Kanal director Yves Goldstein to leave new art museum on 30 November, two days after sell-out opening weekend

Brussels minister-president Boris Dilliès and Kanal’s outgoing general director Yves Goldstein have finally reached an agreement on the latter’s official departure date following a period of tense negotiations.

Goldstein will leave the art museum after 10 years at its helm on 30 November, two days after its scheduled inauguration on the 28th, according to a statement by Brussels’ regional government released on Monday.

The future of Kanal’s leadership had been a source of significant tension within the capital’s governing coalition under Dilliès (MR) in the past few days.

A series of meetings between Dilliès and Goldstein resulted in the statement that “both parties are jointly announcing the terms of an organised transition in the institution's leadership,” agreeing to clarify the terms and timeline for Goldstein’s departure.

 It was in May that he made the surprise announcement about his resignation, promising though to remain as director of the flagship cultural project until a successor was found.

But according to the new agreement, Goldstein will not participate in the selection process for a new director of the financially-beleaguered museum.

A series of meetings between Dilliès and Goldstein resulted in the statement that both parties acknowledged “a difference of opinion regarding the future of Kanal,”  but were jointly announcing the terms of an organised transition in the institution's leadership, agreeing to clarify the terms and timeline for Goldstein’s departure.

“Yves Goldstein has championed this project with conviction for several years,” said Dilliès. “This agreement allows us to turn the page in a calm atmosphere while giving Kanal the means to approach its inauguration and future with confidence, taking into account the budgetary constraints known to all.”

Tickets for opening weekend sold-out

Meanwhile, the future art museum is getting ready to open its doors despite its financial woes and future change of direction.

Attracting widespread international attention, as well as local, all 30,000 free admission tickets for the opening weekend were claimed in just a day. Ticket-holders will get free admission on 28 and 29 November to view the museum’s 10 opening exhibitions in time slots. 

“This is a great moment for Brussels,” said director Yves Goldstein last week. “For 10 years now, I’ve been convinced that the people of Brussels would be keen to discover Kanal. Thank you in advance for your trust — it’s very heartening.”

From 28 November, visitors without a booking can freely visit the other spaces at Kanal outside of the seven formal exhibitions that require a ticket. The three exceptional exhibitions will remain free to visit even after the opening weekend. 

Belgian-Nigerian artist Otobong Nkanga is presenting an installation featuring looms in one of the open spaces. Another involves the display of Right?, a work by Banu Cennetoğlu featuring golden speech bubbles that slowly deflate. The third free exhibition is Right to the City (pictured above) by Kanal Architecture.

Kanal’s grand opening includes extended hours for its ambitious programme of exhibitions —from 10.00 to midnight on Saturday and 10.00 to 22.00 on Sunday — and open areas will remain accessible around the clock that weekend. 

Live performances are set to take place in the public areas and the programme also includes concerts, DJ sets, films and workshops for children and families. Kiosk Radio will host a stage, while a Bruzz-hosted party occupies the Carrosserie, Kanal’s brasserie. 

Restaurants, the rooftop bar and bakery on site are also due to be working overtime. “The rooftop will remain open until 4.00, and the bakery will open its doors straight afterwards,” said communications director Dieter Vanthournout.

The full programme for the opening weekend will be announced in early October. Regular ticket sales for visits from 2 December onwards have now begun.

Ongoing construction work around Kanal

While the section of Sainctelette Square in front of the Kanal arts centre will be completed in time for the opening, construction on the rest of the building site will continue until the end of 2027. 

Brussels Mobility and Stib have been carrying out works on Sainctelette Square since April 2024; bridges are being widened and carriageway and tram tracks renewed.

Once the works are complete, ‘a fully-fledged public space’ is to be created above the canal, with more room for pedestrians and cyclists. The idea is that children will be able to play on the square and that events can also be held there. Extensive greening is also planned.

“Everything in front of Kanal will be finished by the opening,” Inge Paemen of Brussels Mobility told Bruzz. 

“Our schedule is geared towards the opening and the area will look neat and tidy. Only the planned trees and plants won’t be there yet, as it’s not the right season for them.”

While the rest of the construction is ongoing, the site is likely to remain chaotic for those travelling by car. 

Large crowds are also expected in the days leading up to the museum’s grand opening, including an international press conference on the Tuesday before and a visit by 5,000 schoolchildren on Wednesday.

“We strongly advise against coming by car,” says Paemen. The museum’s communications director, Dieter Vanthournout, reminds potential visitors that there is no car park. 

“That was never planned—there will be shuttle buses from Tour & Taxis, and there’s an Indigo car park nearby and a cycle park,” Vanthournout said. 

“Unfortunately, we have no influence over the construction site and can only emphasise the use of public transport in all our communications. Will it be chaotic? Absolutely, but I can only hope that people travelling from Antwerp or Liège will come by train rather than by car. Kanal is a 900-metre walk from Brussels North Station, and we’re also easily accessible by tram and metro.”

Tram 51, which was normally due to resume services to Jette from June, has now been suspended until at least December. 

“But the metro does run there and is rarely full at the weekend,” STIB spokesperson Laurent Vermeersch said, adding that Kanal hasn’t yet made any requests for extra metro, tram or bus services for its opening weekend.

The Sainctelette roadworks will continue until the end of 2027. At present, traffic is restricted to a single lane in both directions and the Sainctelette exit from the Annie Cordy Tunnel is closed. 

The switch to the new carriageway will take place in late September or early October, but traffic will continue to use a single lane.

Photos: (main image) ©Koen Van Damme; Kanal Architecture Right to the City - Right to the Future; Aerial image of Kanal ak w buyse