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Belgium has been offering full civil marriage rights to gay couples since 2003. We are the second country in the world to eliminate all references to gender in the marriage laws; an estimated 5,000 ceremonies have been held since. In order to contract marriage in Belgium, one of the parties must reside in the country.
The competent Belgian authority performing marriages is called "Ambtenaar van de Burgerlijke Stand/Officier de l' Etat Civil". Only marriages celebrated by this official in due and legal form are valid. A religious ceremony may, however, be performed subsequently at the option of the contracting parties.
In April 2006, the Belgian Parliament voted in favor to grant homosexual couples the right to adopt children.
In June 2006, the country's first gay church was inaugurated in Ghent. Pastor Johan Maertens read the mass at the Rabot Church, which welcomes Catholic, Protestant and evangelical homosexuals and transsexuals.
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EuroGames
Antwerp will host the 11th EGLSF Euro Games, the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Championships from 12 to 15 July, 2006. It is the biggest athletic event for the gay community in Europe with about 3,000 participants and 10,000 visitors. Competitions are held in Badminton, Bowling, Dancing, Football, Golf, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball and Wrestling. |
Jan
18-27 |
Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Brussels)
Gay and Lesbian culture in a festive mood. A festival with unpublished feature films, reissues, documentaries, short films and exhibitions by painters and photographers. Held at the cinema, in the Orangerie room and the Rotonde of Botanique. |
Mar
1-4 |
IGLTA Symposium (Antwerp)
IGLTA is the world's leading travel trade association committed to growing and enhancing its members gay and lesbian tourism business through education, promotion and networking.
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May
12 |
The BLGP (Belgian Lesbian and Gay Pride) (Brussels)
This annual parade takes place throughout the city center with activities for lesbians, gays and bisexuals. |
Nov 30 |
World Aids Day Belgium (Brussels)
The events kick off with a procession of music and a huge red ribbon through the streets of Brussels starting from the central station and ending at the Theatre de la Monnaie. Classical recitals, jazz concerts and performances from some of Belgium's favorite artists are all featured during World Aids Day. |
Dec 8 |
Lesbo (Ghent)
Now into its second decade, this annual lesbian celebration fills Ghent's Citadel Park and spans music, cultural and political debates and sporting contests. |
| Restaurants & Clubs in Brussels |
Arab Funky Party
The gay community of African and Eastern Origin with great music.
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Basta Café (rue Marché au Charbon 42)
Evening for young gay guys and girls. |
Le Baroque (rue Marché au Charbon 44)
Gay café with mixed age crowd.
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Le Belgica (rue Marché au Charbon 32)
Popular bar, on weekends only. Very international crowd. |
| Boysboudoir (rue Marché au Charbon 32)
Latino/New York atmosphere. Mediterranean cuisine |
Le Can Can (rue des Pierres 55)
True institution of the gay life in Belgium. Bar, club & disco with karaoke.
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Chez Maman (rue des Grands Carmes 7)
A cozy, intimate venue for partying transvestites.
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Le Comptoir (Place Vieille Halle aux Blés 26)
Bar & restaurant. |
| Dolores (rue Marché au Charbon 40)
Restaurant with terrace. International & Fusion cuisine.
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Le Duplex (place Vieille Halle aux Blés 26 )
French restaurant & bar with a dinner show. |
Le Duquesnoy (rue Duquesnoy 12)
S & M and hot-leather nights for an older gay crowd.
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El Papagayo (place Rouppe 6)
South American jungle bar. |
Halloween (rue des Grands Carmes 10)
Fantastic brasserie-restaurant. |
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L'incognito (rue des Pierres 36)
Bar with dancing.
