As it is getting ready for a new temporary exhibition, Ghent Museum House of Alijn is asking people to send in their nightlife memorabilia. From images to clothing items: everything will be considered for the C’est Party! exhibition launching on 4 July 2026.
Ghent’s museum of daily life, known as the House of Alijn, traditionally studies customs, traditions, and rituals from the recent to the distant past. From housekeeping to birth announcements, there’s nothing too ordinary for the museum’s team to explore.
Starting from 4 July 2026, the museum’s newest exhibition, C’est Party! will be focusing on nightlife. More particularly, visitors will get a sense of what it was like to spend a night out from the 1920s up until the 2020s. In order to expand its collection, House of Alijn has now launched a call, asking people to send in any memorabilia they might have that is connected to nightlife.
“It covers a period from the “Roaring Twenties” to the “Pandemic Twenties”. It’s very broad, and we’re still looking for additional material. Many things are needed: flyers, posters, festival wristbands, and clothing. We are not only looking for images from dance halls, dance cafés, and mega discotheques. We also want to map out the subcultures. Stories and testimonies are welcome!”, researcher Eva Dierckx told Belgian news outlet VRT NWS.
Rare remnants
The team is in particular looking for material connected to Flanders and Brussels. While nightlife has played an important role throughout history and is certainly worth exploring, remnants are usually rare as people are mainly concerned with what is happening in the moment and are thus not thinking about taking pictures or keeping souvenirs.
Before the start of the exhibition, the museum will make a selection of the best memorabilia, which will then be visible to the public.
“The intention is to use the things sent in by members of the public in the exhibition. We realise that some photos and images may feature people who would rather not be shown. We will only use material with their permission. Not everyone wants to be reminded of their wild nights out”, Dierckx explains to VRT NWS.
Not only does House of Alijn plan to put together an exhibition, but there will also be a book in which some of the collection will be featured. Moreover, some of the items sent in could become a part of the museum’s permanent collection if their historical value proves to be sufficiently important.
