The 25th edition of Brussels' Nocturnes event is kicking off today (13 March). Dozens of museums will be welcoming visitors after hours every Thursday for the next seven weeks.
Nocturnes, by far one of Brussels' most distinctive events, is the perfect occasion to discover some of the region's best museums in a different light. Every Thursday between 13 March and 24 April (a month earlier than in previous years), a selection of museums will open their doors from 18:00 to 22:00.
The event also aims to highlight Brussels' various districts. "We have taken into account the location of the museums, with at least a few museums within walking distance of each other every week," the organiser, Brussels Museums, wrote in a statement.
Nocturnes 2024 at Maison des Art. Credit: Eric Danhier/ Brussels Museums
Concerts, competitions and crossing borders
Aside from the unusual opening hours – allowing visitors to roam temporary and permanent collections after sunset – the 48 participating museums will also put on guided tours, workshops, a look behind the scenes, and outdoor activities.
There are several new features for this anniversary edition. Museums will host concerts and performances, ranging from a choir accompanying a series of short films at CINEMATEK to a classical concert at Espace Allende. Organisers are also putting on "slow visits"; museum visits in an environment with fewer stimuli.
The organisers are also putting on a competition for visitors. Every Thursday, a ‘search’ will be organised in which two museums exchange a work of art. Those who can identify the work of art can win Museum Night Fever tickets.
Additionally, Nocturnes is crossing the Brussels borders, with museums outside the region, including Meise Botanic Garden, the FeliX Art & Eco Museum in Drogenbos and the Wellington Museum in Waterloo, taking part.
Nocturnes 2024 at Erasmus Begijnhof. Credit: Eric Danhier/ Brussels Museums
This year's edition will also focus on inclusion: sign language tours will be organised, and the Maison Cauchie and the Wittockiana will offer tours focusing on female artists. Various free museums are participating, including La Maison des Arts, La Loge, the Maurice Carême Museum, the d'Ieteren Gallery, Arte-fac Albert Couvreur Museum, the Museum of the National Bank of Belgium and the AMVB.
Finally, the Meunier Museum, the Braille Museum and the Porte de Hal will once again be part of the programme after several years of absence, while the Jewish Museum of Belgium will exceptionally open its doors for an evening, despite the renovations.
What, where and when?
- Thursday 13 March: Brotherhood of Parachute Officers 1940-45, CIVA, La Loge, Meunier Museum (KMSKB), ULB Chemistry Experimentarium, ULB Espace Allende, ULB Museum of Medicinal Plants and Pharmacy and Wellington Museum
- Thursday 20 March: Braille Museum, Erasmushuis & Anderlecht Beguinage, FeliXart & Eco-Museum, Maurice Carême Museum, Sewer Museum and WIELS
- Thursday 27 March: Art et marges, d'Ieteren Gallery, Geopolis, Porte de Hal and Children's Museum
- Thursday 3 April: BELvue Museum, ChocoStory, CINEMATEK, Coudenberg Palace, GardeRobe MannekenPis, Jewish Museum of Belgium, Museum of Modern Religious Art and Museum of the Black Sisters of Brussels (Basilica of Koekelberg)
- Thursday 10 April: Schaerbeek Beer Museum, Charlier Museum, Clockarium, LAB·AN x van Eetvelde, La Maison des Arts, Maison Autrique and Museum of Spontaneous Art
- Thursday 17 April: Arte-fac Albert Couvreur Museum, La Centrale, La Fonderie, Migration Museum, Brussels Planetarium, Meise Botanic Garden and Wittockiana.
- Thursday 24 April: Archive and Museum of Flemish Life in Brussels (AMVB), Belgian Museum of Freemasonry, Institute of Natural Sciences, Maison Cauchie, Maison Hannon, Museum of the National Bank of Belgium and Museum of Erotica and Mythology (MEM)
Find more information and buy tickets here.
