Spotting scene: Road trip past notorious Belgian filming locations – Travel

The West Flemish landscape inspires both directors of TV series of their own making and location spotters for major international film houses. For example, you can follow hiking and cycling trails along the sets of Flemish TV series like Bevergem (from Zwevegem, Heestert, Moen, Sint-Denijs and Avelgem, with Garage Amar). The Hillcountry can also be crossed for four hours through the places of homemade, animated (with option West Flemish) by a specialized guide.

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth in Bruges

The West Flemish cities are also enjoyed by the makers of international blockbusters. On the way off the coast, Benedict Cumberbatch follows in the footsteps of Benedict Cumberbatch to snore the sets of Parade’s End. Filming took place at Villa Hurlebise and the Bomb Free complex in Nieuwpoort, Poeke Castle and The Castle Sinte-Flora in Veurne, places that still breathe the atmosphere of the time around the First World War.

Scarlett Johansson, for her part, accompanied Colin Firth on location in Damme for Girl with a pearl earring. Just seven kilometres away is another much-visited film spot. The title “In Bruges” says it all: Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson mop – against their will – the Venice of Flanders. Nevertheless, the film sheds a good light on the museums, canals and other attractions, so good that the Tourist Office has dedicated a path to it.

Doubles for medieval England during the Wars of the Roses? Flanders can do that. The White Queen will feature Bruges, Ghent, Ypres and Ronse and Rumbeke. The Tower of London is even located in Bruges and Ghent at the same time. Westminster Abbey? Ypres St. Martin’s Church! Royal Court of Westminster Palace? No, the Bruges town halls.

Lars von Trier was here

For the 16th century from the historical emperor, we continue to Ghen. The historic centre around the Korenlei briefly became the imperial playground of Charles V – aka Adrien Brody. A beautiful promotional stunt for Ghen, the birthplace of the notorious emperor. However, the film has still not been released due to the bankruptcy of the production company.

From the medieval wars to the nightlife of the nineties, Ghat has many faces. In Belgica Felix van Groeningen plays the Club Charlatan on the Vlasmarkt as the main character, but most of the scenes were shot at the neighbors of the Design7 design gallery. The facade is that of the Café Afsnis on the square near Sint-Jacobs. For The Broken Circle Breakdown, the director went to Mendonk, where the restored farm is located. The tattoo shop is located in Ghen am Brabantdam, at number 135, and the city itself and the hospital can also be seen. Even Lars von Trier thought it was a good idea, for Nymphomaniac (Vol. I and II) to Copenhagen and Cologne, also to Ghen, where most of the outdoor scenes were shot.

Turn to East Flanders bredestraat, Reetveerdegem, aka Wanzele, the setting for The Unfortunateness of Things. For this Van Groeningen print there were also recordings in Aalst, Mere and Bavegem, where you can start to enjoy the atmosphere. In the direction of Zwalm is the Rozebeke from the ‘Allez Eddy’. Rozebeke and Dikkele formed the backdrop for the feature film. You can even spend the night at the B&B De Kloosterhoeve, just like the cast and crew, before heading to Brussels.

19^E Paris or scandi-twenties?

The capital is certainly popular as a backdrop for national and international prints. Not only does she have the Marc Diddens cult classic Brussels by Night on her record, but the young filmmakers El Arbi and Fallah also played their “image” about the image of the Brussels migrant districts in the media. The editorial staff of De Morgen in The Arduinkaai served as a television station, for the scenes in the problem areas it went to Molenbeek, Schaerbeek and Anderlecht. In the non-Belgian print The Danish Girl, Alicia Vikander strolls through the most beautiful heirlooms of the 1920s in Brussels: Café La Mort Subite, Royal Park, Horta Museum, Gallery Saint-Hubert and Café Le Falstaff.

Even the prestigious BBC series Les misérables managed to find the capital. It needed the Brussels architecture to imitate yesterday’s Paris, in the French capital the squares, buildings and small streets of that time are no longer preserved. Not only Brussels participates in the series, there are also Parisian scenes filmed on the Korenlei and under the Sint-Michielsbrug in Ghen. Vilvoorde, names and terhulpenes are also included. The same goes for “The Missing”: the series is set in France and the UK, but against the backdrop of Brussels, Halle, Alsemberg, Huy and Charleroi.

Finally, in Erased, Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart) works for an Antwerp multinational, brussels locations and tram lines that have to travel to the Scheldt city. The Metro Station Beurs, the Noordstation and the Palace of Justice get the right credits, as does the Hotel Metropole – ideal for a nap before you film-spotting in Antwerp.

From Tom Barman to Tim Burton

Filmakers usually take the trouble to descend to Antwerp. Many local stories have been canned here: Any Way the Wind Blows (With the St. Anna Tunnel), The Alzheimer’s Case, Zot van A, Left Shore… From the Cockerillkade on the Scheldt you can see the loft where the film of the same name was shot.

