Heritage Tombola: 12 Belgian treasures need your vote
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14 Sep 2026 •
Reading time: 4 minutes
Twelve Belgian heritage projects will be vying for the public’s support as part of the Heritage Tombola. From 15 September, anyone can vote for their favourite project free of charge. The prize for the winner: a restoration budget of up to €150,000.
A restoration budget of up to €150,000
The public campaign was launched at the Royal Library of Belgium, in collaboration with the Royal Institute for Artistic Heritage, Prométhéa, the Museum Pass and the twelve finalists. Jannie Haek, Managing Director of the National Lottery, and Minister Jan Jambon were among those present at the launch.
The twelve candidates are not merely competing on the basis of their historical or artistic significance. The Heritage Tombola invites the public to discover the stories behind these works and objects before making their choice.
From 15 September, participants will be able to view the projects, select their favourite and vote free of charge.
Four Brussels projects with very different profiles
In Brussels, four projects have been selected.
The first concerns a well-known monument in the centre of the capital: the obelisk fountain at Les Halles Saint-Géry. The aim, as part of the Heritage Tombola, is to support its restoration in order to restore it to its former glory.
Another Brussels entry delves into the history of science. It is the Zeiss Mark II projector at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, described as a century-old testament to scientific heritage.
The third project is particularly unique: a 19th-century anatomical wax figure, housed at the Museum of Medicine in Anderlecht.
The fourth Brussels nominee does not concern a single object, but an entire chapter of the nation’s cinematic heritage. The ‘Ten Decades of Belgian Cinema’ project, led by the Royal Belgian Film Archive, is dedicated to the restoration of films.
In Wallonia, from prehistory to 20th-century art
The four Walloon projects offer an equally wide-ranging journey through time.
One of them dates back to prehistory: the Engis Child. Housed at the Préhistomuseum in Flémalle, this fossil is presented by the Heritage Tombola as the oldest Neanderthal fossil ever identified. The project put forward for the vote aims to support its preservation.
In La Louvière, the public is invited to explore Pol Bury’s studio. The Belgian artist, a leading figure in kinetic art, left behind a legacy, and the restoration and promotion of this collection form the core of this bid.
Another leading name in Belgian art features amongst the finalists: Jean-Michel Folon. His work L’Homme volant, held at the Folon Foundation, is in the running for a restoration project supported by the Heritage Tombola.
Finally, the Royal Estate and Museum of Mariemont is presenting Auguste Rodin’s The Burghers of Calais. This major work rounds off the Walloon selection and is also the subject of a restoration project.
Four further nominees in Flanders
Flanders also has four finalists.
In Bruges, the Calvary triptych from the Chapel of Jerusalem, located on the Adornes estate, is an exceptional example of 15th-century art. Its restoration is put to a public vote.
In Tervuren, the nomination concerns the Cihongo mask of the Tshokwe people, housed at the AfricaMuseum. The project aims to preserve this piece of heritage through restoration.
In Ghent, a monumental work by Panamarenko is entering the competition. The Aeromodeller, held at the Ghent Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art, is one of the twelve projects on which the public can vote.
The fourth Flemish project concerns The Preaching of John the Baptist by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, held at the Municipal Museum of Lier. This remarkable work is also in the running for restoration.
A vote that turns the public into decision-makers
What makes the Heritage Tombola unique is the role given to the public. The twelve finalists have already been selected, but the choice of the winning project now lies with the participants.
The scheme thus aims to bring the discovery of heritage closer to its preservation. Participants are not merely invited to view a work or read its history: their vote helps determine which project will receive the restoration funding.
The key date to remember is 15 September. From that day onwards, the public will be able to explore the twelve projects and vote for their favourite free of charge on the Heritage Tombola platform. Taking part in the vote also gives you the chance to win various prizes.