Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The historic ‘t Zwart Huis cinema in Bruges, closed since 2022, reopens as Ciné Liberty in September 2025, led by Kurt Wittesaele and American artist Jef Fraser, blending film, art, and history.
As VRT News reported, the historic ‘t Zwart Huis cinema in Bruges, which had been closed for a long time, is now set to reopen under a new name, Ciné Liberty, in September 2025. 2 people, Kurt Wittesaele from Bruges and Jef Fraser, an American artist, are now working to bring the cinema back. Fraser, who liked the building, didn’t know it was a cinema until he saw it was for rent.
He and Wittesaele decided to create a new idea together. Instead of just being a cinema, Ciné Liberty will be a film museum and a place to show new movies. Fraser will also show his art there, mixing Bruges’ movie history with new art. They want Ciné Liberty to be a place where people who love movies, artists, and visitors can meet.
“Together, we want to make ‘t Zwarte Huis a cultural hotspot again. Not a traditional cinema, but a place where we bring together various activities,”
Ciné Liberty.
What will Ciné Liberty bring to the historic Bruges cinema?
According to the officials, the cinema will also have a big lounge bar in the foyer, which will be for people to hang out before or after watching movies. They will focus on cultural movies, and they might also host big movie events, like premieres and previews from film festivals.
They mentioned that they could even work with big events like the Ostend Film Festival. The building needs some work before it opens. But it’s in better shape than they thought. It was updated around 2010, and the seats are still good.
“When cinemas will reopen their doors hasn’t been determined yet. But we’re aiming for September,”
They say.
This cinema, located on Kuipersstraat, began in 1919 when it first opened its doors. The building’s use as a venue started even earlier, during World War I, when it hosted performances for German soldiers stationed in the city. Despite its simple exterior, the building was a hidden cultural treasure that fascinated the locals for many years.
In the 1990s, Patrick Declerk worked to renovate the cinema and bring it back to life. However, the number of viewers gradually decreased, and in the final years, only occasional screenings were held. After Declerk passed away in 2022, the cinema was closed and left unused.
