Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Leuven, the world’s smallest queer museum will open beneath Pieter Coutereel’s statue in 2030, showcasing queer history and art, with support from Alderman Bert Cornillie.
As VRT News reported, in Leuven, a new cultural site has opened beneath the statue of Pieter Coutereel, located across from the city courthouse. It is being called the world’s smallest queer museum. Visitors can see the space through 3 small windows at the base of the statue.
A statement shared on social media said,
“In the heart of Leuven, directly across from the courthouse, lies a hidden queer history. At the foot of the statue of Pieter Coutereel, three small windows lead to a former public restroom: once a meeting place for the queer community.”
How will Leuven’s smallest queer museum preserve history and inspire the future?
In Leuven, a new cultural site will open in 2030, when the city becomes the European Capital of Culture. Organisers said the museum will tell stories of struggle, joy, and pride and will feature new work by international queer artists. They mentioned that the project aims to give new meaning to a space once hidden from view and to connect the city’s queer history with its future.
The former restrooms are now in poor condition and are surrounded by wooden formwork, but they will be restored before the reopening. Alderman for Culture Bert Cornillie (Vooruit) said the project shows how much society has changed in recent decades.
“People from the queer community once had to meet ‘in den duik,’ in hiding,”
Alderman for Culture Bert Cornillie said.
“Today, the culture is very different, especially in Leuven. People are valued for who they are and no longer need to look for those dark places.”
He said the museum will highlight respect, diversity, and inclusion.
The founders said the project was created to preserve and recognise the local queer history that had long been kept out of sight. The museum honours those who once gathered there and shares their stories of courage and community.
They mentioned that it also highlights the progress and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community in Leuven. The location, under the statue of a 14th-century mayor known for protecting civic freedoms.
In Belgium, several projects have preserved queer history and culture in public spaces. In Brussels, the Mémorial LGBT at Place Fontainas, opened in 2019, honours LGBTQ+ people and marks areas once linked to hidden queer life. In Ghent, exhibitions in historic buildings highlight queer culture and the city’s LGBTQ+ community. In Antwerp, parts of the Red Light District host temporary museum displays and art projects during Pride events.