The big girl also made the city. Although the street scenes are typical of Ghent and the metro stops are those of Brussels, the dance school is clearly the palace of Antwerp. The Antwerpers can also recognize some places of Patser: The shooting took place in the Kerkstraat in Borgerhout and the Tir on Kieler Straße.

Outside the city, Brasschaat receives international loans. Villa Nottebohm in Brecht was the inspiration for Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, but Tim Burton eventually let Samuel Jackson wander through Castle Torenhof.

Balen-Bornem-Puurs: The VRT Archive

Continue towards Kempen. There, Balen puts the region on the IMDB map. The zinc factory made from vegetables from Balen is still in operation and the typical workers’ houses are still inhabited. Marsman’s lingerie shop is also available in Kapelle-op-den-Bos, where most of the series takes place. However, the scene with the street musician (Mich van Kommil Foo) shows the Paalstraat in Schoten.

Bornem, on the other hand, continues for the typical Flemish village in the musical Brabanonne. The cast fell on Cardinal Cardijnplein, where the Luxhuis was renamed Café Reisduif and The Land of Bornem as the Hotel of Happy Hearts. Cafes Sint-Vadde and Zates were also featured in the series Stille Waters. This brings us seamlessly to the yacht pavilion De Notelaer, aka Villa Vorlat in the same TV series.

Bornem Castle may have participated in the Alzheimer’s shop, Schloss d’Ursel in Hingene already has a serious film career with Windkracht 10, De Rodenburgs and as the setting of the great fashion show of Urbanus at the end of Koko Flanel. Hingene can also be recognized from the clan series, but different streetscapes, Brasserie Kaai 24, the church and cemetery are actually in Puurs – Sint-Amands.

With Matteo & Matthias von Limburg

The Kempen continue to Limburg! For the film Marina, Het Sequel, the Genk non-profit organization for mining heritage, was allowed to pick up the authentic places and found them in Genk, Beringen and Maasmechelen. In return, they are the only organization where you can book a bus tour through the hotspots from the film and life of Rocco Granata. In Beringen you will visit the mining building, the football stadium, the Centennial and the kiosk square. In Zaal Stella in Beverlo the Toni Bruno talent show was organized, Garage Willems on the Hasseltsesteenweg is called “Garage Kumbergen” in the movie. The grand staircase of the Waterschei mine building serves as a Milan railway station, the director’s office as a space for music lessons. Almost everywhere in Genk and the surrounding area, fans of the film can enjoy their cinephile.

What Genk is to Marina fans is Lanklaar and its surroundings for the Beau Séjour enthusiast.

The picturesque landscapes and historical buildings of the fictional series are mainly located in Ostlimburg. The name of the series refers to the centenary Belle Epoque Hotel in Lanklaar, where you can stay overnight. However, the murder scene was filmed in three places: in the hotel, in the shop Fabri and in the classified interwar villa – now holiday house Momo and thus perfect for a thematic pit stop for the night.

Less comfortable is perhaps the campsite in Lommel, where the Netflix series Undercover is largely discontinued.

But Sint-Truiden also turns out to be a well-deserved Limburg stage play. For Chaussée d’Amour (also the nickname of the locals for the Likersteenweg) it was from Limburg to the Walloon Grenze, mainly in Sint-Truiden, Diest and Zwevezele and on the military domain of Brustem. Michael R. Roskam even gave Sint-Truiden the leading role in his round-up. At least the local tongue trap, since many scenes taken. Jacky’s square farm, however, is located in the Limburg provincial town, in the middle of the Haspengouw countryside. In Liege there are other places from iconic scenes, such as Lucia’s apartment (Boulevard Frére-Orban), the perfumery (Rue des Guillemins), the nightclub in Tilff and the garage in Oreye.

From the Guardians of the Galaxy to the Frrés Dardenne

Now that we have arrived in Wallonia, a small film tour is not a bad idea. Those who have been paying attention will recognize the futuristic station of Liege Guillemins in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014. But the industrial region of our country is, of course, the place of choice for the socially eventful cinema of the Dardenne brothers. In Palme d’Or winner L’Enfant, for example, the petty thief Bruno crosses the town of Seraing with unemployed factories in the background on the banks of the River Maas.

And we throw Matthias Schoenaerts back into the mix. In Marville, a town on the French-Belgian border that has to lead to Bussy near Paris, his romantic war drama Suite Franéaise is set. However, the open-air shootings took place in the green landscape of Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.

Finally, if you want to search for the Ardennes nudist campsite of De Patrick, you will be deceived. This place remains a mystery for the time being.

