The inaugural Best of Belgium Festival will uncover and display all things Belgian for an international Hong Kong audience

The first-ever Best of Belgium festival is set to cover Hong Kong with everything Belgian throughout the month of November.

"Belgians appreciate a good lifestyle as well as quality products, yet they are modest in character," said the Belgian Consul-General in Hong Kong, Mr Patrick Nijs. "With this festival, we wish to illustrate why Belgium is 'Europe's Best Kept Secret'".

An inaugural event organized by the Consulate of Belgium in Hong Kong, and the Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, there will be a variety of events, ranging from art and product exhibitions to musical shows and food fares.

Some of the exhibitions in store are Glass is Art highlighting the excellence of trendy Belgian designers such as Sem Schanzer and Diamond is Art put together by the International Gemological Institute (IGI) to highlight Belgian diamond polishers' unparalleled craftsmanship and artistic sense.

"Belgium is well-known as the international diamond trade centre of the world, and this exhibition is quite special, because we will be showcasing innovative signature cuts, including stones that are never shown to the public," said Marc Brauner, Belgian national and CEO of IGI in Hong Kong.

One of the other highlights of the Festival is the Comics Exhibition, which sets to show how Tintin and the Smurfs are not the only popular Belgian creations. For the delight of comics' fans, the exhibition will display 100 original drawings by more than 20 different Belgian artists. There will also be workshops for the general public, run jointly by Belgian and Hong Kong artists.

A Belgian Festival wouldn't be complete without a few pleasures for the senses, and Hong Kong people can look forward to wonderful Belgian delicacies such as grey shrimps, mussels, ham, beer, waffles, chocolates, and a lot more on special menus at various restaurants around town.

Continuing on the sensual theme will be a classical musical concert conducted by Belgian composer Dirk Brossé, together with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, in celebration of the Kingdom's 175th Anniversary.

On a more intellectual note, will be a seminar on 'Local identities, European Integration and the Implications for East Asia', at the Hong Kong University, to explore Belgium's unique experience in constitutional drafting and implementation.

Other events include photo exhibitions entitled 'Parallelisms' by Belgian artist and Hong Kong resident, Christian Verhoeven, and another by Belgian photographer Kris Vervaeke, entitled 'It's in Hong Kong, it's Belgian, but did you know?'  The latter aims to unveil the presence of Belgium through the inconspicuous blending of various Belgian products in Hong Kong's daily life.

Finally, to reinforce the reputation of Belgium's design capabilities, there will be a Belgian Design Contest Exhibition held in conjunction with the first-ever Innovation and Design Expo, catering to the international design community. Award-winning Belgian architects and designers are set to showcase their special works in Hong Kong for all to enjoy.

Related links
Best of Belgium 
Innovation and Design Expo