Belgium has emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting street art destinations, with cities large and small embracing urban art as a form of cultural expression. What makes Belgian street art unique is the seamless blend of contemporary techniques with references to the country’s rich artistic heritage. From enormous murals that transform entire building facades to smaller, hidden pieces tucked away in narrow alleyways, Belgium offers an outdoor gallery experience unlike any other.
Here is a list of 20 Belgian cities where street art has transformed urban landscapes into colorful open-air museums.
Brussels
The Belgian capital stands as the undisputed center of the country’s street art scene, boasting over 50 comic strip murals alongside works by international artists like Banksy and ROA. The city hosts the annual Kosmopolite Art Tour, bringing together artists from around the world to create new pieces throughout various neighborhoods.
Areas like Marolles and Sainte-Catherine showcase how street art has revitalized once-overlooked districts.
Antwerp
This port city combines its fashion-forward reputation with an equally impressive urban art scene centered around the Noord district. The city’s “Street Art Antwerp” initiative has commissioned large-scale works that often incorporate elements of Flemish artistic tradition with contemporary themes.
Legendary Belgian street artist Roa got his start here, and his animal-themed murals can still be found throughout his hometown.
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Ghent
The medieval city center provides a striking backdrop for some of Belgium’s most thought-provoking street art, particularly along Werregarenstraat, affectionately known as ‘Graffiti Street.’ This officially sanctioned area changes almost daily as artists continually paint over existing works.
The contrast between ancient architecture and vibrant modern art creates a visual dialogue between past and present.
Charleroi
Often overlooked by tourists, this post-industrial city has embraced street art as part of its cultural rebirth. The ‘Urban Dream’ project has transformed abandoned factory walls and working-class neighborhoods with massive murals addressing themes of industrial heritage and social change.
Local authorities actively support street artists as part of the city’s ongoing revitalization efforts.
Ostend
This coastal resort city features the Crystal Ship Festival, Belgium’s largest street art event, which adds approximately 50 new permanent works each year. Artists work on a massive scale here, with many murals spanning entire buildings facing the North Sea.
The salty air and maritime light give these works a distinctive quality that changes with the coastal weather.
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Leuven
This university town balances its academic heritage with a vibrant street art scene concentrated around the student quarter. The annual ‘Leuven Streets’ event brings artists to transform mundane spaces throughout the historic center.
Many pieces cleverly incorporate references to the city’s reputation as a center of knowledge and innovation.
Hasselt
Known as the ‘Street Art City of Belgium,’ Hasselt features over 30 major murals as part of its ‘Street Art Trail’ initiative. The city provides free maps guiding visitors through neighborhoods transformed by works from both Belgian and international artists.
Local government policies actively protect these works, recognizing their cultural and economic value to the community.
Namur
The capital of Wallonia features the ‘Namur Street Art Path,’ guiding visitors through the historic center to discover works that often reference the region’s folklore and traditions. The annual ‘Pshitt’ festival focuses on graffiti writing and traditional techniques rather than just murals.
The city’s position at the confluence of two rivers inspires many water-themed works throughout its streets.
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Mechelen
This compact historical city contains surprising amounts of street art hidden within its medieval street plan. The ‘Mechelen Muurt’ initiative has paired international artists with local youth to create community-focused murals reflecting the city’s diverse population.
The works often incorporate elements from Mechelen’s rich architectural heritage while addressing contemporary social themes.
Liège
The industrial heritage of Liège provides the perfect canvas for politically charged street art addressing themes of labor, immigration, and social justice. The Palais des Congrès area features a concentration of works by both French and Flemish-speaking artists, symbolically bridging Belgium’s linguistic divide.
Many murals incorporate references to the city’s working-class history and industrial landscape.
Doel
This nearly abandoned village near Antwerp has been transformed into what might be Belgium’s most unique street art destination. Scheduled for demolition for decades to make way for port expansion, artists began using empty buildings as canvases, creating an eerie open-air gallery.
Nearly every structure in this ghost town features art, creating a haunting commentary on urban development and decay.
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Tournai
One of Belgium’s oldest cities now features some of its most innovative street art, with works often directly engaging with the city’s 2000-year history. The annual ‘Tournai d’Art’ festival adds new pieces that creatively incorporate elements of the city’s five medieval towers and Romanesque architecture.
Artists here often use trompe l’oeil techniques that play with the city’s historical facades.
Mons
Since 2015, when it was named European Capital of Culture, Mons has maintained its commitment to public art through permanent street art installations. The ‘Urban Art in Mons’ trail leads visitors through the historic center and outlying industrial areas to discover works addressing themes of memory and identity.
Many pieces reference the city’s mining history and working-class traditions.
Arlon
Belgium’s southernmost city features street art heavily influenced by neighboring Luxembourg and France, creating a unique cross-border style. The annual ‘Paint the Town’ initiative focuses on bringing color to the often gray urban landscape of this administrative center.
Local artists often incorporate references to the region’s Celtic heritage in their contemporary pieces.
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Kortrijk
This West Flanders city hosts ‘The Crystal Ship On Tour,’ bringing renowned artists to transform its historic textile district with massive murals. The city’s position near the French border has created a distinctive style blending Belgian and French street art traditions.
Many works reference the city’s textile manufacturing history while addressing contemporary social issues.
Louvain-la-Neuve
This purpose-built university city embraces street art as part of its identity despite being less than 50 years old. The pedestrianized center provides perfect viewing conditions for works that often address themes relevant to its young student population.
The contrast between the city’s modernist architecture and colorful street art creates a unique urban landscape.
Dinant
This picturesque riverside town features street art that often incorporates its dramatic natural setting between cliffs and the Meuse River. The ‘Art in the Street’ program has brought artists to create works that interact with the town’s famous saxophone heritage and medieval architecture.
Many pieces are strategically placed to create surprising dialogues with the town’s stunning natural backdrop.
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Roeselare
This West Flanders market town has embraced street art as a way to distinguish itself from neighboring cities. The ‘Hello Walls’ project focuses on artistic interventions that bring life to otherwise overlooked urban spaces and blank walls.
Local artists often incorporate agricultural themes, reflecting the city’s importance as a regional farming center.
Knokke-Heist
This upscale coastal resort balances its reputation for luxury with a surprisingly vibrant street art scene. Each summer, the ‘Art at the Beach’ initiative brings temporary and permanent works to the seafront promenade.
The contrast between high-end shopping streets and boundary-pushing street art creates an unexpected cultural juxtaposition.
Genk
This former mining city has embraced street art as part of its post-industrial transformation. The C-mine cultural center serves as the hub for street art activities that often reference the city’s multicultural population and coal mining heritage.
Many works are created in collaboration with communities descended from the immigrant miners who once worked in the city.
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Urban Canvas Revolution
Belgium’s embrace of street art represents more than just the aesthetic enhancement of urban spaces. In cities across the country, these public works tell stories of industrial heritage, social change, and cultural identity on an accessible canvas.
What began as an underground expression has evolved into a respected art form that attracts international visitors while giving locals new reasons to explore their neighborhoods. Belgium proves that sometimes the most compelling museums have no walls, no admission fees, and are open 24 hours a day.
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