Brussels, 20 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Brussels heritage weekend enters its final day today, with historic buildings, parks, museums and rarely accessible locations welcoming visitors across the Brussels-Capital Region. The 38th Heritage Days edition, organised by Urban on 19 and 20 September, is centred on the theme “Our Landscape, Our Legacy”.
Heritage Days programme continues across Brussels today
The programme examines Brussels through its built, natural, social and everyday landscapes, including architecture, public spaces, infrastructure and panoramic viewpoints.
Urban says the objective is to show how these elements, together with residents and the ways spaces are used, shape perceptions of Brussels and change over time. The event also provides access to heritage locations that are normally difficult for the public to visit.
Several activities were showing strong demand on the official programme today. All Sunday places for the guided religious heritage walk through central Brussels were listed as unavailable when checked, while the Tour & Taxis urban landscape walk had only one place showing for its 3.30pm session.
Urban officials explain the 2026 heritage theme
Sarah Lagrillière, deputy general manager of Urban, said the programme encourages people to reconsider familiar surroundings.
“These Heritage Days are an invitation to look at Brussels with fresh eyes,” she said in her official introduction to the event, adding that the programme asks people to consider how the city’s heritage can be preserved and passed to future generations.
Urban’s Cecilia Paredes also described the wider approach behind this year’s theme, stating: “Landscape is our living environment.” She explained that heritage policy has expanded beyond individual monuments to include urban areas, natural sites and how people use them.
Walks explore parks, neighbourhoods and hidden landscapes
Today’s activities extend well beyond traditional monuments. A guided walk following the Senne’s historical route is scheduled through the afternoon, while the “Brussels from above” programme explores how elevation and panoramic views influenced urban development in Forest and Saint-Gilles.
The Brussels heritage weekend also includes the BELvue Museum, which is offering free guided tours in English, French and Dutch, although advance booking is required.
At Mont des Arts, Urban’s new information point remains open from 10am to 5pm. Visitors can obtain programme information and see 20 photographs selected from more than 850 entries submitted to the Urban Zoom Schools 2026 competition.
Car Free Sunday changes travel across the capital
The final Heritage Days programme coincides with Brussels’ Car Free Sunday. Motorised traffic is prohibited across the Brussels-Capital Region from 9.30am until 7pm, apart from authorised vehicles and exemptions. Public transport is free throughout the day.
The measure gives pedestrians and cyclists considerably more space to move through the capital while visiting participating heritage locations.
Heritage Days conclude on Sunday
The Brussels heritage weekend ends today after two days of activities. Heritage Days have been organised in Belgium since 1989 and form part of the wider European Heritage Days initiative. Urban says 49 signatories to the European Cultural Convention now participate in the European programme.