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Kika (boulevard Anspach 117)
Pasta al dente and regional cuisine. |
| Le Tartisan ( rue de la Paix 27)
Restaurant with a range of home made products made according to grandma’s recipes. |
TelsQuels (rue Marché au Charbon 81)
The Gay and Lesbian Meeting Point. |
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| Bubble gum (rue de Louvain 2-4)
Kitsch & fun. Every Saturday at the Vogue. |
Le Cabaret (Galerie Louise)
Super-disco with three dance floors, seven bars.
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Dansez-vous français ? (rue des Poissonniers 7)
Off-beat & in French. Every last Friday of the month at the Métro Valdi. |
La Démence (rue Blaes 208)
Super clubbing with three levels, two dance floors with separate sound systems, a chill out room, 4 bars, 3 darkrooms, a video room and a shop.
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Next Party (rue Blaes 208)
Gay & mixed public party. Every first Saturday of the month at the Fuse. |
Sungays (rue du Berger 17)
Tea dance (terrace). Every Sunday afternoon at the Jardins de Bagatelle. |
Why Not Club (rue des Riches Claires 7)
Only club open every night, dance, house-techno, disco. |
Le You (rue Desquesnoy 18)
Gay Friendly Tea Dance.
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| Restaurants & Clubs in Flanders |
The Blackhole (Antwerp)
Antwerp’s Cruising Bar |
Hessenhuis Café (Antwerp)
By day a bar where you can eat, by night dancing until early hours. |
Het Roze Huis & Café Den Draak (Antwerp)
Het Roze Huis' (The Pink House) is Antwerp's gay and lesbian community house. On the ground floor, there is a café, called ‘Den Draak' (The Dragon). |
Interium Lounge (Antwerp)
New and trendy.
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Nutsville (Antwerp)
Super clubbing on 4 levels. |
Popi (Antwerp)
A hyper modern atmosphere bar where parties are being thrown on the weekends. |
Red & Blue (Antwerp)
Most extravagant club (boys only) with a high dose of leather and glitter.
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Rubbzz (Antwerp)
Warehouse bar with DJ every weekend, located in the northern part of Antwerp.
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| Zaal Jacob (Antwerp)
Young gays and lesbians prefer Madonna, pop, rock and disco to clubhouse. |
Adonis (Ghent)
New trendy place to be for gays. |
Kingstreet (Ghent)
A monument. This secluded gay discotheque has had the same two landlords for over 29 years. |
Club Room (Herent)
A gay friendly party , every first friday of the month. |
La diferencia (Kessel)
Dancing. |
Key West (Leuven)
Trendy Gay-dance café.
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Kokorico (Zomergem)
Party for gays and their friends every second Friday of the month. |
| Restaurants & Clubs in Wallonia |
Adonis Bar (Charleroi)
Tavern-snack bar.
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Le Bahamas (Charleroi)
Gay club open in 1979. House, dance and R&B
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L' Eclipse (Charleroi)
Tavern-snack bar, Club with theme party
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Le Gigi Cabaret (Charleroi)
Bar.
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Le petit Chariot (Charleroi)
Gay Club with backroom and theme party.
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The Chaps (Liège)
Gay Leather Bar For men. Leather Rubber Uniforms only No Jeans. Open until 4:30 on Friday and Saturday
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Chez Dany (Liège)
Bar with disco, dance, oldies and latino music.
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New Brique (Liège)
Club (ex-Cool & Gang). Saturday only. Till 7 am.
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L'Orange Givrée (Liège)
Bar. Party for girls only every Sunday at 8:30 pm
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Le petit Paris (Liège)
Trendy bar. Every day until 2 am. Friday dance 99% gay.
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Relax café (Liège)
Bar open every evening till the morning.
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Spartacus (Liège)
Bar for men
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Half & Half (Mons)
Bar & Club . Open only for men on Thursday
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Follies (Namur)
Club. Drag Show every Friday at 12:00 am
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| Accommodations |
| Brussels |
Amazon 59 B&B
Fully restored 1900 typical Belgian residence. Brussels based B & B, catering to the lesbian and gay community and their friends.
