The low-cost Irish carrier said the changes would affect operations at Brussels Airport in Zaventem and Brussels South Charleroi Airport. Capacity will fall by more than one million seats, while Ryanair’s Charleroi base will shrink to 13 aircraft. Belga reported that around 200 jobs would be affected. Brussels Times reports that at Zaventem, Dublin is expected to remain the airline’s only route.

Belgium’s aviation tax is due to change on 1 January 2027. Ryanair described the move as an increase from €2 in January 2025 to €7. Separate reporting indicates that the current charge varies by distance: departing flights of more than 500 kilometres are taxed at €5, rising to €7, while shorter flights are already subject to a €10 levy. The government had previously considered a €10 charge for longer journeys.

Chief executive Michael O’Leary said the tax would redirect aircraft and passenger growth towards lower-cost markets. “Taxing air traffic does not deliver growth; it simply sends it elsewhere,” he said in the airline’s statement. Ryanair cited Sweden, Slovakia, Hungary, and Italy as countries where aviation taxes or airport charges have been reduced or removed.

Routes reported for removal from Zaventem include popular holiday and city break destinations such as Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Marrakech, Porto, Rome Fiumicino, and Valencia. The Charleroi reductions cover Amman, Asturias, Dubrovnik, Genoa, Katowice, Łódź, Newcastle, Nîmes, Poznań, Reggio Calabria, Sarajevo, Trapani, and Warsaw Modlin. The published destination lists contain 20 named routes in total, although reports differ on how the cuts are divided between the two airports.

The airline has also warned that it could remove another one million seats in summer 2027 if the tax remains. O’Leary said fares across Europe could rise by as much as 20% over the next year as fuel hedging contracts expire and carriers face higher market prices. That forecast is separate from the Belgian tax dispute and applies to broader cost pressures facing airlines.

Ryanair has presented a seven-year Belgian growth plan under which it says 100 routes and 1,000 jobs could be added if the federal levy is abolished. Those figures are company projections rather than confirmed investment commitments.

The reductions begin with the winter schedule at the end of October, ahead of the tax change. Airlines typically allocate aircraft and finalise schedules months in advance. Aviation economist Wouter Dewulf previously told VRT that Ryanair routinely reduces its Charleroi fleet in winter because demand is weaker and aircraft undergo maintenance, suggesting taxation may not be the only factor shaping capacity.

Neither the Belgian federal government nor airport operators had provided a response to press at the time of writing. Travellers should consult the airline’s published timetable to confirm whether their service is affected. The final schedule may also change as Ryanair adjusts frequencies and aircraft deployment before the winter season begins.

L’article Ryanair to cut 20 Belgian routes as aviation tax rises est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

EasyJet will begin twice-weekly flights to Nantes on 26 October. Fly2Galicia, a new airline at the airport, is scheduled to launch two services a week to Santiago de Compostela from 1 December. Brussels Airlines will add two Nordic destinations: Kemi-Tornio in Finland twice weekly from 25 December, and Evenes in Norway once a week from 6 February 2027.

Other carriers are also expanding their schedules. Transavia, which established a full base at Brussels Airport this summer, will operate three weekly flights to Las Palmas from 28 October, two to Reykjavik from 30 October and three to Porto from 14 December. Brussels Airlines and Finnair will both serve Kittilä, a Finnish destination associated with winter sports. Etihad Airways will increase its Abu Dhabi service from seven to 11 flights per week on 15 December.

The programme reflects two established strands of winter demand from Belgium: warmer-weather or “winter sun” trips to Spain, Morocco, and the Canary Islands, and travel to Scandinavia for skiing and other seasonal activities. Long-haul travellers will have access to 40 nonstop intercontinental destinations within the wider network.

Before the winter schedule begins, the airport is preparing for school holidays in Belgium’s two language communities. The break for French-speaking education starts on Friday 16 October, when about 82,000 passengers are expected, making it the forecast peak day. The Dutch-speaking school holiday starts on Friday 30 October, after the two-week break in the French-speaking system. Brussels Airport said the non-overlapping dates make direct comparison with 2025 difficult.

