La Monnaie

La Monnaie (French) or De Munt (Dutch) is Belgium’s federal opera house located on Place de la Monnaie in central Brussels. The institution dates back to the early 18th century and is the country’s primary venue for opera and large-scale music and dance productions.

The main auditorium stages full opera and ballet seasons and the building’s foyers and salons contain historic interior decoration that visitors often view on guided tours. The theatre’s central location makes it a regular cultural stop for visitors to Brussels.

The institution was established in the early 1700s; it became a focal point of national life when a performance in 1830 is credited with contributing to the outbreak of the Belgian Revolution. The building on Place de la Monnaie has been rebuilt and restored several times across the 19th and 20th centuries to serve modern theatrical needs.

La Monnaie stands in central Brussels close to major boulevards and shopping streets, within the historical centre and a short walk from other civic landmarks and transport hubs.

• Historic institution: The theatre traces its institutional origins to the early 18th century and remains Belgium's principal opera house.
• Role in 1830 Revolution: A performance on 25 August 1830 at the theatre is widely credited with helping spark the Belgian Revolution later that year.

What to See #

• Main auditorium: The main auditorium is the primary performance space for opera and ballet seasons and lies behind the principal facade on Place de la Monnaie.
• Foyers and salons: Foyers and salons are used for pre-performance gatherings and display historic interior decoration; these spaces are often visited on guided tours.