Fondation Jacques Brel
Museum and archive centre devoted to Jacques Brel near the Grand-Place: digital exhibition, small cinema and an audio-guided walk through Brussels.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Fondation Jacques Brel was founded in Brussels in 1981 by France Brel, the singer's daughter. Since then it has catalogued the archives relating to Jacques Brel's life and work and makes them available to the public through exhibitions, lectures, publications and films. Its newsletter, now called Jef, has issues dating back to 1982.
The visitor centre is on the place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés, near the Grand-Place. The permanent exhibition is digital: interactive tablets give access to more than sixteen hours of archives (short films, press articles, photos, manuscripts and testimonies) in French, Dutch, English or Spanish. Two jukeboxes let you listen to more than 330 versions of 169 songs, some of them little known.
A small 19-seat room, the Ciné Brel, screens the films produced by the Foundation every day: the recital Adieux à l'Olympia from 1966 and several films by France Brel about her father's last years. Visitors can also follow an audio-guided walk alone through Brel's Brussels, with 37 commented locations, or attend small-group sessions presented by France Brel.
Highlights
- Digital exhibition with more than sixteen hours of archives
- Two jukeboxes: more than 330 versions of 169 songs
- Ciné Brel: a 19-seat room and films by France Brel
- Audio-guided walk through Brel's Brussels (37 locations)
- Small-group sessions with France Brel
Permanent exhibitions
- Exposition permanente numérique – More than sixteen hours of archives to consult, listen to and watch on tablets, with two jukeboxes of more than 330 song versions.
- Ciné Brel – Daily screenings in a 19-seat room of films produced by the Foundation, including France Brel's films about Jacques Brel's last years.
- Founded
- 1981
- Operated by
- Fondation Jacques Brel d'utilité publique
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €10Seniors aged 65 and over |
| Children & teens | €5Children up to age 12 |
| Seniors | €10From age 65 |
| Students & apprentices | €8 |
| Groups | –Group visits, school visits and private hire on request |
| Day pass | €40Day access (11:00–18:30) to the exhibition, the five screenings of the Ciné Brel (excluding sessions with France Brel, subject to availability) and the audio-guided walk |
| Audio-guided walk (adult) | €15Seniors from age 65: €10; students: €8; children up to age 12: €5 |
| Ciné Brel – one film (single rate) | €15Price shown for the film L'Alizé |
The prices shown are those of the permanent exhibition. The exhibition is free with the Brussels Card and the MuseumPASS; for the audio-guided walk, the Brussels Card gives free access and the MuseumPASS a €5 ticket. With the Discovery Ticket, the return train journey to Brussels-Central receives a 40% discount (SNCB code received when ordering).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Gare Centrale
Brussels-Central railway station (SNCB/NMBS train) and Gare Centrale metro station (lines 1 and 5)
The Foundation is near the Grand-Place; with the Discovery Ticket, the train journey to Brussels-Central is 40% cheaper (sncb.be/discovery).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop with books published by the Fondation Brel (also online).
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
The Ciné Brel (19 seats) can be hired for groups or events; hire is also offered for tours.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Audio guide | yes (FR, NL, EN, ES) |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The archives can be consulted freely on interactive tablets (French, Dutch, English, Spanish). The audio-guided walk through the city (French, Dutch, English) offers routes of 1 hour 15 minutes, 2 hours or 2 hours 40 minutes; the audio guides can be returned after the Foundation closes. Group visits, school visits and private hire on request. The film Les Adieux à l'Olympia is offered with subtitles in thirteen languages. |