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The airport advises passengers to arrive two hours before Schengen departures and three hours before non-Schengen flights. It also recommends checking cabin-baggage restrictions in advance. Rail and bus services connect the terminal with the surrounding region, while motorists can reserve airport parking online.

Overall, the new routes broaden the airport’s short-haul winter offer across France, Spain, and the Nordic region, while boosted frequencies strengthen links to Atlantic islands, Iceland, Portugal, and the Gulf. The additions will be introduced in stages between late October and early February.

For passengers, the schedule creates new direct options for city breaks, pilgrimage travel, and trips to northern winter regions. It also adds capacity on established leisure and connecting routes, although flight availability and operating dates remain subject to individual airline timetables.

L’article Brussels Airport adds four routes as winter network reaches 136 destinations est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Organised by Brussels Museums, the city’s museum federation, the annual event brings together major institutions and smaller venues for a programme developed in collaboration with emerging artists. From 7:00 pm until 1:00 am, visitors can explore familiar collections in a different setting and discover museums they may not previously have visited.

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Brussels City Hall joins the programme for the first time this year, offering an opportunity to discover its interiors after hours. Other participating venues range from Autoworld and Train World to the House of European History and the Musical Instruments Museum.

The evening combines access to collections with creative activities, inviting visitors to experience museums as spaces for performance and participation as well as exhibition. The involvement of emerging artists adds another dimension to the event, bringing new interpretations and contemporary perspectives into the participating institutions.

Art, workshops and music after dark

Across the participating locations, the programme combines exhibitions with activities and performances, giving visitors several ways to experience the collections beyond a conventional museum visit.

At the Art & History Museum, an open studio will invite participants to explore modern Inuit art through practical experiments with colour and form. Drawing inspiration from its clean lines, simplified silhouettes and contrasting shapes, visitors can work with watercolour pencils or try a simple block print using a woodcut and watercolour.

The activity offers an opportunity to respond creatively to the exhibition, experimenting with soft colour gradients, pigment and contrasting forms rather than simply observing the works on display.

The Fashion & Lace Museum will host a workshop called “The Texture of Scent”, while the Belgian Museum of Freemasonry will offer a DJ set combining contemporary house music with samples from CEDOM’s Masonic audio archives.

The variety of activities makes it possible to build an evening around different interests, whether photography, history, fashion, transport or contemporary art. With 28 venues taking part, the event also offers a chance to move between institutions and experience different sides of Brussels’ cultural scene.

The six-hour programme leaves room for several stops, although the range of activities means visitors will need to make choices. Individual venue schedules provide a useful starting point for deciding which exhibitions, workshops and performances to prioritise.

Afterparties at Botanique and C12

The museum programme finishes at 1:00 am, but the evening continues at two afterparty venues for those with the appropriate ticket.

At Botanique, the programme spans club music, trance, pop and neoperreo across three stages. C12 will host Berlin-based Hyperaktivist, whose psychedelic-tinged techno will be accompanied by sets from Laura Charlier and Keyser.

In the smaller C11 space, RaQL will bring deconstructed Latin club sounds, alongside NMSS and Vera Moro. The afterparties extend the event’s combination of cultural discovery and nightlife beyond the museums themselves.

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Tickets and transport

Presale tickets are available until 16 October 2026. A standard ticket costs €18 and includes access to all 28 participating venues, shuttle buses and the Noctis night bus network.

A combo ticket costs €29 and also provides access to the afterparties. On the day of the event, prices rise to €22 for a standard ticket and €33 for a combo ticket.

The organisers’ online programme provides details of the activities at each venue, allowing visitors to choose their stops and plan an itinerary before the evening begins.

L’article Museum Night Fever returns to Brussels on 17 October with 28 participating venues est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Brunner urged Belgium and other EU Member States to make the Entry/Exit System (EES) work reliably before the Christmas peak, after passengers at Brussels Airport faced passport-control waits of up to five hours. Speaking to POLITICO, Brunner placed responsibility for day-to-day delivery on national authorities and airports. “Member states had enough time to prepare themselves for this system,” he said, adding: “It’s a security issue. It has to work … it’s up to the member states to do their job.”

