A limited edition zine celebrating the best cafés in Brussels is launching on 11 December, produced by renowned Irish illustrator Selkies and award-winning writer Eoghan Walsh.
The zine series, Pintjes, will celebrate what makes Brussels' best cafés and bars both iconic and beloved by the city's residents.
Each limited edition print run of Pintjes will focus on a different neighbourhood or district in Brussels, putting a spotlight on its most iconic and eccentric cafés.
For Volume 1, Walsh and Selkies have zoomed in on the streets around Bourse: the heart of Brussels, "where the city began and where the two most often gravitate towards."
The first edition of the zine will highlight five "special" bars around the city centre landmark: Le Coq, À La Bécasse, Estaminet Toone, Booze 'n Blues, and Lord Byron.
The release of the first edition of the zine will be marked by a launch event in Lord Byron on Rue des Chartreux in the city centre at 19:30 on Wednesday 11 December.
The zine is a collaboration between renowned Brussels-based illustrator Selkies, who has worked with Irish musicians Kneecap, and writer Eoghan Walsh, author of the award-winning book 'A History of Brussels Beer in 50 Objects'.
The zine is illustrated by Selkies, an illustrator from Dublin now living in Brussels. She has worked with musicians such as Irish rap group Kneecap, as well as football clubs and music festivals. Her work is often about nostalgia, reminiscing on both her roots back in Ireland and the Brussels she used to know.
Irish author Eoghan Walsh is the award-winning Brussels-based writer of the 'Brussels Notes' newsletter, and founder of the Brussels Beer City blog. He has written for The Irish Times, Pellicle, Le Fooding, Guzzle. His most recent book, 'A History of Brussels Beer in 50 Objects', was published in July 2022.
Gems 'on the verge of disappearing'
Walsh said the project aims to highlight "good, characterful Brussels cafés" as well as promote print journalism – "both of which always seem to be on the verge of disappearing".
"With daily headlines about some of the city's most atmospheric and enjoyable bars under pressure or disappearing, we thought, what better way to celebrate some of our favourites than with a dedicated zine? We love the DIY aesthetic of zines, and thought it was a great match for the rough and readiness of Brussels' best cafés," he said.
For Walsh, a good Brussels pub is "one that's been around long enough to accumulate some weird decor, some consistent (and consistently odd) regulars, a resident cat and a comfortable chair".
"Pintjes is about basking in and celebrating these – increasingly endangered – spaces in Brussels. Walking [through Brussels'] streets I get such satisfaction from stopping to smell the roses (or the Lambic). Pintjes is about finding something completely quotidian and going 'that's lovely isn't it, enjoy that' – and we don't do that enough with Brussels' fantastic cafés."
The first volume of Pintjes will be released at the Lord Byron launch party, alongside a limited number of exclusive prints based on the illustrations from the first edition. The zine will be produced in very limited quantities – only 50 copies of each issue will be printed.
