The renowned Théâtre Royal de Toone in Brussels has been awarded the European Heritage Label by the European Commission – a recognition of the theatre's significant role in European history and culture.
This award brings the total number of sites bearing the heritage label to 67, with four located in Belgium. These places include the Mundaneum in Mons, the Benevolent Colonies of Wortel, the Bois du Cazier in Charleroi, and the MigratieMuseumMigration (MMM) in Molenbeek.
Just a stone's throw away from the Grand Place, the Théâtre de Toone is described as the only traditional puppet theatre still operating in Brussels. These historically significant puppet theatres featuring poechenelles (Punch puppet figures) not only served as popular entertainment hubs but also as a way for staying up-to-date with current affairs.
Sites must meet three criteria to be awarded the European Label: a strong significance to the EU, an ability to effectively communicate their European dimension to the public, and an operational capability to execute such activities. The labelled sites are also mandated to participate in networking activities and collaborative projects.
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Aside from the Théâtre de Toone, the heritage label was also awarded to Cisterscapes (Cistercian Landscapes Connecting Europe) – a transnational site linking 17 monastic landscapes in Germany, Austria, Czechia, Poland and Slovenia.
Other recipients include Monasterio San Jerónimo de Yuste in Spain, Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder in the Netherlands, the epic Kalevala in Finland, Athénée Romain in Bucharest, and Sant'Anna di Stazzema in Italy.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Antwerp on 17 April.
