Visitor regulations
Feel the heartbeat of history
We welcome you to Gaasbeek Castle with open arms! To make your visit to the castle as enjoyable and safe as possible for everyone, we ask you kindly to consider our visitor regulations.
When you enter the castle, the Entrance Building, the Inner Garden and/or park buildings, you agree to the general visitor conditions of Gaasbeek Castle. As a visitor, you are expected to know and abide by the regulations. In the Museum Garden and park grounds, the visitor regulations of the Agency for Nature and Forest apply.
The castle grounds include all of the spaces (built-up and not built-up) that fall under the legal or management remit of the Flemish Community, Separate Management Service Gaasbeek Castle.
1. Access to the castle/museum
Please consult our website for the current opening hours. Here you will also find the current opening hours of the Entrance Building and the park buildings. The last possible access to the castle is 1 hour before closing time.
2. Tickets, special offers and prices
Gaasbeek Castle adheres to all pricing and other information provided through the castle's website and the information desk. Gaasbeek Castle cannot be held liable for errors due to intent, fault or negligence of third parties.
3. Access to the castle
To visit the museum, you must have a valid admission ticket, which can be obtained at the reception desk in the Entrance Building. Tickets can also be purchased online via the Gaasbeek Castle website. Access control takes place at the entrance to the castle, where your ticket (digital or paper) will be scanned by a member of staff. After the ticket check, you will receive a sticker to attach to your clothing in a visible place.
The fact that some rooms are not accessible does not entitle you to a refund.
If requested, visitors are obliged to show their admission ticket and/or sticker to the security guards of the Gaasbeek Castle internal security service at all times.
4. What not to bring?
It is forbidden to enter the rooms with:
» bags larger than 34 x 22 cm;
» backpacks;
» walking sticks with unprotected ends;
» umbrellas;
» objects that pose a risk to the safety of persons, works of art or the buildings;
» food and drinks;
» strollers;
» pets/animals with the exception of official assistance dogs;
» personal folding chairs (chairs are available at the castle reception desk);
» photo tripods (unless prior written permission has been obtained from a castle staff member).
This is a non-exhaustive list. The security guards of the internal security service at Gaasbeek Castle are authorised to decide whether an object may be brought into the museum.
5. Lockers
Lockers are available at Gaasbeek Castle. These operate with a one euro coin or a token, which can be obtained at reception.
Gaasbeek Castle accepts no responsibility for the loss, theft or damage of any items left in the lockers or at reception.
6. Access to the Inner Garden
The Inner Garden is accessible to visitors free of charge. Dogs are not allowed in the Inner Garden, even on a leash. Dogs are welcome in Gaasbeek Park, on a leash.
Picnicking is not permitted in the Inner Garden, but you are welcome to do so in the picnic area in the park, next to the Sint-Gertrudis pond.
The use of drones is prohibited, both in the Inner Garden and around the castle.
The Inner Garden will be restored in 2026.
7. Visitor behaviour
During their visit, visitors are expected to behave in a manner consistent with public order and morality. Visitors must immediately follow the directions and instructions of authorised staff members.
The following is prohibited in the museum:
» standing less than 60 cm from the artwork, touching objects, pointing with a pointed object, leaning against or touching the walls, wall coverings, panelling, doors, etc., running, pushing, sliding or climbing, and sitting on the historic benches/chairs;
» taking photographs with flash or on a tripod without prior written permission from a member of the castle staff;
» disturbing other visitors by shouting, disruptive mobile phone use or excessive noise;
» deliberately disturbing other visitors and obstructing passageways and stairways;
» conduct business, advertise, engage in propaganda or recruit;
» smoke, eat or drink;
» open windows or shutters.
8. Access for children
Children under the age of twelve must be accompanied by an adult. Parents and guardians are responsible for the behaviour of those in their care.
