Whether it's the sunny weather or working the 9 to 5, not everyone can visit a museum in the daytime. However, thanks to Nocturnes, for the next seven weeks you can now choose to go at night instead.
Starting today (21 April), 63 museums, grouped by neighbourhood in and around the Brussels-Capital Region, will take turns to open their doors at night between 17:00 and 22:00 until 9 June, at a reduced price.
Visitors can either wander around the museums and art centres in their own time or take part in original tours that truly bring collections to life, allowing people to take a peek at the behind the scenes or take part in unique workshops.
Alongside the usual participants, three new museums will be taking part in the Nocturnes for the first time this year, including the Visitors' Centre of the Flemish Parliament with its collection of modern art, the surprising House of the Parachutists and the FeliXart Museum in Drogenbos.
Exploring the region's districts
Every Thursday, a different district of the Brussels region will be in the limelight through its museums, and visits to the exhibitions are paired with guided tours of the immediate environment, as well as local concerts.
The grand opening of the event will be in Schaerbeek, where the contemporary art centre Maison des Arts, the Schaerbeek Beer Museum, Victor Horta's Maison Autrique and the Spontaneous Art Museum will open their doors to the public as the sun goes down alongside.
Discover Horta's Maison Autrique and the exhibition. Credit: Nocturnes
From the Maison des Arts, a guided tour will depart through the neoclassical neighbourhood of the Church of Saint Mary and Les Halles to the Art Nouveau neighbourhood. If you don't want to miss out on a chance for a sunny evening apéro, grab a drink at the L’Estaminet.
The full programme with details of all the activities planned for the coming weeks can be found here. Tickets cost €5 per museum (or €2,50 for those aged under 26, and for free for children under the age of 13). Some museums also open free of charge.
