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Whether you do your antique
shopping in the stylish Brussels Sablon area,
browsing through exquisite items or by flashlight
early on Sunday morning at the flea market,
the hunt in Belgium can be as entertaining as
the purchase.
Belgium
has been an important center of the art world
for centuries. Choose from
museum-quality stores in major cities to antique
markets in smaller towns. Belgium offers an incredible
wealth of antiques, Art Deco objects, old books,
fine crystals or just plain interesting artifacts. There is something for every taste and budget.
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For
over six centuries, Belgian tapestry has
been a highly prized luxury craft. Tapestry
designs involve weaver and artists working
closely together. Painters including Rubens,
produced drawings for a series of weavings
of six or more on grand themes. Prized
by the nobility, tapestries were portable
and could be moved with the court as rulers
traveled their estates. As trade grew,
techniques were refined; real gold and
silver were threaded into the fine wool,
again increasing the value. Classical
myths were popular themes for tapestry
series. |
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| Tapestry Links |
Mille
Fleurs Tapestries
Discover Belgium's most exciting collection
of high quality wall tapestries, exclusive
throws and tapestry cushion covers. Located
in Bruges. |
Belgian Art Tapestries
Shop
located near the Grand-Place in Brussels.
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Tapestries
in Belgium
Read all about it in Elsje Janssen's book.
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BelgianArt
Information on Belgian lace and tapestries. |
| Shopping
in Brussels |
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Belgian
fashion and design naturally belong
on the international stage, so it is
no surprise that Brussels has become
somewhat of a paradise for the serious
power shopper. There are plenty of shopping
streets and galleries, both in the upper
and lower town. In any case the words
to look for are soldes or solden – it means sales! (Officially
1st month of the year and in July).
Design studios and boutiques proliferate
in the center of the capital, arousing
the surprise and excitement of an ever
larger circle of customers.
Take
a walk along Rue Antoine Dansaert
Straat and the surrounding
area to discover the hub and heart of
Brussels’ fashion and design world
with the best concentration of avant
guard designers and fashion boutiques.
The
Avenue Louise is one
long catwalk of famous fashion brands,
including big international names like
Chanel, Vuitton, Hermes, Giorgio Armani,
Gianni Versace and Christian Dior. The
first section is one of the most attractive
shopping districts in the city, with
prestigious as well as more affordable
shops clustered around the large department
store Innovation.
If
you are looking for bargains, then go
shopping in the lower city around Rue
Neuve in the city center. It
is one of the most bustling of Brussels’ shopping areas that stretches all the
way up to Rue des Fripiers.
Built
in 1847, Gallerie St Hubert
is a gorgeous, glass roofed arcade in
the center of town, lined with cafes,
theaters and luxury stores and has the
distinction of being the first shopping
arcade in Europe. It houses a number
of well known shops with wonderful window
displays. |
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Brussels Creativity
This website takes
you on a virtual tour through Brussels, to discover the "art of living" through Brussels' monuments, restaurants, designers, and most importantly - shopping. Great information and clickable maps for all the best shopping districts in Brussels. |
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QuartiersCommercants
A great shopping website covering
all shopping regions in Brussels with clickable
maps and store listings.
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| Fashion |
Ardennes Outlet
What's better than treating yourself to the wonderful pleasure of being swept away by a fine and growing collection of designer labels at the Ardennes Outlet Center in the French speaking region of Belgium? Go crazy ! |
Brussels Creativity
This website takes you on a virtual tour through Brussels, to discover the "art of living" through Brussels' monuments, restaurants, designers, and most importantly - shopping. Great information and clickable maps for all the best shopping districts in Brussels. |
Delvaux Bags
Retailers in Belgium and in the US. |
Diane von Furstenberg
The official website of the famous Belgian designer whose exclusive designs can be seen on the catwalks and red carpets around the world. |
Fashion Shopping
Information on the annual fashion show, designer addresses
and information for the high-end shoppers in Antwerp.
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Itineraires
Belgian tour operator offering visitors the history of costume revealed by the collections from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, and the trends of avant-garde fashion via the modern stylists. |
Maasmechelen Village
The largest outlet shopping attraction in Belgium is ideally located at the crossroads of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. It is 20 minutes from Maastricht and just 1 hour from Antwerp, Brussels, Düsseldorf and Cologne. Prices on collections at this chic shopping outlet are at least 33% less in comparison with those prices offered on the same collections in boutiques the previous year. |
Modobruxellae
Everything you want to know about Belgian fashion, stores, special events and more in Brussels. |
Shopping in Antwerp Guide
The official tourist office provides a shopping guide per zone of the city. You will certainly find what you're looking for here!
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Antwerp Shopping Streets
Searchable website & guide for shopping in Antwerp.
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Belgian Pro
A group of Belgians who have a common passion for their art and craft, and want to share these with you, their partners worldwide.
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Brussels Creativity
This website takes you on a virtual tour through Brussels, to discover the "art of living" through Brussels' monuments, restaurants, designers, and most importantly - shopping. Great information and clickable maps for all the best shopping districts in Brussels. |
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Crystal Company of Val Saint Lambert
Walking through the Crystal Company, alone or in group, you can see the different crafts that are necessary for the production of crystal and the secret of their creation. Val Saint Lambert is the official supplier to H.M. the King of Belgium and they also supply 40 kingdoms and head of states. Located in Seraing near Liege.
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Gent Shopping
Searchable website & guide for shopping in Ghent (in Dutch only). |
The Wool & Fashion Museum
Located in Verviers. Under an impressive oak frame, Verviersima welcomes seminars and remarkable temporary exhibitions.
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