Kunsthal Extra City and the Guillaume Bijl Estate present In Remembrance of the Earldom of Watou, the first posthumous exhibition of Guillaume Bijl (1946–2025). The work was previously shown only once, during Poëziezomerl Watou in 2002.

Twenty-four years later, this unique work is being reconstructed for the first time in the former Dominican church of Kunsthal Extra City. The installation brings together a fictional-historical museum, a banquet hall, and The Early Years of the Earldom of Watou, the only theatre piece in Bijl’s oeuvre. As in the original presentation in Watou, a festive procession will also form part of the exhibition opening.

Bijl draws on the history of Watou, a border village in West Flanders that was once elevated to the status of an earldom. As is characteristic of Bijl’s practice, the project brings together history and imagination, humour and critical reflection in an immersive experience in which fact and fiction continually overlap.

In Remembrance of the Earldom of Watou is brought back to life at Extra City in close collaboration with the Guillaume Bijl Estate. The Early Years of the Earldom of Watou is performed every Saturday by local amateur actors, directed by Vanessa Van Goethem, with dramaturgy by Aline Bouvy and music by Hantrax. The sets were painted by Pieter and Tinus Vermeersch, while Jelle Spruyt was responsible for the costumes and textiles.

Alongside the museum and banquet hall, visitors can also explore the actors’ dressing room. The costumes and a video recording of the original performance in Watou, made by Wim Catrysse, can be viewed here.

The theatre piece

The Early Years of the Earldom of Watou is performed live only on Saturdays, at 15:00 and 17:00. The performance lasts approximately 20 minutes.

On Saturdays, the exhibition is exclusively accessible to visitors with a ticket for one of the performances. A performance ticket gives access to the performance and the associated parts of the installation, but not to the dressing room, which will be in use by the actors. Visitors wishing to see the full exhibition can do so on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, according to our Pay What You Can system.

BOOK YOUR TICKET FOR A PERFORMANCE

The exhibition runs from 24 October to 27 December 2026.
The theatre performances takes place every Saturday from 24 October until 19 December.

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With thanks to all the staff, volunteers, lenders and partners who helped bring this exhibition to life.