9. Photography, filming and sound recordings
No permission is required for short photographs and film recordings intended for non-commercial private purposes. These recordings must be made without the use of aids (tripods, extra lighting, flash, selfie sticks, drones, etc.), without any staging (extras, models, scenery, etc.) and without the involvement of visitors and/or staff.
Prior permission is required for all other photographs and film recordings.
It is possible that visitors may be photographed or filmed during their museum visit. These recordings can be used in Gaasbeek Castle communications. Visitors who object to this are asked to immediately communicate this to the photographer or camera man.
10. Safety, prevention and evacuation
For security reasons, the security guards of the internal security service of Gaasbeek Castle may ask visitors to open their bags and rucksacks, show their contents and/or allow their clothing to be superficially searched.
In the event of any unlawful or irregular occurrence, access to the castle will be denied. Visitors in the Inner Garden or in the castle will remain under the supervision of a security guard until the designated authorities arrive on site.
In the event of a fire alarm and evacuation, the instructions of the staff of Gaasbeek Castle and/or the security services must be strictly followed. When you hear the evacuation alarm, go immediately to the nearest emergency exit and gather in the castle forecourt. Group leaders must ensure that all members of the group have left the building and check at the assembly point that everyone in the group is present.
In the event of excessive crowds, disturbances or natural conditions that could endanger the safety of persons or property, a decision may be taken to close the museum partially or completely or to change the opening hours.
11. Complaints
11.1
We welcome all your feedback, suggestions and complaints. As a visitor, you can submit complaints and suggestions in writing using a complaint form, which can be obtained at the reception desk in the Entrance Building or in the castle. Complaints can also be submitted by email to kasteelvangaasbeek@vlaanderen.be for the attention of the communications manager.
You will receive written confirmation of receipt by letter or email within ten calendar days.
After receiving a complaint, the complaints handler has 45 calendar days to deal with it. Please note that anonymous complaints cannot be dealt with.
11.2
Complaints relating to Gaasbeek Castle's internal security office can be submitted via e-mail to simon.vanboterdael@vlaanderen.be. The following deadlines apply:
Within five working days of receipt of the complaint by the service, the complainant will receive a confirmation of receipt stating the contact details of the person and/or service that will handle the complaint.
A substantive response to the complainant must be notified within two months of receipt of the complaint.
11.3
The following circumstances do not give rise to any obligation of compensation from Gaasbeek Castle to the visitor:
» the absence/non-visible presence of items from the Gaasbeek Castle collection,
» the museum being partially closed or difficult to enter due to a nuisance, e.g. construction or dismantling of an exhibition,
» nuisance or inconvenience caused by other visitors, maintenance work or by the improper functioning of facilities in the museum.
12. Lost and found
Found objects can be handed in at the desk in the Entrance Building or in the castle. Gaasbeek Castle undertakes to deliver these items to the municipal authorities of Lennik on a monthly basis. They can be picked up from there during business hours:
Lennik Municipality, Markt 18, 1750 Lennik (T +32 (0)2 532 41 15).
When the museum closes, all lockers are opened for inspection. Items that have not been collected by the time of closing are considered lost property. Gaasbeek Castle accepts no responsibility for the loss, theft or damage of any item left in the lockers or elsewhere on the castle grounds.
13. Dangerous objects
Legally prohibited or dangerous goods, materials or objects such as fireworks, drinking glasses and cans, chains, firearms, assault weapons or sharp weapons, or any other objects that can be used as weapons to disrupt law and order and banners with - in the opinion of the museum - discriminatory or provocative texts are not allowed.
Objects that are not prohibited by law but are dangerous must be stored in a locker during your visit. In the case of objects that are prohibited by law, the police will be notified.
14. Camera surveillance
The buildings in the Gaasbeek Castle grounds are, for security reasons, monitored by cameras, in accordance with the Act of 21 March 2007 governing the installation and use of surveillance cameras. The images captured are processed solely for this purpose and are not made available to third parties under any circumstances, except to the police in the cases provided for by law. Except for specific circumstances provided for in this Act or in the implementing orders, the recordings shall not be kept for more than one month. Any filmed visitor has the right to view the recordings in which they feature and may send a request to that effect to privacy.cjm@vlaanderen.be.
