Kunstencentrum Vooruit
Kunstencentrum Vooruit tours
Discover one of Ghent’s liveliest monuments
Every other week Vooruit opens its backdoors, hidden rooms and forgotten treasure troves to the public. Take a tour through our historic building and discover every nook and cranny of the Vooruit. What does its impressive façade conceal? What does it feel like to climb up on the stage of our Theater? Why and how was it built way back in 1914, and how did it survive the turbulent 20th century and two World Wars? How did it survive demolition in the 70’s? Our tour guides reveal all the answers, anecdotes and much, much more.
From the front to the backstage, from our basements to the rooftop towers: discover all the places you’d never otherwise see. Besides the big, bright and well known halls such as the Theater and Concert Hall, our guided tours take you deep into the belly of our building: rehearsal rooms, backstages, attics and, of course, our rooftop tower with its remarkable view on the city of Ghent.
Tour dates: Sundays (2x / month) or during the Ghent Festival (July) Check our website for the exact dates
Duration: 45 minutes
Cost: €8 (adults), €4 (-12 y.o.)
Language: Dutch (English spoken tours during Ghent Festival or during specific festival periods)
Groups looking for a custom made tour can get in touch with us here
How to get there
Kunstencentrum Vooruit is in the centre of Ghent, easily accessible by public transport and with a number of car parks close by.
For further information please see our website
Nearby
Belgium hosts a varied array of theatres and theatrical architecture with influences from across Europe. From opulent opera houses to enchanting private theatres, Belgium is a treat for visitors with a passion for theatre architecture.
Bourlaschouwburg
La Monnaie - De Munt
Theater De Maagd
Le Théâtre du Château de Chimay
Vooruit Arts Center is a historic complex in the Belgian city of Ghent. Vooruit was originally the festival and art center of the Ghent labor movement, with a ballroom, cinema, theater, etc. It is now mainly used for concerts and other cultural events. Vooruit was designed by Ferdinand Dierkens and built between 1911 and 1914 and became a symbol of the socialist movement in the interwar period. The building is named after the socialist consumer organization (or cooperative) Vooruit (in English: forward) (1891-1970), supported by Edward Anseele, to protect workers against the instability of capitalism. There workers could eat, drink and enjoy culture at low rates.
As festival and art centre Vooruit was part of the compartmentalized Flemish Society until the Second World War. After the Second World War the building deteriorated until the re-launch in 1982 in its present form as a cultural center. In 1983 Vooruit was recognized as a listed monument. The building continued operating during the restoration process, from 1990 to 2000. In 2000, a fully restored Vooruit was awarded the Flemish Monument of the year Prize.Presently the rooms are used for arties and concerts, but also for cultural events or debates.
