This summer, the Royal Palace in Brussels will once again be opening its doors to the public. Visitors will be able to view the building and its gardens under a new light after two years of renovation works.
Belgium’s Royal Palace has been one of the best-known landmarks in Brussels for a long time. Belgium being a monarchy, the building is still being used on a daily basis. Not only does it function as the monarch’s administrative residence and main workplace, but it is also where the representatives of political institutions, foreign guests, and other guests are welcomed.
Moreover, the Royal Palace plays host to the services of the King’s Household: the King’s Cabinet, the General Secretariat, the Civil List, the Military Household, the Protocol, and the Queen’s Secretariat. Other members of the Royal Family, too, have an office at the Brussels Palace, and its reception rooms regularly function as the backdrop for meetings and roundtables, receptions, concerts, lunches, and other events.
Although most tourists only get to see the building from the outside, since 1965, the Royal Palace has had a tradition of opening its doors to the public. Traditionally speaking, visits take place after Belgium’s national holiday on 21 July and go on until September, as this is the period during which the monarch doesn’t use the Palace. However, since 2024, the Royal Palace has been undergoing thorough renovation works, meaning the public no longer has the chance to visit the premises once a year.
A fresh start
The works now being finished, the Royal Palace will once again be organising visits during the summer of 2026. Curious-minded people will get the chance to look inside from 3 July until 16 August 2026. Four temporary exhibits will be on show: ‘Louise d’Orléans, Becoming a Queen’ by the Royal Association for Dynasty and Cultural Heritage, ‘Music, Sound and Imagination’ by Belspo, ‘Selection of Dream Machines’ by MyMachine, and ‘The Royal Palace as a Memory Palace’ by Het Geheugenpaleis.
Of course, the visit also includes some of the Royal Palace’s historic rooms, as well as the gardens.
The Throne Room
Dating back to the reign of King Leopold II, this room is decorated in the centre by four low reliefs by Auguste Rodin. They represent the economic activities symbolising the Belgian provinces, with the exception of that of Brabant, which hosts the Palace on its territory. The Scheldt and the Meuse, symbols of Flanders and Wallonia, by Thomas Vinçotte, are above the doors.
The Large Gallery
Built under the reign of King Leopold II, this room has been used for hosting dinners and receptions down to the present day. The ceiling paintings by Charles-Léon Cardon (1850-1921) represent the different moments of the day – the artist was influenced by the master painters of the Louvres and the Chateau of Versailles.
Visitors are required to book their tickets beforehand through the Royal Palace’s website. For the first time, entrance to the Palace is no longer free of charge, as the Belgian Science Policy no longer covers the costs of the opening due to budget cuts. Adults pay €10 for their visit, while children under 13 can enter for free but should still book a time slot.
