This Saturday marks a highlight on Brussels' cultural agenda: 28 museums will be welcoming visitors outside their usual opening hours, offering a unique nighttime experience. Find out all the practicalities and unmissable events below.
Museum Night Fever is returning to the capital for its 17th edition. On ordinary days, most museums close their doors at 17:00. Yet this Saturday around 30 of the capital's museums (find out which ones here) will re-open at 19:00 and close as late as 01:00.
Adding to the buzz will be the unique programme designed for the event, which will feautre performances by emerging artists and wheelchair dancers, special guided tours, operas and behind-the-scenes explorations – a visit to every museum will be unique.
Practicalities
One ticket, which can be bought here for €16 before Saturday and for €20 on the day itself) gives access to all 28 participating museums. Children under the age of 12 can explore for free. It also gives access to STIB's Noctis buses, the two shuttle bus routes (one includes historic buses from the Tram Museum) and trams (lines 92 and 93 will run until 01:00).
Credit: STIB
With partners specialising in accessibility, organisers have for the first time created a pilot trail for people with reduced mobility. It includes stops at six participating museums in the city centre which are easily accessible without a shuttle bus.
The fun doesn't end after Saturday. The wristband given at the entrance of the first museum can be exchanged for one free visit to any of the participating museums until 24 November.
Unmissable events
Experiencing any exhibitions of the participating museum during the night is a joy in itself – but some events on the programme do jump out and maybe worth adjusting your route for.
A musical tour – Raising voices for togetherness, La Monnaie
The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie, an opera house in central Brussels, is one of the most beautiful historic theatres in Europe. On this special occasion, visitors are invited to take a tour of the Ateliers de la Monnaie, where all our opera sets are built and costumes made. The tour will be guided by several musical performances in a variety of genres, from classical, and world music to jazz and electro. Find more information here.
Credit: La Monnaie
DJ sets - AMVB (Dutch-speaking Brussels archive)
Alongside a look behind the scenes of the archive (of which an English-language tour will take place at 20:00) and the temporary exhibition ‘50 Years of Choosing Brussels’ at the AMVB, the lineup at AMVB includes performances by a group of exceptional Brussels artists High up on our list is the ‘PALESTINE is Not (Yet) FREE’ DJ set by Beebee-lal Kamilla Arnout, revealing the fragility of society in an ongoing conflict. Find more information here.
Swing jazz concert and performance – Museum of the National Bank of Belgium
While exhibitions on banks and money may not excite everyone, the swing-themed events hosted here surely will. The evening will kick off with a concert by Belle Epoque, a quintet performing jazz standards from the 1920s to 1940s, followed by a joyful performance by Jazz Maniacs. Find more information here.
A look inside the 19th-century bank building housing the Museum of the National Bank of Belgium. Credit: NBB
Wheelchair dancing – Train World
Few performances on Saturday will be as breath-taking as that of the Belgian Rolling Stars, a group of dancers of all ages that will take over Train World's Old Ticket Hall for wheelchair dancing. Expect a wide variety of dances, either solo, in duet or in group, set to ballroom, Latin or contemporary music. Find more information here.
Tote bag printing workshop – Royal Military Museum
Looking to get more hands-on in a unique setting? Then this tote bag printing workshop allows participants to print illustrations and texts and personalise tote bags with textile paint and stencils. The instructions of Salomé Lima Fernandes will help even the most amateur artists through the creation process. Find more information here.
Credit: Royal Military Museum/ Museum Night Fever
Crossbow shooting – The Guilde House of the Crossbowmen
Ever tried your hand at crossbow shooting? On Saturday, revellers can practice than in the presence of Les Membres Tireurs du Grand Serment Royal et de Saint-Georges des Arbalétriers de Bruxelles, the official crossbowmen of Brussels, considered to be the defenders of the city. After several spectacular demonstrations, visitors will be handed a crossbow to try for themselves. Find more information here.
