Royal Flemish Theatre (KVS)

This page has been automatically translated from French into English by a translation software. Automatic translations are not as accurate as translations made by professional human translators. Nevertheless these pages can help you understand information published by the City of Brussels.

   

The first building of the KVS was built between 1779 and 1781. It was the first of several public harbour warehouses that had to facilitate the collection of taxes on goods. During the construction of the Big Warehouse along the Trade Dock in 1856, the warehouse Nevois went out of use and was reinstated in 1860 as an army arsenal. In 1883, the City of Brussels confides the building to the architect Jan Baes, to transform it into a theatre.

The result is a building of Flemish neo-Renaissance style. The main facade of the theatre, situated at the Rue de Laeken, is characterized by wide outer balconies conceived for the evacuation of more than a thousand persons. The facade at the back is still that of the former warehouse.

The theatre was establied at the request of a company of Flemish theatre in 1860. In 1894, during the visit of Léopold II, the Flemish Theatre got the titel of 'Royal'.

In 1955, a violent fire damaged the theatre and the company had to emigrate towards the Beursschouwburg. The theatre was restored. The building was classified in 1993, but it required a thorough renovation to meet the needs of modern theatres. The City of Brussels then concluded in agreement with the Flemish Community, to restore, renew and widen the theatre.

The Flemish Theatre and the City of Brussels

The City of Brussels decided in 1883 to transform the former army arsenal into a Flemish Theatre. It thus answered a reality which could not be ignored: the Flemish-speaking people wanted to have a theatre in their own language. The City of Brussels, being a bilingual institution, continued to support the KVS and theatre in the Dutch language.

The Flemish Royal Theatre stages professional Dutch-speaking quality theatre, from Belgium and abroad. A dynamic team of Dutch-speaking actors brings contemporary quality theatre. The company of the KVS also stages more innovative and current forms of theatre. It is also a place for eclectic art in all its forms. The KVS thus schedules international dance, poetry and music performances, as well as exhibitions (in particular photography).

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Saint Amour 'De onbereikbare'

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Billy, Sally, Jerry and the .38 Gun

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Raymond

ON THE AGENDA : Theater. Branden

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Barakstad

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Keffiyeh / Made in China

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Oom Wanja

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Van den hond (working title)

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. À l'attente du Livre d'Or

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Titus Andronicus

ON THE AGENDA : Concert. Zita Swoon

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. De onkreukelbare (working title)

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Oude meesters