The EES records fingerprints and facial images from non-EU travellers entering the Schengen area. Although Brunner described some countries as being “a bit behind,” he highlighted Brussels Airport as one of several locations where implementation remains problematic. He nevertheless said he was “very confident” that the difficulties could be resolved before the next holiday surge, noting that the European Commission has offered both funding and support from the EU border agency Frontex.

Meanwhile, Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin’s office has pushed back against the criticism. It said police were fully staffing all 12 arrivals-control positions, but argued that the airport’s facilities could handle only about 500 to 600 non-Schengen passengers per hour. On busy mornings, close to 3,500 such passengers may arrive between 6:00 am and 10:00 am, leaving the current set-up unable to absorb demand.

Brussels Airport did not directly respond to Brunner or Quintin. In a statement reported by POLITICO, it said “all parties involved” were working on remedies. Measures under consideration or testing include new automated gates, pre-registration kiosks, extra police training and further infrastructure.

Opnieuw chaos op #BrusselsAirport vanochtend, nu voor de transferpassagiers. De rijen aan de paspoortcontrole slingeren door de hele terminal. Tientallen gezinnen missen hun aansluitende vlucht. Onaanvaardbaar: hier is dringend een structurele oplossing nodig. https://t.co/TpNK0HqzrC

— Michael Freilich, MP (@MichaelFreilich) September 24, 2026

For passengers arriving from outside Schengen, the dispute highlights the risk of slow border processes when kiosks, staffed booths, and police capacity are insufficient. At Brussels Airport, revised procedures have required some travellers—including visitors from the United States—to proceed to a staffed desk after registering at a kiosk, adding pressure at peak times.

Airport and airline groups are also pressing for operational changes. ACI EUROPE and Airlines for Europe have called for better biometric processing, broader use of automated controls and the option to pause biometric enrolment when congestion becomes excessive. Their increasingly impatient warnings note that persistent delays lead to missed flights and connections, placing unnecessary “hardship” on travellers.

Brunner’s message to Member States is therefore as operational as it is political: the EU has supplied a common security system, but, to his mind, national governments and border operators must provide the staffing, equipment and contingency planning needed to keep passengers moving. The summer has seen chaos at airports around the bloc, including Lisbon and Milan. Now, with Christmas traffic approaching, Brussels Airport has become one of the most visible tests of whether that division of responsibility can deliver a smoother journey.

L’article EU migration chief tells Brussels Airport and Member States to fix EES queues before Christmas est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The disruption comes amid nationwide union action, with employees of ground handling company Alyzia set to take part. Brussels Airport confirmed that several flights would be cancelled due to the action, although it did not officially specify the total number. Belgian media reported that around 140 arrivals and departures are expected to be affected.

Alyzia provides ground handling services for several major airlines operating at Brussels Airport, including Brussels Airlines. Its activities include baggage handling, ramp operations, aircraft cleaning, de-icing and the transport of cargo and mail. According to Brussels Airport, the company is expected to operate with limited staffing on Friday.

#unionaction 9 October Due to limited staffing at ground handler Alyzia, approximately half of the flights handled by them are expected to operate as planned. Passengers whose flight is cancelled will be contacted by their airline with more information. We apologise for the inconvenience.

— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) October 6, 2026

Brussels Airlines is expected to be particularly affected, with around 40% of its scheduled flights impacted. The carrier stressed that it is not involved in the industrial action and said the disruption would affect the travel plans of thousands of passengers.

“We regret that this is already the third time this year that our flight schedule has been seriously disrupted by industrial action taken by external parties,” Brussels Airlines said, adding that the action would also have a significant financial impact on the company.

Passengers whose flights are affected will be contacted by Brussels Airlines to arrange alternative travel. The airline has also advised customers to check their flight status through the “My Booking” section of its website before travelling.