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B&B 76
Bed and breakfast in a maison de maître, located in a quiet neighborhood. |
Brussels at Heart
Guesthouse located on the ground floor of a house in the heart of the city.
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Downtown BXL
In the very heart of the city center, a few steps away from the Brussels Grand'Place and the Manneken Pis, the guest house is located in the trendy Quartier Saint-Jacques, a neighborhood alive day and night during weekends.
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Rovignon
Located close to the city center, Au Rovignon is a XIXth century townhouse renovated in 1994.
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Brussels Marriott
Located in walking distance from the magnificent Grand Place. TAG preferred supplier. |
Conrad Brussels
Located uptown on the fabulous shopping Avenue Louise. TAG preferred supplier. |
Les Ecrins
B&B located in a large century-old building in the heart of Brussels. TAG preferred supplier.
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Radisson SAS Royal Hotel
Located near the Grand Place and the Royal Shopping Galleries. TAG preferred supplier. |
| Antwerp |
B&B 2000 Guesthouse
Comfortable place to sleep, in a friendly environment and with a good breakfast, close to the center of town with its day- and nightlife.
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Het Luxepaard
Spacious townhouse, dated 1903, situated near the center of Antwerp.
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Mabuhay B&B
Owned by a gay mixed-couple, this bed and breakfast is located in the center of the city and a popular hang-out in the neighborhood of local artists (Zurenborg).
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| Bruges |
A Beaute
B & B with a view over the ancient part of Bruges' city center.
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Brugsche Suites
Luxury guestrooms furnished with exclusive antiques and objects d' art and located within walking distance from the most important sights, restaurants and shops.
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Brugsche Suites
Furnished with exclusive antiques and objects d'art, Brugsche Suites is located within walking distance from the most important sights, restaurants and shops.
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| Ghent / Namur / Stavelot / Assenede |
Cuberdon (Ghent)
Three rooms available in this house built in the thirties and completely redecorated in 2004.
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New Hotel de Lives (Namur)
On the banks of the river the Meuse, surrounded by a calm and green landscape. TAG preferred supplier.
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Hotel Dufays (Stavelot)
This charming house, which dates back to 1870 has been carefully restored and refurbished to provide high quality accommodation.
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't Staaksken (Assenede )
Charming holiday cottage. |
| Links |
Ebab
Accommodation, booking & search engine for gays, lesbians and their friends.
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Famba
Lesbo-feminist samba action group from Ghent. |
Gay.be
Information on gay life in Belgium. Currently only in french and Dutch. |
GayBelgium.eu
Find out where to go in Gay Belgium. |
Gay Planet Holidays
Inbound tour operator and complete gay travel guide of Belgium, full of great holidays for both gay men and women.
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GayTravel.be
Travel specials in Gay Belgium. Website only in Dutch. |
GayWorld.be
Website only in Dutch. |
Gus
Urban lifestyle magazine for the gay minded.
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Holebikerk
A church primarily for homosexual, bisexual and transgender Christians. Services are mainly in Dutch and are held on Thursdays in either Ghent or Dendermonde. |
Holiday Pride
A full service travel agency with its own travel programs and those of the biggest tour operators, airlines, hotels and resorts: from inexpensive promotions to the more exclusive travel formulas, city trips, special events, cruises and luxury travel in Belgium. |
La Demence
Information on gay clubbing, events and parties in Belgium.
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Next Party
Information on trendy gay parties in Belgium.
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Out Now Consulting
Develop individual gay marketing solutions utilizing gay and lesbian market research, gay niche media, gay online internet activities, tailored gay and lesbian advertising, targeted niche PR and below-the-line marketing activities.
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Rainbow House
The Brussels gay and lesbian information and meeting point.
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Rapido
Information on gay clubbing, live acts, events and parties in Belgium.
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Red & Blue / Independent Concerts
Event planner located in Antwerp. |
Strong
Information on gay clubbing, events and parties in Belgium.
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