides us through the best of Belgium's alternative music scene.

Music Favourite Belgian releases
Dig this: 8 female-fronted Belgian tracks

Dig this: 8 female-fronted Belgian tracks

An ode to the some of the most visionary female singers in the country

Music Favourite Belgian releases
The 12 favourite Belgian releases of Absolutely Free Festival’s Art Philippeth

The 12 favourite Belgian releases of Absolutely Free Festival’s Art Philippeth

Nothing but current, cutting-edge local talent.

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The Word Magazine is Belgium’s leading English-speaking free media platform, documenting and championing the best in neighbourhood living, music and art. Published every two months, the magazine is distributed in over 500 distribution points across the country.

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