The disruption coincides with trade union demonstrations planned in Brussels on Friday. The socialist ABVV-FGTB union is organising a national demonstration, while the Christian ACV-CSC union is expected to march to the headquarters of Belgium’s federal governing parties.

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The unions are protesting against measures introduced by Belgium’s federal government. ACV-CSC has argued that government policies are placing additional pressure on households while failing to sufficiently address the country’s public deficit. The unions have also called for changes to government policy on issues including wage indexation, VAT and working time.

Friday’s cancellations add to a series of labour-related disruptions affecting Brussels Airport this year. Reuters reported that the latest cancellations are directly linked to Alyzia employees joining the nationwide action, with the disruption expected to affect travellers throughout the day.

L’article Brussels Airport to cancel 140 flights this Friday due to ground handler strike est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Koekelberg, best known for its monumental Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the fifth-largest church in the world and an Art Deco landmark, now has another claim to fame. Tipsy Tribe Brewery & Distillery has chosen this location to produce Brussels Whisky, which its founders hope will be the first in a series of locally made whiskies.

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The first batch was deliberately small at just 64 bottles, and those offered for pre-sale sold out within 48 hours. This American-style whisky, made with Belgian malts, corn and rye, was aged in virgin American oak barrels.

The first barrel was filled on 9 March 2023, and the spirit was then left to mature in Koekelberg for more than three years before being released.

The result evokes classic US bourbon profiles while retaining a distinctly Brussels flavour, a very fitting outcome for a city where more than three quarters of residents are either non-Belgian or Belgian with a foreign background, mirroring the founders themselves. 

Aylin Fastenau hails from Turkey, while her husband, Daniel, is from the United States. “The fact that this whisky is Belgian, but with a foreign inspiration, is a perfect embodiment of the multicultural nature of Brussels and our team at Tipsy Tribe”, she says.

Before changing course, they both worked in corporate environments and in the EU bubble but then decided they wanted a different kind of fizz in their lives, so they launched Tipsy Tribe in 2022, the result of cogitations imbued by the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, the company produces craft beer, gin, vodka, raki, liqueurs, and other spirits, all under one roof.

The 45% ABV whisky has been described as smooth and creamy with hints of oak, char, smoke, vanilla and caramel, and a grainy finish.

The move was a natural progression, says Daniel, a brewer, distiller and whisky enthusiast. “Brewing is the first step to making a good whisky,” he explains. “We are uniquely positioned to have both brewing and distilling facilities under a single roof, so releasing our own whisky was a natural next step for us.”

Koekelberg itself has a long history of distilling. It was here, in the 19th century, that Jean-Baptiste Cellier-Blumenthal experimented with the design that became the modern column still, a fact not widely known outside Belgium, a country mainly associated with its vast variety of beers.

“Belgium is less known for its rich history with spirits,” notes Aylin, despite the country’s long tradition of producing genever, with numerous styles still being made today and dedicated bars keeping the spirit alive.

For Aylin, having the first whisky made in Koekelberg is therefore “an ode to a rich heritage”.

Koekelberg’s mayor, Olivia P’tito, also welcomed the addition to the municipality’s artisanal expertise, which is already associated with chocolate and craftsmanship.

The first bottle was auctioned at the launch on 26 September, helping to raise more than €700 for school materials for the local École Armand Swartenbroeks.

The whisky was produced entirely in-house, from grinding the grain to bottling. In keeping with the times, Tipsy Tribe’s spirits production is solar-powered, and the company holds the three-star Ecodynamic Enterprise Label awarded to environmentally responsible businesses in Brussels.

The first 64 bottles are unlikely to be the last. Several further batches are already ageing in different casks, and a new still installed in 2025 has increased the distillery’s production capacity tenfold.

L’article Brussels launches its first locally made whisky est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The national park extends well beyond the 205-hectare Tervuren Park beside the AfricaMuseum. Its designation brings nature, heritage, agriculture and tourism into a shared regional project, with a long-term plan to strengthen, expand and connect natural habitats.

