Koninklijk Circus - Cirque Royal in Brussel
Brussels’ 2,030-capacity Koninklijk Circus, the Cirque Royal at Onderrichtsstraat 81 (Rue de l'Enseignement), stages concerts, dance and stand-up near Madou and Park metro.
Photo credits
A singer performing on the lit stage of the Cirque Royal during a 2024 concert: Haggis MacHaggis · CC0
Quick answers
- Capacity
- 2,030 in the main hall; 350 standing in The Club
- Address
- Onderrichtsstr. 811000 Brussel
- Address
- Onderrichtsstraat 81 (Rue de l'Enseignement), 1000 Brussels
- Doors
- Usually 19:00, one hour before the 20:00 show
- Metro
- Madou (2/6), 390 m or 6 min walk
- Main station
- Brussels-Central, 900 m or 11 min walk
- Parking
- Spectrum, 270 m or 4 min; Royal, 5 min
- Tickets
- Online; box office on show nights
- Contact
- [email protected]No public phone number
Koninklijk Circus - Cirque Royal agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Brussel.
Check your connection and try again.
Plan your visit to Koninklijk Circus - Cirque Royal
Capacity: 2,030 in the main hall, 350 in The Club
The main hall holds 2,030 people; The Club holds 350 standing or 180 seated.
- Main hall
- 2,030
- The Club
- 350 standing / 180 seated
The 2018 renovation kept the capacity at exactly 2,030 in a room that can take both seated and standing audiences. That figure is for the main hall. The Club is a separate adjoining room with 350 standing places or 180 seats, so do not add the two when you are checking whether a show will feel full.
Capacity figures for this building vary widely online. The original 1878 circus was built for about 3,500 spectators, and Wikidata still carries that historic number; today’s main hall is 2,030. For comparison, the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg is 0.8 km away and seats 1,700, and the Théâtre Royal des Galeries is 0.7 km away and seats 850.
| Venue | Capacity | Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koninklijk Circus (main hall) | 2,030 | Here | Bruzz, 2018 |
| Koninklijke Muntschouwburg | 1,700 | 0.8 km | Wikidata |
| Théâtre Royal des Galeries | 850 | 0.7 km | Wikidata |
Seating at the Koninklijk Circus: parterre, upper floor and zone 0
The hall has a parterre, an upper floor and zone 0 at the very top. Seats are numbered and stewards show you to your place; the venue advises against zone 0 if you are prone to dizziness.
- Seat numbers
- Numbered; stewards show you
- Levels
- Parterre, upper floor, zone 0 at the top
- Zone 0
- Top of the upper floor (Paradis); avoid if dizzy
- Seat plan
- In the official ticket flow
- PMR zone
- 1st floor, at parterre level, by lift
The hall has the circus building's regular 20-sided footprint. Seating is on the parterre and on the upper floor. Zone 0, which the venue calls the Paradis, is at the very top of the upper floor; the venue advises against it if you are prone to dizziness.
The room can take seated or standing audiences. For shows with numbered seats, stewards show you to your seat. When a performance has a seat map, it appears in the official ticket flow; check the exact seat there before paying. The PMR zone is on the 1st floor, at parterre level, reached by lift from the entrance hall; the accessible toilet with a grab rail is on the same level. A cloakroom is on the lower or upper level depending on your seat, and toilets are on both levels.
Accessibility: lifts, wheelchair places and accessible tickets
Wheelchair places are in a zone on level 1, reached by lift from the entrance hall, with an accessible toilet on the same level.
Wheelchair places and places for companions are in the PMR zone on the 1st floor, at parterre level, reached by lift from the entrance hall. The accessible toilet has a grab rail and is on the same level. There is a drop-off area opposite the main entrance.
Stewards and hostesses help visitors find their places; ask at the ticket check if you need assistance. For accessible tickets, email [email protected].
- Wheelchair places
- Yes, level 1 by lift
- Accessible toilet
- Yes, grab rail, same level
- Accessible tickets
- [email protected]
- Drop-off: opposite the main entrance.
- Help: stewards and hostesses can take you to your place.
Tickets: buy online and scan your phone
Tickets are sold online through the official channels; the box office opens only on show nights, from doors, and only if the show is not sold out.
Tickets are sold online. The venue has no regular box office: on show nights it opens from the doors, and only when the performance is not fully sold out. The venue strongly advises against the secondary market because it cannot guarantee those tickets and access may be refused.
You do not need to print your ticket: scan it from your smartphone. For numbered-seat shows, stewards will show you to your seat. Check the event page for doors and start times, which can shift when a support act is added.
- Official channels only; secondary-market tickets can be refused.
