Open from Saturday 22 July until Sunday 3 September 2017 included, from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm (last entries).
Closed on Monday.
As each year, the Royal Palace opens its doors to the public during summer. Two of the three exhibitions shown there are co-organised by the State Archives! Discover them from 22 July to 3 September 2017. Free entrance.
1) Science and culture at the Palace: “The Sky!” Exposition
The Royal Palace, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Federal Science Policy Office (Belspo) have asked the ten federal scientific institutions – among which the State Archives and the National Geographic Institute – to organize the exhibition “The Sky!”. The sky is looked at from different angles by our scientists through their respective disciplines so that one can see the sky in a new light based on a selection of fascinating documents.
The exhibition has, among others, two exceptional documents from the State Archives on display:
- A map of the moon from 1644-1645, Luna vel lumina Austriaca Philippica, by Michael Florent van Langren (Langrenus), mathematician and astronomer for the King of Spain. This map is part of the collections of the National Archives of Belgium and can be consulted in the reading rooms of the State Archives in digital format.
- A sketch of the moon by astronomer Godefroid Wendelin (Vendelinus). The documents of the astronomer Vendelinus are conserved at the State Archives in Liège in the holding of the Mercy-Argenteau family and are comprised in three files. They contain handwritten letters, numerous astronomical and mathematical calculations, and notes (in Greek or Latin) as well as other documents (diplomas, nominations, etc.).
2) Exhibition about the Prince Regent
At the same time, the Association Royale Dynastie et Patrimoine Culturel will show the exposition Karel van Vlaanderen, Prince | Régent | Artiste, with the support of the King Baudouin Foundation. Various documents, photographs and drawings conserved at the Archives of the Royal Palace are on display.
3) Technopolis exhibition
As usual, Technopolis®, the Flemish centre for science and technology also organises an exposition. This year it is entitled To your health! and helps you discover the human bady.
Practical information
Free entrance! Security controls take place at the entrance. We strongly advise to not bring any bags (rucksack, etc.).