Venetiaanse Gaanderijen

At the request of King Leopold II, Henri Maquet designed the first Royal gallery in 1900: an L-shaped, closed and covered connection between the royal chalet and a large drawing room in octagonal shape. The gallery is now known under the name of 'Venetiaanse Gaanderijen', referring to the classical architecture of Venice. When the Royal family decided to no longer make use of its residence by the sea, the city of Ostend received the entire complex in concession. It had to be given a cultural destination. The Venetian Galleries were renovated in 1998 - 1999 and are now an exhibition space.