Marc Sleen Museum

Marc Sleen Museum
Exterior of the museum
Interactive fullscreen map
Established19 June 2009 (2009-06-19)[1]
Dissolved2024 (2024)
LocationRue des Sables / Zandstraat 33–35,
1000 City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
Coordinates50°51′03″N 4°21′37″E / 50.85083°N 4.36028°E / 50.85083; 4.36028
TypeBelgian comics
Public transit access
Websitewww.marcsleen.be/en

The Marc Sleen Museum (French: Musée Marc Sleen; Dutch: Marc Sleen Museum) was a museum in Brussels, Belgium, dedicated to the work of comics artist Marc Sleen, who is known for his series The Adventures of Nero, Piet Fluwijn en Bolleke and De Lustige Kapoentjes. Founded in 2009, it was located across the street from the Belgian Comic Strip Center at 33–35, rue des Sables/Zandstraat, and was served by Brussels-Congress railway station and Brussels-Central railway station. The museum closed permanently in 2024.

History

On 19 June 2009, the Marc Sleen Museum was opened to the public, with the presence of Marc Sleen, as well as King Albert II.[1] The king was a fan of The Adventures of Nero comic book series since his youth and both him and his brother, King Baudouin, learned Dutch by reading Nero.[2]

The museum's location was symbolic, since Marc Sleen started his career as cartoonist in 1947 whilst working for the newspaper De Nieuwe Gids, whose office was located on the Rue des Sables/Zandstraat.[1] The original building was erected in Art Nouveau style by the architects Fernand Brunfaut and his son Maxime Brunfaut.

The museum failed to meet the expected success. In the early years, it attracted barely 3,000 visitors a year, and even later, visitor numbers remained well below the target of 25,000.[3][4] On 30 January 2023, it was announced that the museum would close in the autumn, with part of its collection being integrated into the Belgian Comic Strip Center.[5][6][7] In 2024, the museum closed permanently.[3][4]

Exhibition

The museum was managed by the Marc Sleen Foundation (French: Fondation Marc Sleen, Dutch: Stichting Marc Sleen).[1][8] It exhibited original artwork and memorabilia by Marc Sleen, as well as an overview of his career, including the nature documentaries he made for the TV show Allemaal Beestjes ("All kinds of animals").[2] About 15,000 drawings were archived in the cellars and were available for temporary exhibitions.[2][9]

The museum had a reading corner for children. Comic book albums by Sleen could be bought as well. One specific story, Het Spook uit de Zandstraat ("The Ghost of the Zandstraat") has been translated into English, French and German, and was made available as a souvenir for tourists.[10] Temporary exhibitions were also organised.[2]

Marc Sleen Route

The museum organised a special tourist route in Brussels, based on several locations featured in the Nero albums, including the Black Tower, the Palace of Justice, the Chapel Church, the Sablon/Zavel, the Central Station, the Grand-Place/Grote Markt and Manneken Pis.[11][12]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d "Marc Sleen krijgt eigen museum in Brussel". Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 17 June 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Marc Sleen Museum ingehuldigd". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b McNally, Paul (20 September 2024). "Marc Sleen museum and foundation to close". The Bulletin. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Adieu Marc Sleen: museumpand verkocht, stichting verdwijnt". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Einde verhaal voor Marc Sleen Museum". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Marc Sleen Museum wordt onderdeel van het Belgisch Stripcentrum". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 31 January 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. ^ NWS, VRT (31 January 2023). "Marc Sleen Museum stopt en wordt onderdeel van Stripmuseum Brussel | VRT NWS: nieuws". VRTNWS (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Foundation Marc Sleen, Brussels — Why a Foundation?". www.marc-sleen.be. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Foundation Marc Sleen, Brussels — Presentation". www.marc-sleen.be. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Foundation Marc Sleen, Brussels — Publications". www.marc-sleen.be. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010.
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Brussel krijgt Nerowandeling". Knack (in Flemish). 5 October 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2025.

Bibliography

  • Geert De Weyer, België gestript (in Dutch), Lannoo, Tielt (2005), p. 321–323 (ISBN 978-9-462-10202-6)
  • Media related to Marc Sleen Museum at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website
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