About Forest National

The history of Brussels’ legendary concert venue

On October 8, 1970, the dancers of Maurice Béjart’s Ballet of the 20th Century took to the stage at Forest National for the very first time. Since then, an endless list of artists has followed in their footsteps. The Rolling Stones, Bee Gees, Jackson Five, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, Santana, Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Hallyday, Claude François, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Queen, Toto, Deep Purple, Jerry Lee Lewis, Prince, Serge Gainsbourg, The Cure, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, and many others all made history in this Brussels venue.

As the largest venue in Brussels, Forest National fulfilled a major need. Venues such as Cirque Royal, Ancienne Belgique, Palais des Beaux-Arts, and smaller halls including Théâtre 140, Classic, and Beursschouwburg had become too small for the increasingly large-scale concerts of the time.

In 1995, Forest National underwent a major renovation. The front façade was redesigned, the entrance foyer was expanded, and the addition of a balcony significantly increased the venue’s capacity. The number of seats grew from 5,500 to 8,400. Lighting and sound systems were upgraded, and a stage with adjustable height and width was installed.

On October 1, 2013, be•at took over the operation of this legendary Brussels rock venue. Music Hall remained the owner of the building but entrusted the day-to-day management to be•at. During the summer of 2014, the new operator introduced major infrastructure changes by improving audience circulation, numbering all seats, and creating two new foyers—one on the first floor and one beneath the grandstand. The latter was built in the former backstage area, where roadies and artists had created their own “Wall of Fame” by leaving personal messages on the walls. Today, visitors can also enjoy this unique piece of graffiti art.

The strength of this iconic venue, which has built an outstanding reputation both in Belgium and far beyond, lies in its ability to welcome 8,400 visitors while maintaining the atmosphere and intimacy of a much smaller venue. The hall is so versatile that it can also comfortably host more intimate concerts for 3,000 to 4,000 attendees. Its oval shape and amphitheater effect create a unique concert experience for both artists and audiences alike.Forest National is not only used for concerts. The venue also hosts operas, musicals, ballets, sporting events, and spectacular family shows.