Hôtel Van Eetvelde
A masterpiece of Brussels Art Nouveau, the Hôtel van Eetvelde bears witness to the creative genius of architect Victor Horta, who in 1895 conceived the most daring design of his career.
A pioneer in the use of iron and steel in domestic architecture, Victor Horta employed these materials to open up the spaces within the house and allow natural light to penetrate wherever possible.
Designed between 1895 and 1900 as a private residence for Edmond van Eetvelde, Secretary of State of the Congo Free State, the Hôtel van Eetvelde would later accommodate other occupants and serve different functions, while always preserving its unique character.
Protected as a historic monument since 1976 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000, the building is today an essential jewel of Brussels’ architectural heritage. A first restoration campaign, carried out between 2019 and 2021 under the direction of architect Barbara Van der Wee, helped preserve this architectural treasure while adapting it to new requirements and uses. In 2026–2027, a major restoration project will restore the building’s façades to their former splendour.
Since 2023, the Hôtel van Eetvelde has been home to LAB·AN, a space dedicated to exhibitions, reflection and the promotion of Art Nouveau, offering a contemporary perspective on this cultural heritage of Brussels, Belgium and the wider international community.
A place of history, innovation and beauty, the Hôtel van Eetvelde today provides an exceptional setting where heritage and creativity come together.
© Bastin & Evrard
Events taking place here
Taboo instruments, sometimes dismissed because they are little known, or considered too pure, too free in their effortless maintenance and without physical ostentation, the Glass Harmonica and the Baschet Crystal can nevertheless lead us towards new territories of listening. They are among the rarest instruments and the only ones whose creation requires the use of the four elements: fire, air and earth to shape them, and water to make them sing.