Read also:

The backfishing in Ghen: a dream movie location

Set-jetting on holiday: In search of iconic filming locations in Europe

From fun plants to open-air cinema: weekend tips seven sunny summer holidays

The West Flemish landscape inspires both directors of TV series of their own making and location spotters for major international film houses. For example, you can follow hiking and cycling trails along the sets of Flemish TV series like Bevergem (from Zwevegem, Heestert, Moen, Sint-Denijs and Avelgem, with Garage Amar). The Hillcountry can also be crossed for four hours through the places of homemade, animated (with option West Flemish) by a specialized guide. Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth in BrugesThe West Flemish cities are also enjoyed by the makers of international blockbusters. On the way off the coast, Benedict Cumberbatch follows in the footsteps of Benedict Cumberbatch to snore the sets of Parade’s End. Filming took place at Villa Hurlebise and the Bomb Free complex in Nieuwpoort, Poeke Castle and The Castle Sinte-Flora in Veurne, places that still breathe the atmosphere of the time around the First World War. Scarlett Johansson, for her part, accompanied Colin Firth on location in Damme for Girl with a pearl earring. Just seven kilometres away is another much-visited film spot. The title “In Bruges” says it all: Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson mop – against their will – the Venice of Flanders. Nevertheless, the film sheds a good light on the museums, canals and other attractions, so good that the Tourist Office has dedicated a path to it. Doubles for medieval England during the Wars of the Roses? Flanders can do that. The White Queen will feature Bruges, Ghent, Ypres and Ronse and Rumbeke. The Tower of London is even located in Bruges and Ghent at the same time. Westminster Abbey? Ypres St. Martin’s Church! Royal Court of Westminster Palace? No: the Bruges Stadshallen.Lars von Trier was hereFor the 16th century from the historical emperor we continue to Ghent. The historic centre around the Korenlei briefly became the imperial playground of Charles V – aka Adrien Brody. A beautiful promotional stunt for Ghen, the birthplace of the notorious emperor. However, the film has still not been released due to the bankruptcy of the production company. From the medieval wars to the nightlife of the nineties, Ghat has many faces. In Belgica Felix van Groeningen plays the Club Charlatan on the Vlasmarkt as the main character, but most of the scenes were shot at the neighbors of the Design7 design gallery. The facade is that of the Café Afsnis on the square near Sint-Jacobs. For The Broken Circle Breakdown, the director went to Mendonk, where the restored farm is located. The tattoo shop is located in Ghen am Brabantdam, at number 135, and the city itself and the hospital can also be seen. Even Lars von Trier thought it was a good idea, for Nymphomaniac (Vol. I and II) to Copenhagen and Cologne, also to Ghen, where most of the outdoor scenes were shot. Turn to East Flanders bredestraat, Reetveerdegem, aka Wanzele, the setting for The Unfortunateness of Things. For this Van Groeningen print there were also recordings in Aalst, Mere and Bavegem, where you can start to enjoy the atmosphere. In the direction of Zwalm is the Rozebeke from the ‘Allez Eddy’. Rozebeke and Dikkele formed the backdrop for the feature film. You can even spend the night, as the cast and the crew, in B&B De Kloosterhoeve for you tuft towards Brussels.19. Paris or scandi-twenties? The capital is certainly popular as a backdrop for national and international prints. Not only does she have the Marc Diddens cult classic Brussels by Night on her record, but the young filmmakers El Arbi and Fallah also played their “image” about the image of the Brussels migrant districts in the media. The editorial staff of De Morgen in The Arduinkaai served as a television station, for the scenes in the problem areas it went to Molenbeek, Schaerbeek and Anderlecht. In the non-Belgian print The Danish Girl, Alicia Vikander strolls through the most beautiful heirlooms of the 1920s in Brussels: Café La Mort Subite, Royal Park, Horta Museum, Gallery Saint-Hubert and Café Le Falstaff. Even the prestigious BBC series Les misérables managed to find the capital. It needed the Brussels architecture to imitate yesterday’s Paris, in the French capital the squares, buildings and small streets of that time are no longer preserved. Not only Brussels participates in the series, there are also Parisian scenes filmed on the Korenlei and under the Sint-Michielsbrug in Ghen. Vilvoorde, names and terhulpenes are also included. The same goes for “The Missing”: the series is set in France and the UK, but against the backdrop of Brussels, Halle, Alsemberg, Huy and Charleroi.In Erased, Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart) works for an Antwerp multi, it’s Brussels locations and tram lines that have to lead the way for the Scheldestadt. The Metro Station Beurs, the Noordstation and the Palace of Justice get the right credits, as does the Hotel Metropole – ideal for a nap before you film-spotting in Antwerp. From Tom Barman to Tim BurtonFilmakers, they