Q&A

Getting up to No Good with ENFNTS TERRIBLES

Last Thursday at sunset, The Standard, Brussels and ENFNTS TERRIBLES marked the hotel’s debut with an intimate dinner at Lila29, beginning the evening on the 29th floor terrace with Katkoot bubbles and panoramic views. The guest list brought together a vibrant mix of voices from Brussels, Antwerp and beyond across the worlds of culture, art and design.

Presiding over it all with signature edge: Dries Vriesacker, co-founder of the sharp-tongued, trend-forward magazine that's been rewriting the rules of fashion and culture coverage in Belgium for nearly a decade. We caught up with him to talk about nearly a decade of pushing boundaries, why Belgium’s cultural clout is so often underestimated, and how to do Brussels like a local (hint: skip the tourist traps and stay out late).


For those just discovering it—what is ENFNTS TERRIBLES, and how would you describe its point of view to those not yet in the know?

ENFNTS TERRIBLES is an Antwerp-based independent magazine with an opinionated focus on all things culture, life, and style. Like our name, ENFNTS TERRIBLES, we like to be quite rebellious and don’t care too much about what others would think about things we do. 


The name ENFNTS TERRIBLES carries a rebellious, boundary-pushing connotation (it means terrible children in French). What does it mean to you now, almost a decade in?

We originally chose the name ENFNTS TERRIBLES because we wanted to do something that other magazines weren’t doing: being brutally honest, even when it’s about big brands (with big advertising budgets). Almost a decade in, I can tell you that it made things harder and got us on quite a few blacklists. But I still don’t regret it. Because of our candid reviews, we managed to build a very authentic relationship with our audience that fully trusts us. That’s worth a lot to me. 


You’re often ahead of trends. What subcultures or emerging scenes are you currently obsessed with?

I’m keeping an eye on the Berlin fashion scene these days! Berlin Fashion Week has been growing significantly, and I love what I’m seeing there. Brands such as GmbH, SF1OG, and Sia Arnika, amongst others, are slowly but surely putting Berlin on the fashion map. 

⁠If ENFNTS TERRIBLES had a spiritual godparent—a brand, designer, or artist—who would it be?

Such a difficult question! I don’t think we have one specific spiritual godparent. But we’ve always been obsessed with Belgian legends such as Martin Margiela, Raf Simons, etc. 


What’s something outsiders consistently misunderstand about Belgium or its cultural scene?

Even though we are a very small country, Belgians are everywhere in Culture. If you look at fashion, for example, there are currently Belgians at the top of brands such as Prada, Alaïa, Diesel, Maison Margiela, Chanel (okay, he’s half Belgian, half French, but we love to claim him as ours), Courrèges and Saint Laurent. And then we also have designers who are building their own brand or doing key jobs within other fashion houses. 


⁠Who are some under-the-radar Belgian designers, musicians, or artists more people should know about?

Some of the Belgian designers that I always love to push are fashion designer Julie Kegels, leather bag brand Peterselie Brussels, jewelry brand Bobby, accessory brand D’heygere, fashion brand Façon Jacmin, shoe brand Ottange, fashion label SKÓN, jewelry designer Anouk Van Puyvelde, etc. I could keep going, to be honest. There’s a lot of talent in Belgium! 


When you land somewhere new, what’s your formula for tapping into the city’s energy—any travel rituals or must-do moves?

The most important thing when arriving in a new city is meeting people. Talk to people, post a story asking if you have any followers in the city, go on a date with a local… It’s always the locals who can give you the best tips on where to go and what to do! I don’t want to be where all the tourists are. I want to be where the local cool crowd is hanging out. 


ENFNTS TERRIBLES sits at the crossroads of fashion, nightlife, and youth culture—if someone were checking in to The Standard, Brussels with the magazine as their guide, what kind of night (or weekend) would they be in for?

Oh girl, a wild weekend, for sure! I’d definitely suggest taking Monday (and Tuesday) off.


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