Fuse

Fuse is the most famous nightclub in Brussels and a landmark of European techno. It opened in 1994, when Thierry Coppens and Peter Decuypere took over a former club called Le Disque Rouge on the Rue Blaes in the Marolles and turned it into a venue dedicated to the new sound of techno. Their timing was right, and Fuse quickly earned a reputation well beyond Belgium.

The club has hosted some of the biggest names in electronic music over the years, with Daft Punk, Aphex Twin and Björk among those who have played there. DJ Mag included Fuse in its list of the world's top 100 clubs every year from 2008 to 2014, ranking it 21st in 2010 and calling it Belgium's number one techno outpost. Its resident DJ Pierre has been named best Belgian resident DJ. Today the programme features DJ and live-act nights, with techno at the core and house sets in the mix.

Fuse holds around 1,500 people and is a serious clubbing venue, so it suits dedicated fans of electronic music who want to dance until late. It is less suited to anyone looking for a quiet drink or a place to talk. Expect queues on popular nights and door checks, and carry identification.

The club announces its line-ups on its website, so check the programme before you go and buy tickets in advance for big-name nights when available. Club nights generally start late and run into the early morning, so plan transport home; night buses and taxis are the usual options. Respect the neighbours in this residential area when leaving.

The Rue Blaes is the long street that runs through the Marolles from the Sablon area towards the Porte de Hal, and the club is close to the Place du Jeu de Balle. Porte de Hal metro station, on lines 2 and 6, is a short walk away. During the day the same street is lined with antique and design shops, a very different scene from Fuse's long nights.

If you are visiting for the weekend, you could combine a morning at the Jeu de Balle flea market with lunch at a Marolles brasserie, then return to the area after dark for a night at the club.