Le Chat Museum in Brussels faces new construction delays

Brussels’ long anticipated Le Chat cartoon museum has been hit by another setback, with officials now saying the project is unlikely to open before 2027, reports Bruzz.

The delay was confirmed in the Brussels parliament by regional minister-president Rudi Vervoort (PS), who acknowledged that the construction schedule had slipped yet again.

Work on the museum, a project inspired by Brussels cartoonist Philippe Geluck, who is best known for his iconic series “Le Chat”, began in Rue Royale near Bozar arts centre in 2021.

The original plan called for delivery of the building shell in 2024, but that deadline has already been pushed back to this summer and is unlikely to be met.

Vervoort said various challenges, including archeological excavations of the old city wall, redesigns of the foundation system and planned renovation of the adjacent Bozar, have all slowed progress. Vervoort told Bruzz: “We hope to open by the end of 2027.”

Despite the delays and controversy that have surrounded the project since its inception in 2018, construction continues. Costing €17.8 million, the seven floor museum will showcase 3,000 square metres of space dedicated to Belgian cartoonists, with additional plans for a restaurant, shop and office space.

Photo: ©Philippe Geluck