The last performance by Truus Nijland

It is not often that a particular place leaves you speechless. However, that is the case with Aegidium, a strong piece of architecture.
The eclectic facade does not suggest an exuberant style.

The building boasts gigantic rooms with interiors where Art Nouveau and Art Deco elements blend together. But the Moorish Hall, converted into a movie theater in 1933, is undoubtedly the pinnacle.

Aegidium: with a history in Saint-Gilles
The building in sober, neo-classical style, once opened its doors in December 1906 under the name Diamant Palace. Initially it was a hall where parties and spectacles took place.

When the owner died, the building was bought up and renamed the Panthéon-Palace, then a place in Brussels known for its inimitable dance evenings.
In 1929, the building changed hands again and changed its name.
It then became Aegidium, in reference to the patron saint of Saint Gilles (Aegidius in Latin). All kinds of parochial activities took place there.

In 1933, the building was renovated and once again given a new use. It became a cinema.

Then in 1979, Aegidium underwent a transformation into a day center, but the doors closed for good in 1985, due to much-needed work on the building.

More than thirty years later, acquirers finally emerged, with a real project in mind.

Of course, several proposals have been floated in recent years to restore the building to all its glory, but the fact that it is listed means that strict regulations apply when it come

This artwork is offered by Truus Nijland

Truus Nijland is a passionate photographer who has a love for abandoned buildings such as castles, monasteries, churches and industrial locations. She has regularly exhibited with her photographs at various locations in the Netherlands.

But you can also find her more and more on a beach or in a city. If you browse through her albums, you will find picturesque nature photos as well as creative and artistic ones.

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• All artworks by Truus Nijland