Ancienne Belgique, known to locals simply as “AB,” is a concert hall in the historic heart of Brussels, Belgium, standing on Boulevard Anspach. The site’s music-hall history stretches back to the 19th century, but the venue took on its current name and identity in 1931, when Liège businessman Georges Mathonet took over the building and began booking major touring acts.
After a mid-20th-century golden age hosting stars like Jacques Brel and Édith Piaf, financial troubles led the Belgian state to take ownership of the building, and it reopened as a dedicated home for contemporary live music in the late 1970s. Following major renovations, AB now operates as one of Belgium’s premier concert venues, drawing an estimated 300,000 concertgoers a year across its Main Hall and smaller AB Club room.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Boulevard Anspach 110, Brussels, Belgium
- Type: Concert hall / live music venue
- Opened: Current AB identity dates to 1931; reopened as a live music venue in the late 1970s
- Capacity: About 2,000 (Main Hall); around 250 (AB Club)
- Annual attendance: About 300,000 concertgoers per year
- Famous for: Legendary shows by Jacques Brel, Suicide with Elvis Costello (1978), and The Cure (1982)
A Storied Stage in the Heart of Brussels
The building at Boulevard Anspach 110 has hosted entertainment venues since at least the early 1900s, but it was Georges Mathonet’s 1931 takeover that gave rise to the Ancienne Belgique as a dedicated music hall. In the years after World War II, AB became a stop for major French-language stars, including Jacques Brel, who famously performed there in January 1955, along with Édith Piaf and Charles Trenet.
Financial struggles led to the venue being taken over by the Belgian state in the 1970s, after which it was reborn as a home for contemporary and rock music. Its Main Hall developed a reputation for excellent acoustics, and the room is still considered one of the best-sounding concert spaces in Belgium.
Landmark Shows and Live Recordings
AB’s stage has hosted no shortage of memorable, even chaotic, nights. Suicide’s confrontational 1978 performance opening for Elvis Costello was captured and later released as a live album, while The Cure’s 1982 show ended in an on-stage dispute among band members. In the mid-1980s, DJ Ronny “Fat Ronny” Harmsen’s club nights at AB helped spark the New Beat movement that swept Belgian dance music.
The venue’s acoustics and atmosphere have also made it a favorite recording location, with artists such as Iggy Pop (Live at the Avenue B, taped in 1999), Kings of Leon (Day Old Belgian Blues, 2004), and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard (Live at Ancienne Belgique / Live in Brussels ’19) releasing official live albums recorded at the venue.
Explore more: more legendary music venues.
Ancienne Belgique FAQs
What does Ancienne Belgique mean?
“Ancienne Belgique” is French for “Old Belgium,” a name the venue took on when it became a dedicated entertainment hall in the early 20th century.
How many people does Ancienne Belgique hold?
AB’s Main Hall holds about 2,000 people, while the smaller AB Club room holds roughly 250, giving the venue flexibility for both large touring acts and intimate shows.
Is Ancienne Belgique still an active venue?
Yes. AB remains one of Brussels’ leading concert halls, hosting a year-round schedule of international and Belgian artists and drawing an estimated 300,000 attendees annually.
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Photo: Nenea hartia / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.