Belgian Constitutional Court Blocks Public Access to Stoclet Palace

Belgium's Constitutional Court has annulled a 2024 regional ordinance that would have forced the private owners of the Stoclet Palace in Brussels to open the UNESCO World Heritage site to the public for 15 days per year. The court ruled that while public heritage access is in the general interest, the mandatory opening could complicate conservation and infringe on the owner's right to peaceful enjoyment and private use. The court also noted that less restrictive measures, such as a virtual tour, were not considered—ironic given that the family had previously tried to block a virtual tour of the palace in a 2023 exhibition at the Musées royaux d'art et d'histoire. The ordinance had also proposed sharing half of the visit revenue with the owner, which the court deemed insufficient compensation. The Stoclet Palace, designed by Josef Hoffmann between 1905 and 1911, has never been open to the public and has been the subject of legal disputes over heritage versus private property rights. Brussels State Secretary for Heritage Ans Persoons acknowledged the decision and expressed hope for a future solution that respects all parties.