15. Sanctions
Failure to comply with these visitor regulations may result in the visitor being temporarily or permanently denied access to the castle grounds.
These regulations are governed by Belgian law.
Any disputes arising from them shall be submitted exclusively to the courts of Brussels for adjudication.
16. Data protection
Gaasbeek Castle processes your personal data in the public interest for the provision of our services. If you do not want us to process your data, if you want to know what personal data we process, or if you want to correct or delete your personal data, please email our communications officer. Our data processing policy can be found at www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be.
For more information about the privacy policy of the Flemish government, please contact the Data Protection Officer (privacy.cjm@vlaanderen.be) of the Department of Culture, Youth and Media.
17. Rules for group visits
General
The general visitor rules also apply to participants in group visits. Failure to comply with the visitor rules may result in the visitor being temporarily or permanently denied access to the castle grounds. This does not entitle the visitor to a refund for the visit.
A group is defined as a maximum of 15 people who wish to visit the museum at the same time, accompanied by a guide appointed by Gaasbeek Castle. If your group consists of more than 15 people, please book several group visits. The total number of visitors must be communicated by the visiting organisation at least five days in advance. Gaasbeek Castle reserves the right to split up groups that exceed the maximum number of participants and, if necessary, to divide them over different time slots.
The group should allow a total of two hours on the estate, including an hour and a half guided tour of Gaasbeek Castle itself. The remaining time is spent paying at the reception desk in the Entrance Building and walking from the Entrance Building to the castle. The walk back to the car park or a visit to the museum garden or castle park are not included in these two hours.
Booking a group visit with guided tour
Guided tours must be booked at least four weeks in advance. For all enquiries regarding group visits, please contact the reception desk at the Entrance Building during opening hours or visit bezoek.gaasbeek@vlaanderen.be and T. +32 (0)2 531 01 30.
When requesting a group visit, please provide the following information: the name of the person responsible, the telephone number and email address where we can reach you, the desired date and time of the guided tour, the number of participants and any billing information.
This admission price for participants in guided tours is a reduced rate for group visits; other discounts or museum passes are not valid for group visits.
After making your reservation, you will receive a confirmation with all the practical details and further payment terms.
Please check all the details carefully and notify us if any of the information is incorrect or if you have not received a confirmation.
Changing or cancelling a group visit
Any cancellation or change to the group visit must be communicated in writing to bezoek.gaasbeek@vlaanderen.be, no later than fourteen days before the date of the planned visit. If the group does not show up without cancellation, the full cost of the guide will be charged.
What if you cannot make the agreed time?
Please notify reception on T. +32 (0)2 531 01 30. The guide will wait for a maximum of 30 minutes after the scheduled start time of the tour. In consultation with the guide, the tour may then run for a maximum of 15 minutes after the scheduled end time. If the guide has another tour scheduled immediately after the scheduled end time, this will of course not be possible.
Payment
Payment must be made in advance of your visit at the reception desk of the Entrance Building. This can be done by invoice if you wish.
Group visit procedure:
The group leader must arrive at the Entrance Building at least 30 minutes before the agreed start time.
The group leader must report to the reception desk of the Entrance Building to complete the necessary paperwork and make the payment. To save time, we ask you to make a single payment for the entire group rather than paying per participant.
Groups meet their guide at the castle. The guide will be waiting for the group in the Plaster Room. This is where the 1.5-hour tour starts. Keep in mind that it's about a 600-metre or 10-minute walk from the Entrance Building to the castle.
Coats, bags and other items can be left in the lockers at the castle reception and collected again after the visit. The security guards of the internal security service at Gaasbeek Castle are authorised to decide whether an item can be taken along during the museum visit.
The guide will conclude the group visit at the castle gate.
Enjoy your visit!