Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The 9th edition of Het Kunstuur opens in Mechelen on September 22, 2025, presenting Belgian paintings from 1850 to 1950 with works by Ensor, Delvaux, and Wouters, running until June 14, 2026.
As VRT News reported, the 9th edition of Het Kunstuur opens in Mechelen on Monday, Sep 22, 2025. Visitors will not only see the works but also hear personal stories linked to them. Well-known and lesser-known Flemish people explain what the paintings mean to them or what they notice in the details.
“In a painting by James Ensor, there’s a mackerel with such sad and dull eyes; you can clearly see that the fish wasn’t fresh when it was painted. But it’s a masterful painting nonetheless.”
Luc ‘Vis’ Mariën, market trader and fishmonger in Mechelen
Who will present the Belgian masters at the 9th Het Kunstuur in Mechelen?
Several voices will guide the audience through the works. Monk Giel, actor Jo de Meyere, and toxicologist Jan Tytgat are among the speakers. The program also features Luc “Vis” Marien, a fishmonger and market stallholder in Mechelen, who will share his view of the art.
“In a painting by James Ensor, there’s a mackerel with such sad and dull eyes; you can clearly see that the fish wasn’t fresh when it was painted. But it’s a masterful painting,”
Luc ‘Vis’ Mariën said.
Initiator Joost Bourlon confirms that the new edition of Het Kunstuur will include major Belgian painters from 1850 to 1950. Among the works on display are paintings by Paul Delvaux, James Ensor, and Rik Wouters. Bourlon says their presence is a highlight of this year’s program.
“We also always have an exhibition featuring completely forgotten artists. Evert Larock, for example, is a local painter who created some beautiful works. One of those works is now on display at Het Kunstuur,”
Bourlon adds.
The Kunstuur was established in 2019 in Mechelen by brothers Hans and Joost Bourlon, founders of Studio 100. The project was implemented to present Belgian art from 1850 to 1950 in a more accessible manner by utilising storytelling, lighting, and music.
The first 2 editions were followed by a new edition in Hasselt in 2021 and again in Sint-Niklaas in 2023, both of which received strong visitor numbers. Across the first 8 editions, the exhibition received nearly 300,000 visitors. The 9th edition runs from Mechelen from September 22, 2025, to June 14, 2026.
