Brussels festival invites public to embrace the slow life

The movement’s founding principles are simple. Hold your horses. Stop and smell the roses. Chill out. Its adherents lament not just the speed of modern life but its industrial scale. They advocate a return to sustainable living, both on the individual and ecological levels. The organisers of Brussels’ Bessst Festival hold these truths to be self-evident and are turning Tour & Taxis into an oasis of slow.

Opening night kicks off with live music by Brussels-based afro-fusion group Safar Republique and slowly wanders into the wee hours with DJ sets by the Red Bamboo. Things get seriously slow the following day with workshops dedicated to slow cooking, intuitive drawing and meditation.

Saturday evening sees more live music—this time by the Bruxello cello quartet—and an open-air film screening. In-between, festival-goers are invited to peruse the festival’s pop-up library, contemplate its urban art installations, play board games, slowly sip a beverage at the bar or simply space out at the campsite.

In true slow style, Sunday begins with yoga and bike ride. The afternoon’s activities are geared towards slow families and include games, a vocal improv performance and a bread-baking workshop. The festival wraps with a tasting of herbal teas and organic juices and beers.

The festival isn’t just a one-off. It’s part of the ongoing BE SSST project, undertaken by a coalition of organisations including Citizenne and the Flemish Community Commission. BE SSST puts on workshops and other slow-minded events throughout the year.
25-27 September across Brussels

Photo by Michael De Lausnay