Heritage groups drape Brussels monuments in black to protest €47 million cuts

On 23 October, heritage organisations from Brussels and Flanders launched a night-time action that transformed well-known monuments into protest canvases, using black balloons, mourning bands and QR-linked signs to highlight €47 million in planned cultural savings. The effort, coordinated by an action committee representing several heritage groups, seeks to compel the Flemish government to rethink the reductions and guarantee long-term funding for institutions that safeguard historic collections, including those of migrant and marginalised communities.

Protest materials were placed on statues and street fixtures before the public display began at 11 am, after which visitors were guided to the #LaatHetLichtAan campaign website. The site enables citizens to send messages to the office of Flemish Culture Minister Caroline Gennez and download protest posters. While the exact impact on Brussels-based institutions remains unclear, organisers warn that the cuts could erode professional expertise, partnerships and public access to cultural resources. No official response or reversal of the savings had been reported as of the protest date.