usually take the trouble to descend to Antwerp. Many local stories were tinned here: Any Way the Wind Blows (featuring the St. Anna Tunnel), The Alzheimer’s Case, Zot van A, Left Bank… From the Cockerillkade on the Scheldt you can see the loft where the film of the same name was shot. The big girl also made the city. Although the street scenes are typical of Ghent and the metro stops are those of Brussels, the dance school is clearly the palace of Antwerp. Antwerpers can also see some of Patser’s places: among others, they were filmed in the Kerkstraat in Borgerhout and in Den Tir on the Kiel. Villa Nottebohm in Brecht was the inspiration for Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, but Tim Burton eventually let Samuel Jackson wander through Castle Torenhof. Balen-Bornem-Puurs: the VRT-ArchivOp direction Kempen. There, Balen puts the region on the IMDB map. The zinc factory made from vegetables from Balen is still in operation and the typical workers’ houses are still inhabited. Marsman’s lingerie shop is also available in Kapelle-op-den-Bos, where most of the series takes place. The scene with the street musician (Mich van Kommil Foo) shows the Paalstraat in Schoten.Bornem, on the other hand, continues for the typical Flemish village in the musical Brabanonne. The cast fell on Cardinal Cardijnplein, where the Luxhuis was renamed Café Reisduif and The Land of Bornem as the Hotel of Happy Hearts. Cafes Sint-Vadde and Zates were also featured in the series Stille Waters. This brings us seamlessly to the yacht pavilion De Notelaer, aka Villa Vorlat in the same TV series. Bornem Castle may have participated in the Alzheimer’s shop, Schloss d’Ursel in Hingene already has a serious film career with Windkracht 10, De Rodenburgs and as the setting of the great fashion show of Urbanus at the end of Koko Flanel. Hingene can also be seen from the clan series, but different streetscapes, Brasserie Kaai 24, the church and the cemetery are actually located in Puurs – Sint-Amands.With Matteo & Matthias from LimburgDe Kempen to Limburg! For the film Marina, Het Sequel, the Genk non-profit organization for mining heritage, was allowed to pick up the authentic places and found them in Genk, Beringen and Maasmechelen. In return, they are the only organization where you can book a bus tour through the hotspots from the film and life of Rocco Granata. In Beringen you will visit the mining building, the football stadium, the Centennial and the kiosk square. In Zaal Stella in Beverlo the Toni Bruno talent show was organized, Garage Willems on the Hasseltsesteenweg is called “Garage Kumbergen” in the movie. The grand staircase of the Waterschei mine building serves as a Milan railway station, the director’s office as a space for music lessons. Almost everywhere in Genk and the surrounding area, fans of the film can enjoy their cinephile. What Genk is to Marina fans is Lanklaar and its surroundings for the Beau Séjour enthusiast. The picturesque landscapes and hIstorian buildings of the fictional series are mainly located in Ostlimburg. The name of the series refers to the centenary Belle Epoque Hotel in Lanklaar, where you can stay overnight. However, the murder scene was filmed in three places: in the hotel, in the shop Fabri and in the classified interwar villa – now holiday home Momo and thus perfect for a thematic pit stop for theCht. Less comfortable is perhaps the campsite in Lommel, where the Netflix series Undercover is largely discontinued. But Sint-Truiden also turns out to be a well-deserved Limburg stage play. For Chaussée d’Amour (also the nickname of the locals for the Likersteenweg) it was filmed from Limburg to the Walloon border, mainly in Sint-Truiden, Diest and Zwevezele and on the military domain of Brustem. Michael R. Roskam even gave Sint-Truiden the leading role in his round-up. At least the local tongue trap, because many scenes were shot in Wallonia. Jacky’s square farm, however, is located in the Limburg provincial town, in the middle of the Haspengouw countryside. In Liege there are other places of iconic scenes, such as Lucia’s apartment (Boulevard Frére-Orban), the perfumery (Rue des Guillemins), the nightclub in Tilff and the garage in Oreye.From Guardians of the Galaxy to fréres DardenneNow that we have arrived in Wallonia, a small film tour is not a bad idea. Those who have been paying attention will recognize the futuristic station of Liege Guillemins in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014. But the industrial region of our country is, of course, the place of choice for the socially eventful cinema of the Dardenne brothers. In Palme d’Or winner L’Enfant, for example, the petty thief Bruno crosses the town of Seraing with unemployed factories in the background on the banks of the River Maas. And we throw Matthias Schoenaerts back into the mix. In Marville, a town on the French-Belgian border that has to lead to Bussy near Paris, his romantic war drama Suite Franéaise is set. However, the outdoor photography took place in the green landscape of Hainaut and Walloon Brabant. Those who want to search for the Ardennes nudist campsite of De Patrick will be deceived. This place remains a mystery for the time being.