Brussels Comics: Tintin, the Smurfs and the Comic Museum

Some of the most famous characters in the world were born in Belgium. Tintin, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke and Spirou all came from the drawing boards of Belgian artists, and Brussels wears that heritage proudly, from a grand comic museum to dozens of giant murals painted across the city’s walls. For anyone who grew up with these characters, and plenty who did not, the world of Brussels comics is one of the most charming things about the city. This is our guide to it: the museum, the murals, and the characters that made Belgium the home of the comic strip. It is part of our full Brussels travel guide and our wider Paris and Belgium itinerary by Eurostar.

Why Belgium is the home of the comic strip

In the French-speaking world the comic strip is taken seriously enough to be called the ninth art, and Belgium is its spiritual home. The country produced a staggering number of the characters that defined European comics in the twentieth century, and for a small nation it punches far above its weight in ink. The style that Belgian artists perfected, clean lines and bright colour telling a clear, fast-moving story, shaped the look of comics across the continent. Brussels, as the capital, is where that story is told and celebrated, and the world of Brussels comics is woven right into the fabric of the city.

The Comics Art Museum

The natural starting point is the Comics Art Museum, the Belgian Comic Strip Center. It is worth visiting for the building alone: a beautiful Art Nouveau former department store designed by Victor Horta, all sweeping ironwork and light, which makes a fitting home for the art it holds. You know you are in the right place when a giant Smurf greets you near the entrance.

Inside, the collection tells the story of Belgian and French comics from the early days through to the modern graphic novel, with original drawings, a reconstruction of Tintin’s rocket, and plenty on how the comics are actually made. It looks beyond Belgium too, with space given to comics from around the world and a corner of Japanese manga, so you will spot the likes of Naruto and One Piece alongside the home-grown heroes. Even if you are not a devoted fan, an hour or two here is time well spent.

Tintin

No Belgian comic is more famous than Tintin. The young reporter with the quiff, his dog Snowy and the irascible Captain Haddock were created by the Brussels artist Hergé, whose first Tintin adventure appeared in 1929, and the series went on to sell hundreds of millions of copies around the world. Hergé’s crisp, uncluttered drawing style, known as the clear line, became hugely influential, and Tintin remains the character most people associate with Belgian comics.

His adventures took him all over the world, from the deserts of the Middle East to the mountains of Tibet, to China and even to the Moon, and that globe-trotting is a big part of the appeal. You will spot him all over Brussels, most famously in a large mural near Manneken Pis. Serious fans can also make the trip out to the dedicated Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve, a short journey from the city.

The Smurfs

The other Belgian export known to half the planet is the Smurfs, or Les Schtroumpfs as they are at home. The little blue characters were created by the artist Peyo and first appeared in 1958, originally as side characters in another of his comics before taking on a life of their own. From a Belgian comic strip they grew into a global phenomenon of television and film, and they remain a point of national pride. The comic museum is the best place to see where they came from.

The other Belgian comic icons

Tintin and the Smurfs get the headlines, but the Belgian roll call runs much deeper. Lucky Luke, the cowboy who shoots faster than his shadow, was drawn by Morris and is one of the best-loved comic heroes in Europe. Walk through the museum and you realise just how many of the characters you grew up with started life here.

Then there is the extraordinary André Franquin, who gave the world Spirou and Fantasio, Gaston Lagaffe the hopeless office boy, and the bouncing yellow Marsupilami. Blake and Mortimer, the very British adventurers, were in fact the work of the Belgian artist Edgar P. Jacobs. The depth of talent on show is what makes the museum such a pleasant surprise, even for casual visitors.

The comic mural trail

The best of Brussels comics is free and out in the open. Over the years the city has turned dozens of blank walls into enormous comic-strip murals, creating an open-air trail that winds through the old town and beyond. Rounding a corner to find a three-storey painting of Tintin, Spirou or a lesser-known hero is one of the quiet pleasures of walking the city, and it turns an ordinary stroll into a treasure hunt. You do not need a plan to enjoy them, though a mural map is easy to find if you want to tick off as many as you can. Keep your eyes up and you will stumble on them all over the centre.

How to do it

The comic heritage slots neatly into a day in the centre. Pair the Comics Art Museum, which sits a short walk from the Grand Place, with the mural trail, which you can follow on foot between the other old-town sights, and you have covered the best of it without needing to go out of your way. If you are travelling with children, or are a fan yourself, it is worth building a couple of hours around it; if not, the murals alone give you a taste as you walk. Either way it costs little and adds a lot of character to a visit.

Tours and tickets in Brussels

The murals are free and cost nothing to enjoy, but the Comics Art Museum charges entry, and a guided tour is a nice way to see the comic trail alongside the rest of the old town. You can browse Brussels tickets and tours on Klook.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Brussels famous for comics?

Belgium produced many of the most famous comic characters in the world, including Tintin and the Smurfs, and Brussels celebrates that heritage with a major comic museum and dozens of large murals painted across the city.

Where were Tintin and the Smurfs created?

Both are Belgian. Tintin was created by the Brussels artist Hergé, with his first adventure appearing in 1929, and the Smurfs were created by the artist Peyo, first appearing in 1958.

What is the Comics Art Museum?

It is the Belgian Comic Strip Center in Brussels, housed in a Victor Horta Art Nouveau building, which tells the story of Belgian and French comics with original artwork and exhibits on how comics are made.

Are the Brussels comic murals free?

Yes. The comic murals are public art painted on walls across the city, so they are free to see. You can follow them on foot as you explore the old town, with or without a mural map.

Is the comic museum worth visiting?

Yes, both for the comics and for the stunning Art Nouveau building it occupies. Fans will love it, and even casual visitors enjoy an hour among the original drawings and the history.

From Tintin to the Smurfs, Brussels comics are a genuine highlight of the city and an easy, cheerful thing to build into a visit. For everything else to see and eat here, see our full Brussels travel guide and our Paris and Belgium itinerary by Eurostar.