Cinematheque Royale (Royal Belgian Film Archive), Brussels

A must-visit destination for cinephiles, the Royal Belgian Film Archive boasts one of the most extensive cinema collections globally, with a primary mission centered on showcasing, safeguarding, and restoring films. Its origins trace back to the 1930s when Henri Strock, André Thirifay, and Piet Vermeylen initiated a film club in Brussels known as the Club de l’Ecran. In 1937, they expanded their efforts, giving rise to the bilingual (French and Dutch) Cinémathèque de Belgique, which eventually evolved into today's Royal Film Archive.

This prestigious institution houses an astonishing array of cinematic materials, comprising over 280 million meters of film and a staggering 44,000 film titles. Furthermore, its library comprises 37,000 books, 2,400 journals, and a treasure trove of over 70,000 press clippings spanning a century of film history. For every newly released movie, the Archive receives four copies: one is preserved within the archive alongside the negatives, while the remaining three are used or lent out for non-commercial screenings. The collection continues to expand, with an addition of around 2,000 films annually.

Visitors to the Royal Belgian Film Archive can enjoy up to five different film screenings daily, featuring three films with sound and two accompanied by live piano performances.