- No print needed; scan the ticket from your smartphone.
- Accessible tickets: email [email protected].
House rules: bags, bottles, cameras and sound
No food or drink, no smoking, no large bags and no cameras or recording devices; bottles are taken at security and returned when you leave.
The hall is a zero-plastic building. Security takes bottles at the entrance and you collect them on the way out. Large bags and luggage are not allowed. The cloakroom costs €1.00 and is on the lower or upper level depending on your seat.
Concerts can exceed 96 dB(A), with an average of no more than 100 dB over an hour. Free earplugs are available at the bar or reception. If you arrive after the advertised start, the venue cannot guarantee your seat.
- Bags: large bags and luggage are refused.
- Cloakroom: €1.00, on your level.
- Food and drink: not allowed inside.
- Smoking: not allowed in the hall.
- Cameras: any device that can record or take photos is banned.
- Sound: free earplugs at the bar or reception.
Food and drink: eat before or after the show
Food and drinks are not allowed inside; eat before or after the show.
Food and drinks are not allowed inside the venue. The venue links to a restaurant guide for places before or after the performance at localguide.brussels, covering the area around the hall.
Getting to the Koninklijk Circus: metro, tram and train
Brussels-Central is 900 m away, about 11 minutes on foot; Madou metro is 390 m away.
The venue’s own directions name Park for metro 1 and 5 and tram 92 and 93, and Madou for metro 2 and 6 and buses 29, 63, 65 and 66. Madou is six minutes on foot; the Presse-Drukpers bus stop is four minutes away.
From Brussels-Central, walk 900 m (about 11 minutes) or take metro 1/5 to Park. Night buses N04 and N05 stop at Rosa Parks; N05 also stops at Presse-Drukpers.
- The venue gives 900 m from Brussels-Central; OpenStreetMap’s foot router gives 800 m and 11 minutes, so allow about 11 minutes.
- For late-night travel, N04 and N05 serve Rosa Parks and N05 serves Presse-Drukpers.
Parking near the Koninklijk Circus: three garages within 10 minutes
Spectrum is 4 minutes away at €3.80/hour, Parking Royal 5 minutes from €3.60/hour, and Loi-Wet 10 minutes at €3.10 for the first hour.
Park at one of the paid garages nearby; the venue lists several and advises reserving ahead. Spectrum is open 24/7 and takes cars up to 1.9 m. Parking Royal has more than 200 places and a 1.95 m height limit, and charges from €3.60 per hour or €28 for 24 hours.
Loi-Wet has more than 850 spaces. Its normal rate is €3.10 for the first hour, and the evening tariff from 19:00 to 05:00 is €6 for up to 10 hours, which suits a show. The venue also points drivers to P+R car parks outside the centre, with a tram, metro or bus for the last leg.
| Garage | Address | Walk | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parking Spectrum | Petite Rue du Nord 6, 1000 Brussels | 270 m, 4 min | €3.80/hour |
| Parking Royal | de Lignestraat 25, 1000 Brussels | 300 m, 5 min | from €3.60/hour; €28/24h |
| Loi - Wet | Rue de la Loi 19, 1040 Brussels | 700 m, 10 min | €3.10 first hour; €6 evening |
- Heights: Spectrum 1.9 m, Parking Royal 1.95 m.
- Reserve ahead; the venue recommends it.
- P+R list: parking.brussels/nl/smart_parking/park-ride-pr.
Rooms: the main hall and The Club
Two rooms: the 2,030-capacity main hall and The Club with 350 standing or 180 seated places.
| Room | Capacity | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Koninklijk Circus (main hall) | 2,030 | Concerts, dance, stand-up, family shows |
| The Club | 350 standing / 180 seated | Club concerts, comedy, showcases, receptions |
About the Koninklijk Circus: Brussels’ 1878 circus and concert hall
A city-owned circus building from 1878, rebuilt in 1953 and restored in 2018, now a concert, dance and comedy stage in Brussels.
Koninklijk Circus - Cirque Royal is Brussels’ city-owned concert and theatre hall in the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Sneeuwwijk neighbourhood, near Madou and the Royal Park. The 1878 circus building was rebuilt in 1953 and thoroughly restored in 2018; today it stages concerts, dance, stand-up and family shows, with a second room, The Club, next door.
Inside, the main hall holds 2,030 people in a regular 20-sided polygon. The room can be set up with numbered seats or a standing area, depending on the show. The Club is the smaller adjoining room: 350 standing or 180 seated.
Evening shows usually start at 20:00, with doors at 19:00. Matinees can start at 14:00 with doors at 13:00. The advertised time is the main act’s start; a support act can change the running order.
