House of the Arts

The building, located at no. 147, Chaussée de Haecht/Haachtsesteenweg, conceals a dwelling built in 1826 for a rich linen merchant by the name of Charles-Louis Eenens. Two wings were added by the next generation, with the building then passing to Viscountess Terlinden, granddaughter of the first owner.

Château Eenens was the setting for a page in the history of independence of 1830: Frederick of the Netherlands took refuge there before ordering its evacuation. During the two world wars, the house played a role in the resistance. When the Eenens-Terlinden family lived there, it played host to leading Belgian and foreign figures.

Owned by the municipality since 1950, the building, a fine example in Schaerbeek of an aristocratic dwelling from the Belle Epoque, today houses the House of the Arts, the setting for exhibitions, concerts, conferences and other cultural events. Inside, decorative elements borrowed from the Louis XV, Louis XVI and Flemish neo-Renaissance tradition illustrate the varied interpretations of an eclectic style. The former saddlery has been converted into a small cafe, a perfect example of an old Brussels bar, while the vaulted rooms are used for shows. The access corridor connecting the courtyard to the street is decorated with a delightful fresco by Nicolas Moreel. In the rear, adjoining the Halles de Schaerbeek, its appealing garden creates an unexpected green space in the quarter.