Royal Circus, Entertainment venue in Freedom Quarter, Brussels, Belgium
The Cirque Royal on Rue de l'Enseignement is a flat-faced grey stone building whose upper facade is pierced by rows of rectangular windows. A broad dark canopy projects over the entrance, its front edge lit by recessed round lights and lettered "CIRQUE ROYAL • KONINKLIJK CIRCUS"; below it, a tall glass wall with dark framing forms the entrance, flanked by blue signs reading "Koninklijke Circus" and "Cirque Royal". The hall itself is built as a regular 20-sided polygon, 37 metres across, holding 2,000 spectators.
The first Cirque Royal, designed by Wilhelm Kuhnen, opened on 12 January 1878 with a show by the Troupe équestre royale belge Renz. In 1953 architect Charles Van Nueten rebuilt it in a contemporary style, keeping only the foundations and the metal-reinforced exterior framework. From 1999 to June 2017 Le Botanique managed its programme, and in 2018 the City of Brussels, its owner, carried out a major restoration.
The venue's name appears in two languages on its facade: "CIRQUE ROYAL • KONINKLIJK CIRCUS", reflecting Brussels' bilingual status. Its programme shifted from equestrian and circus shows to ballet under Maurice Béjart from 1961, and today it is known for stand-up comedy, with performers such as Coluche and Guillermo Guiz having appeared there.
The hall is owned by the City of Brussels and seats 2,000; the entrance with its dark canopy and blue-lit signs faces the street in a row of buildings. The venue is used year-round for concerts, dance and stand-up, so check the current programme rather than assuming a season. It lies on Rue de l'Enseignement in the Freedom Quarter, a short walk from the city centre.
The 1878 arena had a 37-metre diameter and could be flooded to become a swimming pool, which allowed water spectacles alongside equestrian shows. The basement stables held 110 horses, and the orchestra sat above the horses' entrance with room for 40 musicians.
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