Music: The Vlaamse Opera (tel: (03) 202 1011; website: www.vlaamseopera.be) occupies a magnificent historic building on Frankrijklei. The showcase concert hall is the Koningin Elisabethzaal on Koningin Astridplein (tel: (070) 233 354 or 0900 00311 for tickets; website: www.elisabethzaal.be).

Dance: The Koninklijk Ballet van Vlaanderen (Royal Ballet of Flanders) is based at Eilandje (tel: (03) 234 3438; website: www.kbvv.be).

Theatre: There are several small theatres in and around the Historic Centre, including the Appeltje theatre and Het Klokhuis, which sometimes feature English-language plays. You can buy tickets for both venues at Prospekta (see Film below). Located in the trendy quarter of the the Zuid at Vlaamse Kaai, De Zuiderkroon (tel: (03) 650 1954; website: www.zuiderkroon.be) is a fashionable modern theatre which hosts concerts and slightly offbeat shows.

Mainstream international cabaret Dinner Theatre is on the menu at The Stage, Anneessensstraat (tel: (03) 226 5000; website: www.thestage.be).

Film: There are plenty of mainstream blockbuster cinemas but for alternative fare try Cartoon's in Kaasstraat (tel: (03) 232 9632; website: www.cartoons-cinema.be).

To find out what's on and buy tickets, visit Prospekta, Grote Markt (in the same building as the tourist office) or the FNAC shop in Groenplaats shopping centre.