What's on this week: 30 November

It’s only natural that Ghent’s Museum Dr Guislain, located in what was Belgium’s first mental hospital, should analyse the art on its walls. This comprehensive exhibition takes the theme of adoption and traces its evolving representation through the history of art and storytelling. Some of fiction’s greatest heroes – Superman, Tarzan and Anne of Green Gables, for example – were adopted. But there is also a dark side: Adoption can entail displacement and trauma. All of this is explored through the works of art themselves and historical documents that shed light on their social context. Until 16 April, Museum Dr Guislain, Ghent

Leuven’s Short Film Festival is a major showcase of movies under the 60-minute mark. Now in its 22nd edition, the event traditionally marks the end of Flanders’ film festival year and boasts hundreds of new shorts in all styles. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll marvel at cutting-edge animation. There is an emphasis on young talent, with dozens of up-and-coming local and international filmmakers in the running for awards in various categories. There’s plenty of film and festivity off programme too, including a networking brunch for industry professionals and a spotlight on New Zealand’s short film scene. 3-10 December, STUK, Leuven

Cars come in all shapes and sizes, and while most automobile enthusiasts have an eye for the outsized luxury sedans of old, there’s a growing demand for compact, affordable rides. This exhibition surveys the history of small cars from the German Messerschmitt bubble car to the three-wheeled British Bond Minicar to the iconic Italian Isetta, built with the door in the front. The 1950s and ’60s were a particularly propitious time for these unconventional models. Not only were bold, new design principles gaining currency, but the first oil crisis created a demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. Until 11 December, Autoworld, Brussels

Luka Bloom: The Irish folk singer performs numbers from his new album Frúgalisto. 3 December 20.30, De Roma, Turnhoutsebaan 286, Antwerp

Photo18 Festival: Inaugural edition of a contemporary photography festival, with the theme Loving Earth, an exploration of the link between humankind and the Earth, through the lenses of landscape photographers. Until 18 January, Hangar H18, Kasteleinsplein 18, Brussels

De Zoektocht van Sinterklaas (Sinterklaas Search): Sinterklaas invites kids of all ages to take part in a treasure hunt in search of his missing belongings, with gifts and treats scattered along the way. 3 December 10.00-18.00, Century Center, De Keyserlei 58, Antwerp

Pierke van Alijn: Ghent's traditional marionette puppet theatre stages a funny story about Sinterklaas for children ages three and up (in Dutch). 3 December 14.30, Het Huis van Alijn, Kraanlei 65, Ghent

Mediterranean Film Festival: The popular annual film festival known as “The Med” features about 70 new and recent films from Mediterranean countries, in addition to concerts, exhibitions, lectures, debates and a Mediterranean market. 2-9 December, across Brussels

End of Stock Book Sale: End-of-year stock sale of 25,000 new books at extra-low prices, featuring a wide range of categories, from children’s books and hobby guides to literature, psychological thrillers, romance novels and coffee-table-book gift ideas. Books in English, too. 2-4 December 10.00-18.00, Zuiderpershuis, Waalsekaai 14, Antwerp