What’s on this week: 23 November

Brussels Cinema Days is a celebration of contemporary European film, bringing artists from across the continent to show their work and share their ideas. In addition to nearly 20 screenings crammed into four days, the festival also hosts the European Film Forum, a professional event with panel discussions and workshops. The whole thing opens with the premiere of Belgian director Stephan Streker’s much anticipated third feature film. Noces (pictured) follows a Belgo-Pakistani teenager as she attempts to reconcile family tradition – in the form of an arranged marriage – with her Western lifestyle. 30 November to 4 December, Bozar, Brussels

Museum Night Gent is an after-hours open house, showcasing the breadth and depth of the East Flemish capital’s artistic offerings while entertaining with live concerts, film screenings and other performances. This year, 10 of the city’s top institutions are on board. One of them is very literally an institution. Museum Dr Guislain is an art museum installed in the city’s former asylum – and next to its current mental health hospital. Naturally the exhibitions explore perception, psychology and outsider art. Other venues include the historical Sint-Pieter’s Abbey, the encyclopaedic Museum of Fine Arts and the resolutely contemporary Smak. And it’s all for free. 1 December, from 18.00, across Ghent

The quintessential holiday ballet comes to Ostend for a weekend matinee not to be missed. The tale of doll intrigue, conceived by German fantasy writer ETA Hoffmann, had been floating around Europe for nearly a century before it was set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and Marius Petipa’s graceful choreography. It proved the perfect storm of wintertime whimsy. Since its premiere in St Petersburg in 1892, the piece has become the world’s most loved ballet. This production is put on by the National Opera of Ukraine and boasts fairy-tale sets and elaborate costumes galore. 7 January, 14.00, Kursaal, Osten

Pixies: The late ’80s/early ’90s American cult band has not been idle since its comeback in 2014 and is now touring with the long-awaited second post-reunion album, Head Carrier, a unique blend of surrealism, psychedelia and surf rock. 25 November 18.30, Lotto Arena, Schijnpoort 119, Antwerp

Another World – Laboratory of Illusion and Fantasy: Collection of works by artists who create their own unique passages between worlds, covering two centuries of psychosis, hallucination and illusion. Until 28 May, Dr Guislain Museum, Jozef Guislainstraat 43, Ghent

Zit het kwaad in elk van ons? (Is There Evil in All of Us?): Philosopher Johan Braeckman, journalist Barbara Debusschere and Holocaust museum director Christophe Busch discuss whether all everyday people are capable of committing atrocities (in Dutch). 27 November 14.30-16.00, De Bijloke, Jozef Kluyskensstraat 2, Ghent

Glutenvrije Wintermarkt (Gluten-Free Winter Market): The annual market featuring stands with information on gluten sensitivity, as well as freshly baked waffles and other snacks, beer on tap and an appearance by Sinterklaas. 28 November 14.00-17.00, ’t Bau-huis, Slachthuisstraat 60, Sint-Niklaas

Vini, Birre, Ribelli: Annual zero waste and slow food event with a focus on craft, sustainable, organic and natural products, especially beer and wine. 26-27 November, Citroën Garage, Ijzerplein 7, Brussels

Unicef wine tasting: Fun and informative world wine tasting with finger foods; all profits go to the United Nations Children’s Fund. Reserve at [email protected]). 29 November 19.15, Mig’s World Wines, Charleroisesteenweg 43, Brussels