Belgium: the capital of comics
No other country has produced more comic artists than Belgium. A mighty feat for such a small country. The tradition dates back to almost a full century ago after Belgian artist Hergé created The Adventures of Tintin in 1929.
Since then, Belgium has further cemented its place in comic book history. In 1958 Belgian artist, Peyo, created The Smurfs, which like The Adventures of Tintin, has grown into a successful franchise.
In Brussels, you will find the country’s love affair with comics proudly displayed on the open streets. Once confined to the page, now wonderful murals depicting well-loved characters sprawl across the city walls. This project is called the Comic Book Route and mostly pays homage to Tintin.
The route began in 1991 with 10 murals. A testimony to its success, the comic strip walk now comprises of more than 60 murals spanning the 19 districts that make up the city of Brussels, from Saint-Gilles to Sablon.
As you can imagine, it would require more than a few days in the city to find all the murals. However, you can still find a lot in just a single day. I had a fun time seeking a few out and now I want to share their whereabouts with you.
Finding Tintin Murals in Brussels
Adventures of Tintin
He might be a fictional character but that hasn’t stopped Tintin becoming a national treasure. The adventures of a young Belgian reporter Tintin, and his beloved sidekick and companion Snowy the dog has captured imaginations since 1929 and his popularity continues to this day. This particular escapade is from The Calculus Affair which is set in the tense climate of the Cold War.
Location: 37 Rue de l’Etuve
Tip: Next door to this street art you will find Choco-Story Brussels, the city’s best place to learn about Belgium chocolate and, of course, discover why it is consider among the best in the world.
Don’t miss: Further down the street, you will also find the iconic statue, Manneken Pis, depicting a small boy urinating into a fountain. This tiny statue, standing just 24 inches tall, has become a symbol of the city’s quirky sense of humor and resilience.
It dates back to the 17th century and has numerous legends associated with it, from stories of a boy putting out a fire with his urine to those of him mocking invaders. The statue is often dressed in various costumes throughout the year, and its wardrobe includes hundreds of outfits, making it a unique and beloved cultural icon of Brussels.
Lucky Luke
Known as ‘the man who shoots faster than his shadow’, Lucky Luke is artist Morris’s parody of old American westerns. The comic is composed of several characters such as the Dalton brothers, identical looking outlaws, Lucky Luke’s sarcastic white horse, and Rantanplan, a simple-minded prison guard dog (pictured with Luke at the top of the mural).
Location: 40 Rue de la Buanderie
Broussaille
This mural was first thought to depict two male lovers. Awesome, right? However, it seemed to displease someone because in 1999 one figure was repainted and made to look more like a woman.
This stunt understandably caused some controversy. I mean, who should care? Though looking at it, I think it still looks to be a same-sex relationship so maybe the changes were not so different, at least not to me!
Location: Rue du Marché au Charbon
Vistor Sackville
Not too far from the Broussaille wall is the Victor Sackville wall. The scene on the wall comes from The Opera of Death, the first comic of the Code Zimmerman series created by Francis Carin. Here, the main character Victor Sackville – a British spy that lands in Brussels – is introduced.
Location: Rue du Marché au Charbon
Odilon Verjus
Laurent Verron’s comic strip of the missionary Odilon Verjus featured real-life characters such as Hitler and John Wayne in its storylines. This mural includes beautiful Josephine Baker, the famous cabaret singer, assisted by Odilon himself. In the comic she’s in love with Odilon… lucky man haha.
Location: 13 Rue des Capucins
Ric Hochet
Like many Belgian comic book heroes, Ric Hochet is a reporter who gets up to no good scouring the city (and, in the case of this mural, scaling buildings) for the next scoop. As the saying goes, he who dares, wins!
Location: Rue du Bon Secours
Quick and Flupke
From the creator of Tintin, Hergé, Quick and Flupke are two mischievous boys always getting in trouble with the police. This mural is no different, with the petits garçons hiding from an unaware officer.
Location: Corner of Rue Notre Seigneur and Rue Blaes
Le Jeune Albert Wall
This striking mural by Jeune Albert depicts a drawing of Albert, a young teenager living in Brussels during the war. Albert was created by Yves Chaland, a revered French cartoonists who was tragically killed in a car accident when he was only 33-years old and hardly had time to grow his work. As a result, collectors fight over the modest collection of work that he left behind.
Location: 49 Rue des Alexiens
Le Scorpion
Created by Stephen Desberg and Enrico Marini, the Scorpion is set in 1800s Rome. This hot-blooded fighter owes his nickname to a scorpion tattoo on his right shoulder. His arch-enemy is Trebaldi, a fanatical cardinal who works his way up to become Pope in the 18th century.
Location: Treurenberg, 16 1000 Bruxelles
Tip: This mural is right next to St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral which you should definitely pay a visit to on your way.
Learn more at the Comic Strip Museum
Head over to the Comic Strip Center, a museum that celebrates the great comic strip artists that gave the world Tintin, Smurfs, and Dickie, as well as many other Belgian, American and Japanese comic strips.
The museum is located in Victor Horta’s creation, the Waucquez Warehouse. The architecture of the building is just as engaging as the content of the museum itself. One section of the museum is dedicated to showing how the building itself was reclaimed from demolition and restored to its former glory, all this whilst also housing one of the largest comic shops in Europe. Quite a feat!
Location: 20 rue des Sables
→ Book tickets to the Comic Strip Museum
Stay at the Tintin inspired suite at Hotel Amigo
To complete your comic book themed trip to Brussels, why not stay at the Tintin Suite at Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo in Brussels? Perfect for families, or simply fanatics of Tintin, enter the world’s only Tintin suite to enhance any trip to Brussels.
The suite includes a unique drawing signed by Steven Spielberg, created when he stayed at the hotel during the launch of the film Tintin.
→ Book your stay at Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo Brussels
4 responses
I’m going to Brussels next week and seeing these photos has made me even more excited. Loved Tin Tin since I was little!
Hi Josh, sorry for the late reply. Hope you had a great time in Brussels and saw some of these murals and more!
what a fantastic idea, I will definitely look for the murals next time I visit my family
Hi Gery! Sorry for the late reply. I’m glad this alternative sightseeing tour appeals to you – it’s definitely an activity the whole family would enjoy!