A landscape connected by nature and history

Brabantse Wouden’s masterplan covers the period 2024–2048, with particular attention to rare and sensitive animal and plant species. Connecting habitats involves both extending natural areas and reducing the barriers created by roads and other infrastructure.

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Agriculture also has a place in this landscape, through sustainable local food production and practices that support biodiversity. The partnership involves twelve municipalities, including Tervuren, with cooperation addressing issues such as drought and flooding.

Alongside its forests and valleys, the national park encompasses a cultural landscape shaped by centuries of settlement. Beersel Castle, dating from the 14^th century, is one example of the heritage found across the wider area.

Tervuren’s gateway to the Sonian Forest

Tervuren’s connection to the national park centres on the Sonian Forest, known in Dutch as the Zoniënwoud. Its avenues and branching paths provide options for short walks and longer excursions, with Tervuren Park forming one of its Flemish gateways.

Five strictly protected areas within the forest received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2017 as components of the transnational site, Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. This designation applies to those specific reserves, rather than the entire forest or national park.

De Warandepoort visitor centre provides information for planning local excursions. During autumn, changing foliage adds a seasonal dimension to the walking routes around Tervuren, from pond-side paths to woodland trails.

A walking itinerary through the arboretum

Established in 1902, Tervuren’s geographical arboretum brings together trees and forest types arranged according to their geographical origins. The collection offers a different perspective on woodland, placing forest communities from different regions within a single walking destination.

The approximately seven-kilometre Royal Walk provides a structured itinerary through the Tervuren arboretum. Sequoias from western North America and araucarias from the Andes are among its distinctive trees.

The route can form the main excursion of a day focused on woodland, with a separate park walk or museum visit adding a cultural element.

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Combining parkland with architectural heritage

Tervuren Park brings together French gardens, ponds and wooded avenues on the former hunting grounds of the Dukes of Brabant. The 5.5-kilometre Warande Walk passes the AfricaMuseum, Africa Palace and Chapel of St Hubert, linking the estate’s natural surroundings with its historical landmarks. It features among six routes for discovering Tervuren on foot.

The baroque chapel dates from 1617, while the remains of the ducal palace recall the estate’s earlier role as a residence. The Africa Palace, formerly the Palais des Colonies, was built for the Brussels International Exposition of 1897. Today’s AfricaMuseum occupies a separate building inaugurated by King Albert I on 30 April 1910.

The exhibition’s collections formed the basis of a permanent museum established in 1898. Today, the institution combines scientific research with exhibitions on Central Africa’s societies, history and natural environments. Its reopening in 2018 followed five years of renovation.

Exploring beyond Tervuren

For a first visit, choosing the Royal Walk or Warande Walk as the main excursion creates a manageable day itinerary. A shorter alternative follows the 1.5-kilometre AfricaMuseum promenade between the museum and Tervuren’s church, with nine information panels explaining the institution’s connection to the town.

Longer stays allow time to explore the national park’s other landscapes, from Hallerbos near Halle to Meerdaalwoud and the Dijle Valley near Leuven. Tervuren provides an introduction to a regional destination whose forests, waterways, farmland and heritage can be explored over several outings.

L’article Discovering Brabantse Wouden National Park through Tervuren est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Organised by VISIT Vlaams-Brabant, the initiative combines beer tourism with walking and cycling, with several stops accessible by public transport from Brussels. Flemish Brabant’s brewing heritage is also gaining visibility beyond Belgium, with regional beers served on Brussels Airlines flights. 

Lambic owes its character to spontaneous fermentation involving wild yeasts from the air. Blending young and older lambics produces geuze, bringing together nature, time and craftsmanship. This October, breweries and blending houses across the region will host a range of events showcasing both the tradition’s history and its continued evolution.

1. Lambiek Fabriek: contemporary flavours beside the canal

Founded in 2016 by Jo Panneels and Jozef Van Bosstraeten, Lambiek Fabriek in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw takes an experimental approach to lambic. Its ram’s-head labels and “No Brett, No Glory” slogan reference Brettanomyces, the wild yeasts associated with these beers.

