Five Outdoor Art Exhibitions to Explore in Belgium This Summer
As summer temperatures settle into a comfortable range, Belgium’s cultural scene moves outdoors. From the North Sea coast to the Kempen region, a diverse array of open-air exhibitions invites art lovers to explore fresh-air experiences that blend contemporary creativity with stunning natural and architectural settings. Here are five outdoor exhibitions worth discovering this season.
1. The Crystal Ship — Ostend
Ostend is celebrating the 10th edition of The Crystal Ship, its landmark street art festival that has transformed the coastal city into one of Europe’s most impressive open-air galleries. With over 100 large-scale murals already adorning the city’s walls, this year’s edition adds 20 new works curated by Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts.
A highlight of the jubilee edition is the “Subway Art” exhibition at Fort Napoleon, which traces the evolution of graffiti from the 1960s to today. The anonymous Belgian street artist ROA returns with a giant bird tower sculpture, while four local Ostend artists contribute more than 80 smaller interventions across the city, celebrating local landmarks and traditions.
2. Ooidonk Art Festival — Deinze
Nestled along the Leie River in Bachte-Maria-Leerne, the Ooidonk Art Festival transforms a 17th-century farmstead near Ooidonk Castle into a contemporary art destination. Running until August 30 (Thursdays to Sundays), the festival features works by more than 45 artists, including internationally renowned figures like Wim Delvoye and Johan Creten.
An art route winds through the surrounding fields, complemented by a summer bar and pop-up restaurant. The location offers more than just art — the nearby Ooidonk walking path leads past the former home of painter Emile Claus, whose works once immortalized these very landscapes. This year also marks the 10th edition of the Biennial of Painting in the Leie region.
3. Beeldentuin Hugo Voeten — Geel (Kempen)
Belgium has a rich tradition of private art collectors opening their treasures to the public, and the Beeldentuin Hugo Voeten in Geel is one of the finest examples. Hugo Voeten (1940-2017), founder of the Cash & Fresh supermarket chain, spent 40 years amassing some 2,000 works. Today, approximately 170 sculptures are displayed across a sprawling 15-hectare park in the Kempen region.
The garden features works by Panamarenko, Wim Delvoye, Léon Spilliaert, Sophie Calle, Christo, and Thierry De Cordier. True to Voeten’s philosophy, there are no explanatory plaques — visitors are encouraged to experience the art without knowing the artist’s name first. For indoor art, the Art Center Hugo Voeten in nearby Herentals, housed in a converted grain factory, offers another layer of the collection.
Art enthusiasts should also note the nearby Verbeke Foundation in Kemzeke, a 12-hectare nature area with 20,000 square meters of covered exhibition space.
4. Kunstenfestival Watou — Poperinge
After a one-year pause due to funding challenges, the Kunstenfestival Watou has made a full comeback in the West Flemish border village. Running from July 15 to August 30, this year’s edition is themed “Gemene Wegen” (Common Ways), exploring both the positive meaning of shared paths and the darker side of exclusion.
Sixty artists and 25 poets participate across multiple locations, with visitors walking or cycling between venues. A standout feature is “Woutje,” an AI poet that generates poems on the spot. Visitors train the AI by selecting their preferred fragments from three generated options, with the experiment culminating in a blind test where guests choose between AI and human poetry.
The festival’s return was made possible by renewed subsidies from the Flemish government, and the community’s enthusiasm is palpable — local volunteers and businesses have eagerly embraced the revival.
5. Lichtzoekers (Light Seekers) — Brussels
Looking up in Brussels this summer might reveal something unexpected: life-size human sculptures perched on facades and rooftops, appearing to climb toward the sky. These are the Lichtzoekers, the passion project of sculptor and television maker Senne Dehandschutter.
“I love Brussels, but the city can be intense,” Dehandschutter explains. “On days like that, I long for light, air, and wonder. I can’t climb the facades myself to look for a horizon, so I let the sculptures try.”
Approximately 15 sculptures — modeled after both famous and unknown Brussels residents — are scattered across the city. A digital Google Maps walking route guides self-guided tours, while a guided tour on August 29 includes a visit to the artist’s studio. Dehandschutter describes the project as “a silent spectacle woven through the city,” deliberately avoiding what he calls “Trumpian installations.”
A Summer of Open-Air Culture
These five exhibitions reflect a broader trend in Belgian cultural life: the growing appreciation for outdoor art experiences that combine creativity with fresh air, heritage, and community. Whether you are exploring the urban canvas of Ostend, the poetic fields of Watou, or the hidden sculptures of Brussels, this summer offers ample opportunity to experience art in a new light.
Most exhibitions run through late August, making these ideal day trips for the remaining weeks of summer.