Koksijde (Belgium). It was by a letter addressed to the municipal authorities of Koksijde that the Paul Delvaux Foundation informed, on December 7, of the possible closure, at the end of 2026, of the museum dedicated to the artist in the fisherman’s house where he lived his last years. This museum is located in Saint-Idesbald, part of the municipality of Koksijde.
“Nothing is final, assures Pierre-Alexis Hocke, president of the Paul Delvaux Foundation, but the foundation is rich in works and poor in means. Without external funding, we cannot ensure the operation of the museum and the collection alone. » With only 20,000 to 25,000 visitors per year, the museum, closed during the three winter months, struggles to generate any profit. Perhaps also that its location in a discreet corner of the coastal town, not easily accessible by public transport, has an impact on the frequentation of the place by the public.
Opened in 1982 at the instigation of the artist, the museum brings together the largest collection in the world dedicated to Paul Delvaux (1897-1994). Paintings, drawings, watercolors, sketches, engravings and personal objects outline the artist’s creative journey. The museum has undergone successive transformations with the addition of underground rooms. Nearly thirty years after the last work carried out in 1997, the building is starting to show its age and needs major renovation work that the foundation cannot finance. The latter, which declares that it wants to favor the management of the work over that of a museum, does not yet have precise plans. “Paul Delvaux lacks recognition at the national and international level, which is difficult to ensure from the current museum alone. Ideally, we would see the creation of several rooms dedicated to him in different museums in the country, and why not in Saint-Idesbald ? »
For the city of Koksijde, the museum represents an undeniable cultural asset. Started in 1990, the collaboration with the museum materialized in 2020 with a structural agreement relating to the municipality taking charge of staff, maintenance and tourist promotion.
The community is considering
The announcement of a possible closure was not welcomed by the municipal authorities. “The museum has undeniable historical, artistic and tourist value. It represents much more than a simple question of functioning for the municipality. We want to remain a structural partner of the museum and preserve this cultural oasis,” supports Mayor Sander Loones. On January 19, the Koksijde municipal council was to consider a motion relating to the preservation of the museum. No one knows at this stage what form this will take. Pierre-Alexis Hocke, however, wants to be reassuring. “I am convinced that we will find a solution. We are open to dialogue because it is also our wish to maintain the presence of Paul Delvaux in Saint-Idesbald, but we cannot do it alone. »