The range includes Rhub-Elle with rhubarb, Pluri-Elle with berries and Caram-Elle with roasted malt. The Lambiekland Passport also allows visitors to collect stamps at participating breweries and blending houses, turning individual outings into a broader exploration of the region.

2. Timmermans: centuries of brewing in Itterbeek

Operating since 1702, Timmermans is recognised as the world’s oldest lambic brewery. Its traditional wooden maturation vessels and cooling equipment now sit alongside a new visitor attraction, the Immersive Lambic Experience, introduced in March 2026.

Bus routes R10 and R16 serve the nearby Itterbeek Breugeldal stop, making the brewery accessible from Brussels. Timmermans can also be reached by cycling along the Brussels–Charleroi canal, offering visitors the option of combining a brewery visit with a scenic ride. For those who prefer to explore the area on foot, the 7.6-kilometre Bruegel Walk provides another way to discover the surrounding Pajottenland.

During Lambic Month, nearby Krok & Ko is also serving a “KROK LAMBIEK”, adding a food stop to the outing.

3. Boon: a family story and vintage bottles in Lembeek

Frank Boon championed traditional geuze when its future appeared uncertain in the 1970s. Today, his sons Jos and Karel continue the family business in Lembeek, where the brewery maintains its own cooperage.

A walk from Lembeek railway station brings visitors to the brewery, while the nearby 7.1-kilometre Alambic Walk explores the Zenne Valley.

A highlight this month is Boon’s Cellar Days, running from 16 to 18 October. Older geuze and kriek bottles, rarities and vintage tastings will be available, alongside additional bookable brewery tours. The event offers an opportunity to discover how these beers develop with age.

4. 3 Fonteinen: traditional craft with creative collaborations

At 3 Fonteinen, an emphasis on terroir and traditional methods leaves room for experimentation. Selected vintage blends feature artwork by Felix De Boeck, while a collaboration with Brussels rapper Zwangere Guy produced a grape lambic.

Its Lambik-O-Droom in Lot is within walking distance of the railway station. Free guided tours introduce the brewing process and maturation in wooden barrels. A visit can be paired with Belgian dishes in the brasserie, including shrimp croquettes and beef stew made with geuze.

For a longer outdoor excursion, a proposed 15-kilometre micro-adventure combines walking through the valley with packrafting on the Zenne.

5. Boerenerf: where lambic meets wine

At Boerenerf in Sollenberg, Senne Eylenbosch and Vincent Alluin explore the relationship between lambic and wine. The organic farm and blending house uses fruit grown on-site or sourced from local farmers, creating drinks that extend beyond familiar geuze and kriek styles.

Accessible on foot from Huizingen station, Boerenerf regularly hosts farm events and dinners with guest chefs, with upcoming dates listed in its agenda.

Another suggested pairing is the four-kilometre interactive beer walk through Halle, exploring the town’s brewing history and its association with Duivelsbier.

Together, the five stops offer different perspectives on lambic culture, from centuries-old brewing equipment to fruit-led experiments. The full Month of Lambic programme lists October activities across the region, with practical details for planning visits.

L’article 5 lambic breweries and blenders near Brussels to discover this October est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The relaunch offers a pre-party on 2 and 3 October, with exhibitions and performances, as well as creative workshops, a design and makers’ market, and a backyard brunch across a further nine days of events across the city as part of Design Fest Gent. Prospective visitors can discover the full programme here.

The four-year closure and €21-million-worth of works by Carmody Groarke with ATAMA and RE-ST have transformed the design museum, connecting its historic ensemble with the 21st century, a press release explains, as well as better connecting its atmospheric inner courtyard with the rest, to “fully function as a garden—the heart of the museum and a clear point of orientation,” officials say.

Constructed of timber and brick, the new wing introduces six zones, intended to be welcoming, open, and adaptable. At basement level, the art-handling area offers a glimpse into the museum’s daily behind-the-scenes work. From there, visitors move through the Stadskamer (reception and shop), the Forum (lecture space), the Atelier (workshops), and the Vitrine (temporary exhibitions), before arriving at the Loft on the fourth floor—a “generous event space with panoramic views over the city of Ghent,” the museum highlights.

