Belgium is marking 20 years since the renovation of one of its most beloved monuments with a programme of events, art, and audio installations designed to give visitors a new perspective on the iconic structure.
The Atomium, in the north of Brussels, was built as a flagship emblem for the 1958 World Expo. Designed to celebrate the potential of science and atomic breakthroughs for improving life on earth, the structure is a cube formed of connected metal spheres, positioned on its tip to represent an elementary iron crystal, scaled up 165 billion times. Its unique appearance has become recognisable the world over.
In 2006, the Atomium re-opened after an extensive refresh, which saw its entire outer skin peeled away and replaced by stainless steel. In a testament to how popular the building is, one thousand of its original aluminium plates were auctioned off to raise money for the refurbishment.
Prior to the renovation, the Atomium, which was never intended to be a permanent structure, welcomed around 150,000 visitors annually, but that has increased more than fivefold to nearly 800,000 in the last two years, making the structure the Belgian capital’s most popular attraction. Nearly seven decades after its “temporary” construction and nearly a quarter of a century after its renovation, the Atomium is now laying on a calendar of over 20 activities to acknowledge that turning point in its history.
Three digital art installations are part of the celebrations. A nocturnal show, Rotonde by Belgian studio Dirty Monitor, provides night-time illuminations and an original audio composition. Supply Chain, by artist Roman Tardy, immerses visitors among mirrors, LED modules, and original sound to explore the poetry and infrastructure of the digital realm, while Nimbus by Visual System aims to reinterpret the original structure’s forms through sensory light and soundscapes
Events also include scientific discovery weekends aimed at younger visitors, and other Belgian icons are getting in on the action, thanks to a collaboration with another Belgian icon—cartoon family, the Smurfs, and a new costume for the capital’s famous Manneken Pis statue. What’s more, jewellery designer Souris is making a bespoke collection for the anniversary.
As a special treat, anyone born on 18 February 2006 will benefit from free access to the monument throughout the renovations’ anniversary year of 2026. But anyone interested can also gain free insights thanks to the Atomium’s very own podcast, launching on 18 February. Entitled “Renovation,” the series will explore what happened during the monument’s refurbishment work, including perspectives from engineers, staff, and Brussels locals.
