Bernard Frisque
Bringing beauty back to the city
Sometimes all it takes is looking up to rediscover a reason to love Brussels. On Place Royale, illuminated façades now tell a different story about this part of the city, between the Royal Palace and the Mont des Arts. The video shared by David Weytsman invites us to slow down and look again at heritage we sometimes pass without noticing.
Bringing beauty back to the city means more than making an attractive photograph. It also means giving walkers room and revealing architectural details for everyone to enjoy. Here, two interventions complement each other: the redesign of public space and new architectural lighting.
A square, not just a roundabout
According to Beliris, the renovated square was inaugurated on 12 February 2026, at the opening of the Bright Brussels Festival. Over the preceding two years, the roundabout was redesigned to function as a square again.
The most tangible change is how space is shared: vehicle traffic is concentrated within a clearly defined area, freeing 85% of the surface for pedestrians. This does not mean all traffic has disappeared. The project reorganises uses; it does not make the entire square pedestrian-only.
Beliris reports an investment of €6.3 million in the renovation project. That figure concerns the redesign described in its February announcement. We do not present it as the cost of the lighting alone.
Protecting history beneath the paving
Sweco, West8 and Cerau designed the project in consultation with the City of Brussels and the Monuments and Sites Commission. Beliris says the design seeks to remain faithful to the historic layout, with visible interventions involving the bollards defining the roadway and street furniture.
An important part of the work lies beneath our feet: renewing waterproofing above the archaeological remains of the Coudenberg Palace, including the Aula Magna. Improving the square therefore goes hand in hand with protecting underground heritage. Beauty is not only what we see, but also what we preserve.
Heritage finds a new light
The architectural lighting was inaugurated on 6 October 2026, as confirmed by the news item Beliris published the following day. This is a second stage, distinct from the February inauguration of the redesigned square.
The lighting extends beyond Place Royale’s façades. Beliris also lists Place du Musée, the Court of Audit, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Musical Instruments Museum and Bozar. The Whirling Ear, overlooking the Mont des Arts, and the staircase of Hôtel Ravenstein have also received new lighting.
The stated approach is to reveal each building’s architectural characteristics while integrating technical installations discreetly. Beliris describes the result as warm, subtle and harmonious: a way to let the heritage remain the main attraction.
David Weytsman’s words
In his TikTok post, David Weytsman writes — translated from French:
“Our Place Royale is beautiful with this new lighting! ✨
We often talk about what is not going well in Brussels, and there is still a lot to do. But it also feels good to share what makes us proud of our city.
Thank you to Beliris (Bernard Quintin) and the teams who worked on this lighting, together with the City of Brussels and Sibelga.
And you, which place in Brussels do you find most beautiful after nightfall?”
#Bruxelles #placeroyale
Thank you for these beautiful images
In his post’s caption, David Weytsman thanks Beliris, mentioning Bernard Quintin, and the teams working with the City of Brussels and Sibelga. We report these as the filmmaker’s acknowledgements, without assigning additional responsibilities to any of them.
Thank you to David Weytsman for these beautiful images. They remind us that good news can also be a city we find more beautiful, a detail we finally notice, a square where we want to linger.
The video at the top of this article shows Place Royale’s new lighting. The footage remains that of the original publication, with its creator credited. The illustration photograph comes from Beliris.
