Bourla Theatre

Neoclassical theatre in Antwerp, completed 1834 despite the Belgian Revolution, today home to the Flemish theatre company Het Toneelhuis.

The Bourla Theatre is a neoclassical theatre in central Antwerp, designed by city architect Pierre Bourla. Construction began in 1829 but was interrupted by the Belgian Revolution; the theatre finally opened in 1834 on the site of the former Tapissierspand tapestry market. With seating for around 900, it opened under French ownership as the Grand Théâtre before eventually becoming a Flemish institution. Today it is home to Het Toneelhuis, a major Flemish theatre company formed from the merger of two older ensembles, and is protected as Belgian cultural heritage.