From September next year one of Brussels’ cultural hotspot, the Beursschouwburg with leave the Auguste Ortstrtaat in the centre of Brussels, to allow for renovation work to be carried out on the building that houses the theatre and arts centre. What is being described as “a thorough renovation” of the Beursschouwburg building will get under way at the start of 2027 and will take 2 years to complete. Meanwhile, Beursschouwburg is looking for alternative accommodation for the duration of the renovation work.
Since it was last renovated more than 20 years ago Beursschouwburg has grown further as a arts centre. However, this is sometimes hampered by infrastructure limitations. Furthermore, a lot of Beursschouwburg’s technical facilities are worn out and/or outdated.
In order to address this the Flemish Department of Culture plans to carry out a thorough renovation of the Beursschouwburg building. Beursschouwburg’s
Pia Bonafede told the Brussels regional news platform Bruzz that “The plans that are now on the table state that the work will get under at start of 2027 and will take 2 years”.
Facelift for the ground floor
The entire ground floor of the Beursschouwburg building will be given a complete facelift. Capacity and the ability to organise various events simultaneously will be enhanced. Currently, Beursschouwburg’s concert hall has capacity for 178 people. Its theater has room for 134 people and its cinema has a capacity of 30.
The Bovenbouw Architects’ Bureau has been given the contract for the renovation work.
Festive farewell
In September next year Beursschouwburg will bid a festive farewell to its building on the Auguste Ortsstraat. The move to a location that still has to be determined and will be Beursschouwburg’s home during 2027 and 2028 with take several months to complete.
The new location will also provide the opportunity to try out new things “We are very excited to be moving to a new location. We can try out a lot of new ideas and there is additional space for new ideas”, Pia Bonafede said.
Before Beursschouwburg moves out of Auguste Ortsstraat, the arts centre will organise a farewell to the building that has been its home for decades and that it will be vacating for at least 2.5 years. Pia Bonafede told Bruzz that “Whatever happens, the farewell will be a festive ode to a building that has brought us so much and to all the people who have passed through here be they artists, staff or audience members”.