Brussels, in the heart of Europe

A Cosmopolitan City Shaped by Local Heritage

Brussels is a vibrant international hub known for its multicultural character, strong global connectivity, and central role in European affairs as it is host to major European institutions. Three universities have their premises in the city center : the Université catholique de Louvain – campus Saint-Louis, the main EMAC conference venue ; the Université libre de Bruxelles ; and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. As a result, the city offers a large diversity of cultural institutions spread across historic townhalls and palaces, Art Nouveau structures, and modern architectural spaces. Among these is the Royal Museum of Art and History, where the Lab&Museum School and the keynote lecture of EMAC2027 will take place. The Oldmasters Museum and the Magritte Museum, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, the Horta Museum, the House of European History are just a few other major cultural landmarks to discover in the city. The historic center offers a very pleasant and relaxed atmosphere with its cobblestone squares, and its very unique blend of architectural styles between the Flemish Baroque ornemented façades on the Grand-Place, the Flemish Renaissance brickwork, the neogothic churches, townhall and cathedral, and the Art Nouveau townhouses.

Brussels originated as a small marshland settlement alongside the river Senne in the 11^th century. It quickly grew into a major political and commercial centre, as it became the capital of the Duchy of Brabant and an important industrial hub of northern Europe during the Renaissance, notably renowned for its high-quality tapestries. Several historical buildings and underground archaeological sites testify to this rich history across the center. They transport visitors back through a thousand of years and in the footsteps of iconic historical figures : notably the remains of the former Franciscan convent at Bruxella 1238, which comprises the supposed tomb of John 1^st of Brabant (also known as Gambrinus), the houses of Bruegel and Erasmus, the Palace of Charles V at the Coudenberg. Detailed information about cultural activities and institutions in Brussels can be found on the website of VisitBrussels.

Accommodation, Hospitality, and Mobility at Its Best

 As a result of this vibrant atmosphere, Brussels offers many possibilities for short-term accommodation. A list of recommandations for restaurants, bars and pubs, as well as for short-term accommodation are available here.

The Belgian capital also enjoys an exceptionnally well-developed public transport network with local and regional connections through metro, bus, and tram. The city center is accessible through four main train stations : Brussels Luxembourg, Schuman, North, Central, and Midi. All information regarding train routes and schedules are easily accessible on the SNCB website. Furthermore, VisitBrussels provides detailed information about how to get around Brussels. 

The city can be reached from two international airports offering daily connections to a large range of European cities: Brussels Airport, located northeast of the city with direct rail and metro connections, and Brussels South Charleroi Airport, which provides additional international and low-cost flight connections via shuttle and rail services to the capital. Detailed information about how to get to Brussels by plane, train, bus, car (and even by boat !) can be found here.

The EMAC venues in Brussels

Two venues are located at the heart of the Belgian capital city. 

Université catholique de Louvain – campus Saint-Louis Bruxelles

UCLouvain – campus Saint-Louis Bruxelles provides an ideal setting as the main conference venue. Established in 1858, it used to be an autonomous university belonging to the French Community of Belgium, before it officially merged with Université catholique de Louvain in 2023, to become the Brussels campus for the Humanities. Saint-Louis combines the advantages of a central location in Belgium with the welcoming atmosphere of a human-scale campus. The campus is located at only 15 min from the Grand Place, at a short walking distance from both the Central and North train stations, and just a few steps away from the metro station « Rogier » and various bus stops. Oral presentations and poster sessions will take place in the main auditorium of the campus (OM10), located on the first floor of the Ommegang Building at « Rue de l'Ommegang, 6 ». This auditorium offers a great capacity, modern and comfortable infrastructure, easy access for participants with reduced mobility, and all the necessary adjacent spaces for networking during coffee breaks, lunches, and poster sessions.

Royal Museum of Art and History

Several sessions of the Lab&Museum School as well as our keynote lecture by Dr. Michela Spataro (British Museum) will take place in the Art & History museum, which is part of the larger consortium of the Royal Museum of Art and History. The Art & History museum is renowned for the exceptionally diverse range of its collections, ranging from the European to extra-European cultures, from prehistory to the early 20^th century. Within these collections, a selection of ceramic items await to be discovered by the participants of EMAC2027. An impressive blend of architectural styles is also to be seen visible in the museum’s façades, arcades, cloisters and grand halls, and are also well worth a stroll.

The Art & History museum lays at the centre of the Cinquantenaire Park, which was created in 1880 for Belgium’s 50^th anniversary of independence. It forms part of a monumental complex that was designed by architect Gédéon Bordiau, and later expanded to host two other museal institutions : the War Heritage Institute and Autoworld. These three buildings are connected by the iconic triumphal arch topped by a bronze horse-drawn carriage.

The nearby European Quarter also adds to this scenic environment an international atmosphere, with cafés, restaurants and embassies surrounding the park. The Schuman train station is a 10-min walk through the Park. Two metro stations and various tram and bus stops are also located nearby.

Namur, Capital City of Wallonia

A Crossroads of History and Culture

Namur is the political and cultural capital of Wallonia, the French-speaking southern region of Belgium. Situated at the scenic confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, it combines administrative importance with a relaxed, picturesque atmosphere. These few tips can help you make the most of your stay in Namur.

The city’s roots stretch back to the Roman period. Such a strategic position at the meeting point of two rivers made Namucum an important military and trade settlement in northern Gaul. The city retained its importance in the medieval era, when it became the capital of a county of the Holy Roman Empire, passing into the hands of, successively, the Burgundian Netherlands, the kings of Spain, and later the Austrian Netherlands. It was finally conquered by the French Republic in 1792 and until the Treaty of London (1839) following the Belgian Revolution (1830-1831). Items from these milestones of the city’s past can be seen at the local archaeological museum installed in the « Bateliers » building, an 18^th century mansion complemented by a 19^th century chapel and hosting the local museum of decorative arts as well.

Finally, the spectacular hilltop citadel is another one of Namur’s defining features, and one of Europe’s largest fortified complexes. It was reinforced and developed since the medieval period, and it bears the fingerprint of some famous military engineers like Vauban. The surrounding promenades, terraces, and viewpoints offer sweeping panoramas of the wooded Ardennes gateway and the elegant urban center.

The EMAC venue at Université de Namur

The University of Namur is a French-speaking university located in the historic city. Founded in 1831 by the Jesuits, it is one of Belgium's oldest higher education institutions. The Faculty of Science offers a wide range of expertise and leading research facilities, notably – in line with the EMAC’s specialization – in the fields of geology, physics, and chemistry. Scientific collaborations with members of the Faculty of Humanities have recently been strenghtened under the umbrella of the PaTHs, ILEE, NISM and NAXYS Institutes, which include various initiatives for the study of cultural heritage that bring together historians, art historians and archaeologists on the one hand, and geologists, physicists and chemists on the other hand (AcanthuM, PraME). Participants  of the EMAC Lab&Mseum School will benefit from the laboratory facilities of the Department of Geology of UNamur during the analytical sessions on geological materials and archaeological pottery from various chronocultural backgrounds, as described on the Lab&Museum webpage.