Walk: A history of the rainbow in Brussels

Along this educational tour, the guide introduces us to the history of LGBT+ people in Brussels. How were and are LGBT+ people treated in Europe’s capital city?

First, we go back 1,000 years! History comes back to life through exciting stories. We walk through streets and squares that we thought we knew, until the guide makes us look at them with fresh eyes. We get explanations at locations that have been important for LGBT+ cultures. Names from the peerage, of famous poets and important activists are all on the agenda. The tour combines the history of ideas, the cultural history as well as the history of the city itself. The emphasis is put on the 1830–1914 period, in order to ultimately gain a better understanding of contemporary reality.

The acceptance of LGBT+ people is far from having been a straight line throughout the centuries up to now. History has known fluctuations and countless paradoxes. On the one hand, tolerance is older than you might think and on the other, the ‘rainbow phobia’ is still a sadly topical issue.

In short, a guided tour for anyone interested in an original approach to the history of the city!

Practical information

Duration: 2 hours

Walk in Brussels’ city centre

Starting point: Église Saint-Nicolas – Sint-Niklaaskerk – corner of rue de Taborastraat / rue au Beurre – Boterstraat – 1000 Brussels

End point: rue de la Chaufferette – Lollepotstraat – corner of rue du Marché au Charbon – Kolenmarkt – 1000 Brussels

Make sure to book at info@korei.be