Ancienne Belgique

Best venue in Brussels, amazing sound and artists. Not so good when you're less than 1m80. When sold-out (all the time then), it is densely packed with tall Flemish people and have you be in the first rows or in the upper seats to see anything. The stage might not be high enough.

Very easy to travel to using the train from Ghent. About a 10 min walk from the train station through the main streets. Very nice location, great acoustic, perfectly clean toilets, and great beer. Will definitely be back!

Lovely venue, the balcony has a great view of the stage. Right in the middle of Brussels so you there are many restaurants nearby. You can park for free at P+R Coovi and take the metro for free to their venue (30min) by using the Event Pass QR code on your ticket. It's included in every ticket for AB events.

Nice concert hall (ballroom) but be aware there are no seats! This night was Ziggy Alberts and Hein Cooper, 2 Australian musicians.

We traveled all the way from Krefeld to Brussels to see Pink Martini at Ancienne Belgique – unfortunately, we were deeply disappointed. Upon arrival at 6 PM, a young staff member told us in a rude and disinterested manner that doors wouldn’t open until 7 PM. While the timing itself was fine, his tone and attitude were completely inappropriate. Once doors opened, the crowd rushed toward the few available seats on the balcony. That area quickly became overcrowded – people were even sitting on the stairs. Emergency exits were barely visible or insufficient. The increasing pressure and lack of space made us and the guests around us feel extremely unsafe. Staff presence was nearly nonexistent during this crucial phase. No one intervened or monitored the number of people flooding the balcony, and it felt like the entire venue, including the standing area, was well beyond capacity. After waiting 90 minutes for the show to begin, we – along with others – decided to leave due to serious safety concerns. One of the women next to us even spoke to a staff member, who responded with disinterest and offered no real assistance. This experience was unacceptable for such a well-known venue. Guest safety and respectful treatment should be a top priority. Unfortunately, neither was the case here.

Great concert hall, always hosting hand picked musicians. The last one I have listened to here was Bear McCreary, and the atmosphere helped a lot for having an awesome experience with proper music immersion.

Great location, nice looking and clean (even during a crowded concert). However, the sound was mediocre. Also, you cannot pay with normal money for your drinks and snacks, you need to buy tokens. Which just adds an unnecessary layer of complexity. And more queues.

Excellent music hall, with a large venue on the main floor and a smaller stage upstairs. Acoustics good, large entrance / bar area. Floor area standing only, tiered seating opposite the stage. Two levels of standing side balconies. Location downtown next to tram ('pre-metro') stop.

What an epic experience to see Fleet Foxes here! This is a historic location and venue! This place is known for its exceptional acoustics. The Kings of Leon recorded a live EP here. There are 3 levels and if you arrive early you can get seats in the rear, otherwise you are standing the entire show. Go here to see a live show!

I went there for a Chvrches concert and I'm pretty sure this is the most amazing venues I've never been. They have a huge cloakroom where you can leave all your things for just one Euro. The beers where cheap for a music venue (4,70€ for pint). And the most important thing is the sound, lights and decoration are incredibly good.

Only a very lucky human being gets to see one of her favorite electronic groups while traveling overseas. Just think of all the factors that must fall into place - the band's tour dates, availability of tickets, and proximity to the venue. It's pretty much the ultimate trifecta of coincidence. As it turns out, I am that lucky person - someone who was gifted a Hot Chip ticket to a sold-out Saturday night show in Brussels! Because I wanted to live like a local, I took the metro instead of a cab. And then walked. And walked some more. Gosh, Belgian maps are difficult to read. Of course, I found it. Ancienne Belgique is this beautiful, contemporary music venue that feels spacious with its soaring ceilings but in actuality, the capacity makes it quite intimate. In fact, I didn't think I'd have a shot at running into some new friends who were also going to the show but alas, I found them by the first bar I set my thirsty sights on. Luck strikes yet again! The sound quality is superb. If you prefer to drink while watching your favorite band take the stage (yes!), then angle for a space on the floor near one of the doors. That's how the savvy Belgian boys do it anyway, and I was right there to capitalize. If you'd rather take a seat, there's 'romantic' seating in the back and then there's also two levels of terrace. The bars work on a token system so make sure to head there first. And if you have a coat or anything else you'd prefer to dump during the show, head downstairs and grab a locker for €1. So convenient! Hopefully sooner than later, I'll be back.

Saw the Paloma Faith show!! I love the style of this venue!! She show was amazing!!

Everybody seems to love the AB and I am one of them! This venue actually has a few different stages/rooms for different concerts. The place is located right downtown, right next to the bourse and a few minutes walk from the grand place/main square. I've been here many times for many concerts and have never been disappointed performance wise or otherwise. There is a bar there (actually I think two) for drinks and the service is very un-Belgian, meaning that you don't wait long to be served. What is nice though is that since you are there to see a favorite band or singer, they also have a set up where the musicians' CDs, t-shirts, posters, etc. are sold.

Ancienne Belgique is one of my favourite things in Brussels. Every day this spot offers concerts and for a rock / heavy metal fan like me, this place is pure gold. I came to see in Flames, Trivium, Alter Bridge, Bullet for my Valentine and many more major bands in the metal scene. The acustics, especially in the back of the place are awesome. Literally one of the best concert halls of similar size I have ever been to. Even for really heavy stuff, the sound is neat and the lights work is pretty stounding too. They have a good merch corner and bar too with very affordable prices. Below, you find a safe deposit for your coats and belongings which don't find elsewhere. This is a pretty smart move. The position is very strategic too. being in the very centre of Brussels you can easily grab a bite during breaks or after you concert.

Great place to see a concert. The sound is incredible and there are seats in the balcony. It is unfortunate though that people still smoke in a place that says no smoking and it is not enforced.