Stargazing in Brussels: where to look up this autumn

Updated on September 22, 2026 by Pierre

In Brussels, I'm used to looking all around me: at shop windows, terraces, and Art Nouveau facades. Looking up at the night sky… much less often. It's a shame, because the city is home to an observatory celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, a planetarium with a giant screen, and an annual event where the streetlights are switched off across an entire area.

We looked at what's available for stargazing without leaving the region. Here's what we found, with a short program at the end of the article.

🔭 1. IN UCCLE - An evening under the large telescope of Uccle

The Royal Observatory of Belgium was founded on June 8, 1826, during the reign of William I, before moving to the Uccle plateau in 1890. For its bicentenary, it opened the dome of its large telescope to the public during evenings called "Nocturnes".

The evening lasts approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. We visit the dome, learn how astronomers worked in the past, and then listen to a 15-minute presentation in the renovated meridian room. Weather permitting, we then observe the sky with the large telescope and with smaller, modern telescopes installed on site.

Everything is free, but registration is mandatory and each visitor must register separately. A few rules to know:

• 40 places per evening,
• Children admitted from age 12
• a building inaccessible to people with reduced mobility (access stairs, ladders during observation).
• Also bring warm clothing and a small flashlight.

You must arrive on time. The group is received all at once at the main entrance, Circular Avenue 3, and you cannot join the tour once it has started, nor leave the site before the end.

The calendar remains.

• Tuesday April 14, 2026
• Monday June 8 2026
• Wednesday July 8 2026
• Thursday 6 August 2026
• Thursday, September 3, 2026: 10 a.m. (NL) – 10:30 (FR) – 14 p.m. (EN)
• Friday, October 16, 2026: 10 a.m. (NL) – 10:30 (FR) – 14 p.m. (EN)
• Friday, November 13, 2026: 10 a.m. (NL) – 10:30 (FR) – 14 p.m. (EN)
• Monday, November 30, 2026: 10 a.m. (NL) – 10:30 (FR) – 14 p.m. (EN)

And for Tintin fans , you should know that according to the character's official website, Hergé featured the Royal Observatory of Belgium in The Shooting Star.

🎬 2. In Laeken - The Planetarium, when the sky doesn't cooperate

We know our sky: it doesn't always cooperate when it comes to putting on a show. The Royal Observatory's Planetarium, however, operates in all weather conditions. It's located in Laeken (Boechoutlaan 10, 1020 Brussels), not in Uccle, unlike the Observatory itself.

Beneath the dome, a 23-meter diameter screen projects 360° films: rocket launches, tours of the International Space Station, flybys of Mars, and approaches to Saturn's rings. The venue has a history: its predecessor was built for the 1935 World's Fair, before the current building replaced it in the 1970s.

The ticket office is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and you should arrive 15 minutes before the screening. Films are shown at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM on weekends, public holidays, and during school holidays. During the school year, there is a screening at 4:00 PM on weekdays, and also at 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM on Wednesdays. These times are subject to change, so please check planetarium.be before you go.

Learn more here on the Official Facebook page.

🌑 3. The Night of Darkness at Rouge-Cloître

This is the next event on the calendar: the Night of Darkness returns on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Rouge-Cloître in Auderghem. The aim is to raise awareness about light pollution and its impact on wildlife, plants, energy, and the quality of astronomical observations.

The site was not chosen at random. A truly dark night is very difficult to achieve in a city like Brussels, and Rouge-Cloître, on the edge of the forest, comes closest.

In previous years, streetlights were switched off, building windows were blacked out, and stalls were equipped with red lights to maintain darkness. The event has been held at this site since 2009, initiated by the non-profit organization Besace, which relinquished its organization in 2025 while continuing to participate.

The schedule for the 2026 edition is not yet confirmed. Last year, the event ran from 17 pm to 23 pm and admission was free. We advise you to check before traveling.

📝 Our starry autumn, in three ideas

If we were to compose a small program:

• We would start on October 10th at Rouge-Cloître, to enjoy a real night out with family or friends.
• Next, head to Uccle for a nighttime event, choosing the next date that suits you. The Planetarium makes an excellent Plan B for a rainy Sunday.

In any case, dress warmly, take a flashlight and leave your phone at the bottom of your bag: your eyes need a few minutes to adjust to the darkness.