Visit one of the largest archives in the country
28.06.25
What treasures are kept in the Archives? Who are the people responsible for preserving the capital's memory? To mark the 20th anniversary of the Association of French-speaking Archivists of Belgium, the Archives of the City of Brussels are opening their doors to the public. The icing on the cake is that the archivists themselves will guide visitors through some 30 km of documents! A rare and free event.
A surprising profession in an equally surprising building! In the heart of the Marolles district, the Brussels City Archives complex is housed in the former fabric warehouses of Jules Waucquez et Cie. It is a remarkable example of 20th-century commercial architecture. With rare items dating back to the Middle Ages and an iconographic collection of more than 35,000 documents, including drawings, posters, engravings and photographs, as well as old and recent maps and plans, one of Belgium's largest archives is opening its doors to the public.
Open Tuesday to Friday to residents of the City of Brussels, Laeken, Haren and Neder-Over-Hembeek looking for their urban planning files, genealogists researching their family history, researchers and history enthusiasts, the Archives are opening their doors for one day only. And who better than those who work there every day to help visitors discover the impressive maze of documents? For the occasion, they will be bringing out some gems from among more than 30 km of paper documents and explaining the fundamental role of archive preservation in a democracy! Discover an extraordinary place and a profession practised by passionate people, far removed from the clichés.
Practical information
· Date: Saturday 28 June 2025
· Opening hours:
- The archives can only be visited on guided tours.
- From 10:00 a.m., every 30 minutes (in Dutch, every hour)
- Last admission at 4:00 p.m.
· Price: free admission and guided tour
This Open Day is part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Association des Archivistes francophones de Belgique.
