The tradition of rod puppetry in Brussels has officially been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The tradition has been kept alive since the Renaissance, but currently only survives at the Théâtre de Toone.
Four years ago, urban.brussels, the Brussels administration responsible for heritage, first initiated the nomination of the rod puppets tradition to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As of 9 December 2025, at the start of the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in New Delhi, the popular art form was officially recognised and added to the list.
“While Brussels is famous throughout the world for its Art Nouveau treasures, its architectural diversity and its thousand-year history, our City-Region also stands out for the richness of its living heritage, its traditions and its folklore, which forge our collective identity. The rod puppets of the Théâtre de Toone are a magnificent symbol of this: they make young and old alike laugh, dream and marvel, and every year they attract visitors from all over the world who come to discover this authentic part of our culture”, Ans Persoons, Brussels State Secretary for Urban Planning and Heritage, said in a statement.
A multicultural tradition
The tradition of rod puppetry in Brussels was imported by travelling theatres from Italy and Central Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. The puppetry is distinguished from others by a metal rod that passes through the puppet’s head and forms two hooks at its ends. The rod is used to manipulate the puppet by moving various parts of its body, a manipulation carried out by a team of six puppeteers hidden behind a raised puppet theatre who follow the voice of the leader, playing all the characters by varying the intonation of his voice.
The art form is proof of Brussels’ multicultural identity and has allowed adult spectators, who were often illiterate in the past, to discover plays, operas, and popular novels. The repertoire, often parodic and improvised, combines theatre classics, folk tales, and social satire, in a typically Brussels spirit of “zwanze” and self-mockery. While several troupes used to be active within Brussels, including during the 19th century, the Théâtre de Toone has been the only location where the folklore art is practised since 1963.
“The inscription of the art of rod puppets as Immaterial Cultural Heritage of Humanity is an extraordinary recognition of a tradition that incarnates the soul of Brussels. I want to congratulate the Royal Théâtre de Toone for its essential role, as it’s their passion and commitment that kept this unique tradition alive in the heart of our capital. I also want to thank the Brussels Capital Region for supporting this candidacy with determination”, said Elisabeth Degryse, Minister-President of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels and Minister of Culture.
Since 1969, the non-profit organisation Théâtre de Toone has been protecting the Brussels rod puppetry while giving visibility to the popular art. As of today, the theatre holds four performances a week in the heart of the îlot sacré in Brussels, with over 30 shows in its repertoire.
Address: Théâtre de Toone, Impasse Sainte-Pétronille, 66 Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes, 1000 Bruxelles
