Project Ommegang

The Project Ommegang exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in the history of an event that is one of Brussels’ oldest traditions: the Ommegang. There, they will discover a selection of art pieces, made up of almost 200 original drawings produced between 1928 and 1929 for the recreation of this historic procession on the occasion of the celebration of the centenary of Belgium’s independence. The scenography highlights the quality of the graphic work carried out in preparation of this wonderful project and consists of numerous original elements from 1930: banners, musical instruments, costumes, halberds, crossbows, posters, programmes, etc. Albert Marinus recreates the Ommegang in 1930. The Ommegang procession emerged in the middle of the 14th century to commemorate the arrival in Brussels of a statue of the Holy Virgin – also known as Notre-Dame à la branche – which was brought from Antwerp. After various evolutions, the procession eventually disappeared in 1785. While Belgium was preparing for the centenary of its independence in 1930, the Grand Serment Royal et de Saint-Georges des Arbalétriers and Abbot François Desmet, vicar of the Church of Our Lady of the Sablon, suggested in 1928 to recreate the Ommegang procession for this special occasion. The task was entrusted to a committee headed by Albert Marinus, a humanist and sociologist who had been working for a long time at international level for the recognition of folk traditions and folklore. Albert Marinus took inspiration from the Ommegang organised by the city in 1549 on the occasion of the visit of Charles V and his son Philip II, and adapted it to contemporary ideas. This was a daunting task. Through his friend Constant Montald who was head of the Academy of Fine Arts, Albert Marinus received support from about twenty Brussels artists, painters, sculptors, architects and decorators to draw up sketches for the event. Admission to the exhibition is free and the price for guided tours is 5€ per person. Reservations are required for these tours (groups of 15 people max).