Opening exhibitions include Models from the Past for the Future, curated by Evelien Bracke; Public Matter(s): Design and Democracy, curated by Amelie Klein and Vera Sacchetti; CO-LAB, curated by Siegrid Demyttenaere; and Searcher, an AI installation that explores links across the collection.

Visitors are invited to interact and engage with more than 24,000 objects, over 3,700 square metres of exhibition space, with about 500 in the new collection display. The new flow through the items and new wing are claimed to “complete the loop” of the visitor experience.

The museum’s evolution is also “circular” in terms of its green credentials. Its facade is made of Gent Waste Brick, a “lime-cured brick produced from locally sourced municipal waste” which does not need to be fired in kilns and boasts a significantly reduced environmental footprint. More than 82,000 of the bricks were produced locally at Het Arsenaal in Ghent, a process the people of Ghent could follow live—again leaning into interactive community principles.

“This expansion and renovation are not simply aimed at creating more museum space, but something that goes beyond the museum: a place where the community can collectively process and interpret reality,” director Katrien Laporte explained, as reported by Finestre sull’Arte.

L’article Ghent Design Museum reopens after €21 million renovation est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

On 26 September 1986, Autoworld first opened its doors to the public. The opening was the result of a joint effort by King Albert II, Minister Louis Olivier, and President Herman De Croo to create a unique place where Belgian automotive history could come to life.

At the time, the Autoworld museum was mainly made possible through the automobile collection of the Mahy family, one of the largest in the world, which contributed to the creation of Autoworld. Some 2000 vehicles from Ghislain Mahy and his sons Hans and Ivan were displayed at the museum, many of them models from before the Second World War.

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Since then, the way in which Autoworld operates has changed. The museum owns just a couple of dozen cars, while most of the exhibitions are filled with vehicles from private collectors who temporarily loan the cars to the museum. Every year, Autoworld holds two major temporary exhibitions featuring around fifty vehicles, while numerous small pop-up exhibitions and automotive-related events take place on a more regular basis.

Throughout its existence, the museum has set up some 100 exhibitions, featuring more than 2,000 cars. The number of visitors has also increased exponentially, quadrupling over the past 10 years to reach 245,000 in 2025.

To celebrate its 40^th anniversary, Autoworld has put together a special exhibition called ‘Looking Back to the Future’. Until 23 December 2026, visitors can marvel at 15 cars, two motorcycles, and a Vespa – including a Bugatti Type 35, Lamborghini Miura, James Bond’s Toyota 2000GT Targa, and a Porsche 918 Spyder.

However, Autoworld’s 40^th anniversary will also be celebrated through a special Birthday Event on 4 October 2026. The programme includes an impressive Supercar Line-up at the heart of the museum, free guided tours, rides in cars from the museum’s collection, and activities for children.

One of the main events of the day, however, will be the Cars & Coffee Birthday Edition. From 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, the Esplanade of the Cinquantenaire Park in front of the museum will welcome all classic and youngtimer cars that are at least 20 years old, while a Best of Show awards ceremony will put the most memorable cars in the spotlight. Participation in the Cars & Coffee event is free, but prior registration is mandatory.

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Autoworld also has a special treat for those who happen to be born in 1986 or have a car that dates back to the year of its opening. People born in 1986 will be able to enjoy free admission to the museum upon presentation of their ID card on 4 October. The same goes for owners of a classic car dating from 1986 upon presentation of the vehicle’s registration certificate.

As far as the future is concerned, Autoworld recently obtained a new lease agreement based on government decisions and a Royal Decree, securing the building’s rental until 2041. The extension allows Autoworld to safeguard the museum’s future and to elevate the overall visitor experience to a higher level, and a major renovation is being planned behind the scenes.

L’article Autoworld Museum Brussels celebrates 40th anniversary with special exhibition and event est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.