The full programme of Art Nouveau Brussels 2023
Events, guided tours, conferences, exhibitions
The Art Nouveau Brussels 2023 programme is meant to stake Brussels’ claim as the Art Nouveau capital.
In 1893, Tassel House is inaugurated, an iconic building by Victor Horta and the founding work of the Art Nouveau movement. On the occasion of its 130th anniversary, the Brussels-Capital region has decided to celebrate Art Nouveau throughout the whole of 2023.
The extensive, accessible and inclusive programme has been developed jointly by Urban, visit.brussels and their partners.
Museums and museum houses
LAB·AN x Hôtel van Eetvelde
The Laboratory and Centre for the Interpretation of Art Nouveau takes a contemporary look at this cultural heritage of Brussels, offering the keys to understanding this artistic movement. Located within the Hôtel van Eetvelde, it allows visitors to tour one of Victor Horta's most daring architectural creations.
The Cauchie House
The Cauchie House, home and studio of artists and interior designers Paul Cauchie and Caroline Voet, is one of the jewels of Brussels Art Nouveau. Designed in 1905 as a veritable showcase for their expertise, with an impressive "poster facade", the house opens its doors to visitors to share its history and the work of its owners.
Horta Museum
Located in the magnificently restored personal house and studio of the famous architect Victor Horta, the museum welcomes visitors to these buildings with their rich, refined interior decoration, characteristic of Art Nouveau at its height. The museum also presents temporary exhibitions in its reception area.
The Hôtel Solvay
Commissioned by industrialist Armand Solvay and his wife Fanny Hunter in the late 19th century, the Hôtel Solvay is recognised as a major work by architect Victor Horta, for which he was given an unlimited budget. The tour offers a glimpse into the daily life of a well-regarded, middle-class family in the early 20th century.
The Autrique House
The Autrique House represents an important milestone in Art Nouveau. Commissioned by Eugène Autrique, it was the first private town house built by Victor Horta, whose commissions increased in the wake of this project, and paved the way for the blossoming of the style that came to be known as Art Nouveau.
The Hannon House
The Hannon House was designed by architect Jules Brunfaut for the couple Édouard Hannon and Marie Debard. At the clients' request, the architect combined the Beaux-Arts style and modernity, drawing inspiration from key Art Nouveau architects to create a unique work to the tastes of the Hannon couple.
Art & History Museum
The store and workshop of jeweller Philippe Wolfers was designed by Victor Horta. His furniture is now housed in the Art & History Museum, where it has been restored to its original condition, and where the display cases house famous jewellery designed by the master jeweller, as well as the Museums' Art Nouveau and Art Deco collections.
The Fin-de-Siècle Museum
This museum is dedicated to the 1900s, a frenzied period of Art Nouveau in the capital. On display are paintings, sculptures, photos and decorative art objects, many from the Gillion Crowet collection, assembled over the years by a couple of collectors. There are also 3D reconstructions of 6 Art Nouveau buildings.
Buildings open to the public
The Musical Instruments Museum
The Brussels Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) is one of the most important in the world. The collection is housed in the former Old England stores buildings, designed by Paul Santenoy and considered to be one of the capital's most impressive Art Nouveau buildings.
The Belgian Comic Strip Center
The Belgian Comic Strip Center is located in the heart of a majestic Art Nouveau building designed by Victor Horta, which once housed the stores of textile wholesaler Charles Waucquez. Here we witness the coming together of the 9th art and Art Nouveau, two modes of artistic expression that have made Brussels world famous.
Heritage Days 2023
Every year, Urban organises the Heritage Days event in the Brussels region, giving the public the chance to (re)discover many places that are usually inaccessible or difficult to access. The 35th event puts Art Nouveau in the spotlight, with a rich and varied programme providing a better understanding of the emergence of this architectural style and its lasting appeal. Every year, this cultural event also features a number of must-visit sites, including several Art Nouveau wonders.
The BANAD Festival
The Brussels Art Nouveau & Art Déco (BANAD) Festival takes place every year during weekends in March. It is a special event that promotes the Art Nouveau and Art Deco heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region. The programme includes guided tours of buildings that are normally closed to the public, outdoor tours, concerts, lectures and much more.
Art Nouveau mansion tours with Explore.Brussels
On the first Saturday of every month, Explore.Brussels invites you to visit two Art Nouveau buildings with a specialist guide. In 2023, the buildings on the programme are Hôtel van Eetvelde, Hôtel Solvay, Hôtel Max Hallet and Hôtel Cohn-Donnay.