Tickets are sold online through the official channels. The box office opens only on show nights, from doors, and only if the show is not sold out. The venue is a short walk from Madou metro (2/6), Park metro (1/5) and Brussels-Central station.
History: from an 1878 circus to a 1953 concert hall
The first Cirque Royal opened in 1878 as Brussels’ only permanent circus; the present building is a 1953 rebuild, restored in 2018.
Architect Wilhelm Khunen designed a regular polygon on the block, with an Indian-style hall ringed by 20 columns and a suspended ceiling shaped like a cashmere shawl. It opened in 1878 with the Belgian royal equestrian troupe Renz. The basement stables could house more than 110 horses, and the arena could be filled with water for water spectacles; films were shown between 1908 and 1914.
In 1953 Charles Van Nueten replaced the circus with a modern complex. The City of Brussels owns the building, which was thoroughly restored in 2018. Today the programme mixes stand-up, dance and concerts by artists from around the world.
- Opened
- 1878
- Rebuilt
- 1953
- Restored
- 2018
- Original capacity
- About 3,500
Photos
Photo credits
A singer performing on the lit stage of the Cirque Royal during a 2024 concert: Haggis MacHaggis · CC0
The entrance of the Koninklijk Circus on Onderrichtsstraat (Rue de l'Enseignement) in Brussels, photographed in 2024: Haggis MacHaggis · CC0
The main hall of the Cirque Royal set up with seated rows, photographed in 2018: ArnoTBHB · CC BY-SA 4.0
Read reviews on Google Maps We don't show ratings here. See what visitors say on Google Maps.
Frequently asked questions about the Koninklijk Circus
How many people does the Koninklijk Circus hold?
The main hall holds 2,030 people. The Club, the smaller room next door, holds 350 standing or 180 seated. Do not add the two: a show is in one room or the other.
What time do doors open and shows start?
Doors usually open at 19:00 for a 20:00 start. Matinees can open at 13:00 for a 14:00 start. The event page gives the exact times; a support act can move the main act later.
What time do evening shows end?
Doors usually open at 19:00 for a 20:00 evening show, which typically ends between 22:00 and 23:00. Matinees usually open at 13:00 for a 14:00 start and end between 16:00 and 17:00. The exact end depends on the act and the event page gives it.
How do I get to the Koninklijk Circus by public transport?
Madou metro (lines 2 and 6) is 390 m away, about 6 minutes on foot. Park metro (1 and 5) and tram 92/93 are also close, and buses 29, 63, 65 and 66 stop at Madou or Presse-Drukpers. Brussels-Central is 900 m, about 11 minutes on foot.
Is there parking near the Koninklijk Circus?
Park in one of the garages the venue lists: Spectrum (270 m, 4 min, €3.80/hour), Parking Royal (300 m, 5 min, from €3.60/hour) or Loi-Wet (700 m, 10 min, €3.10 first hour). Reserve ahead for event nights.
Is the Koninklijk Circus wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Wheelchair places are in a zone on level 1, reached by lift from the entrance hall, with an accessible toilet with a grab rail on the same level. There is a drop-off opposite the main entrance, and stewards can help. Email [email protected] for accessible tickets.
Do I need to print my ticket?
No. Scan the ticket from your smartphone at the entrance. The venue does not require a printed copy.
Can I bring a bag?
Large bags and luggage are not allowed. A cloakroom costs €1.00 and is on the lower or upper level depending on your seat, so pack light.
Can I bring food or drinks?
No. Food and drinks are not allowed inside. Eat before or after the show; the venue’s restaurant guide covers places nearby.
Can I take photos or record the show?
No. Any device that can take photos or make recordings is banned inside the hall.
What happens if I arrive late?
If you arrive after the advertised start, the venue cannot guarantee your seat. Ask a steward when you arrive and they will help you find your place.
How loud are the concerts?
Concerts can exceed 96 dB(A), with an average of no more than 100 dB over an hour. Free earplugs are available at the bar or reception.
What is The Club?
The Club is the smaller room adjoining the main hall. It holds 350 standing or 180 seated and hosts concerts, stand-up, showcases, receptions and corporate events.
What is the address of the Koninklijk Circus?
Onderrichtsstraat 81 (Rue de l'Enseignement), 1000 Brussels. The venue is near Madou metro and the Royal Park.
Sources: Koninklijk Circus: the halls (November 9, 2026) · Bruzz: the renovated Cirque Royal (November 9, 2026) · Koninklijk Circus: practical information (FR) (November 9, 2026) · Koninklijk Circus: access (November 9, 2026) · Koninklijk Circus: practical information (November 9, 2026) · Wikipedia: Koninklijk Circus (November 9, 2026)
