Tintin fans headed to Belgium might want to pass the concierge desk of Haluk Sahin, a local expert on Brussels’ most famous journalist.
The family concierge at Hotel Amigo Brussels, Haluk Sahin has mapped out a treasure trial of 60 comic book murals scattered across the Belgian capital. He talks favourite frescoes and delivers the low-down on the hotel’s Tintin-themed suite, the only one of its kind in the world.
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How would you describe the job of family/comic concierge and how much do you know about comics?
Being the comic concierge is something unique! It’s a role I take to heart because comic books are very much part of our Belgian heritage. As Belgians, we are very proud of our international influence. I used to read Spirou magazine as a kid and it really caught my imagination but I’m especially focused on Tintin creator Hergé, who’s one of my favourite authors.
You were responsible for mapping out the street art treasure trial. Tell us about that process.
We’re lucky in Brussels to have comic wall routes all over the city. The tours are varied and suitable for all ages. To best cater to clients’ demands, we’ll first listen to what they want to see the most, rather than stroll around and discover the city by chance or do as many art murals as possible. My favourite is the mural of Tintin and Snowy on a steel weathervane on the roof of a building near the Gare du Midi. I also like Tintin in America on the Rue de L’Etuve.
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Hotel Amigo Brussels is home to a Tintin Suite featuring a drawing signed by Steven Spielberg. Tell us more.
It’s a unique experience because it’s the only Tintin-themed suite in the world, and features Tintin-themed wallpaper and bedlinen, artworks, pieces from the Hergé museum collection plus Snowy, Tintin’s fox terrier, standing guard outside. The suite also has a connecting room for families. Spielberg stayed in the suite for the 2011 release of The Adventures of Tintin movie and the signed drawing commemorates his stay here.
Do you think comics get the credit they deserve as an artform, and to what extent do tours like this help?
They certainly have all the merit to be classified in the art category for their originality, authenticity and influence. Comics now sell for unimaginable prices at auction: an original painting by Hergé showing Tintin and Snowy hiding in a porcelain jar initially intended as the cover for Hergé’s fifth book, The Blue Lotus fetched €3.2 million (US$3.4 million) at Parisian auction house Artcurial and saw Tintin enter the record books for comic book art.
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Dedicated to the Tintin’s creator, The Herge Museum is a half-hour drive from the hotel. What are some of the highlights?
It’s a bit further from the city than we usually venture but it’s a must-see for comic book lovers. The space is very big and allows you to discover the universe of Hergé from the beginning through original sketches; discovering how the stories were created is very interesting. In addition to being housed in a very beautiful modern building that resembles an elongated prism, the interior space has been designed so that you can really dive into the world of Tintin and forget about the outside world.
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