Museum David and Alice van Buuren — Attraction in Uccle - Ukkel

A Jewel with Shadows: Reflections on the David and Alice van Buuren Museum

Visiting the Van Buuren house in Brussels is nothing short of stepping into a Gesamtkunstwerk—an architectural pearl, indeed, where every corner hums with the harmony of Art Deco elegance, meticulously curated furnishings, and a private collection that rivals many public museums. The house is a triumph of design, a rare and refined testimony to the creative spirit of the interwar years, blending Dutch rationalism with Belgian Art Deco and a cosmopolitan touch.

But what makes this place truly significant is not only its aesthetic perfection, but the story it contains—and perhaps, too often, under-tells.

David van Buuren, a banker and art collector of Dutch-Jewish descent, and his wife Alice created this sanctuary of beauty and intellect in a Belgium that seemed, on the surface, open and modern. Yet even such cultivated, socially integrated figures—pillars of the Brussels bourgeoisie—were not immune to the devastating tide of antisemitism that swept across Europe. During the Second World War, the Van Buurens were forced to flee Belgium. Their home, ironically designed to be a temple of peace, music, and art, was occupied by the very forces that sought to annihilate everything they stood for.

This bitter historical irony lingers between the polished parquet and the radiant stained-glass windows. And it deserves to be more explicitly acknowledged.

The museum today, while dazzling in its curatorial care, tends to foreground its decorative brilliance and the couple’s contribution to the arts, without fully grappling with the fragility of their position in a Europe that betrayed its Jews—not only in ghettos and camps, but in living rooms and salons. In a time where antisemitism is again alarmingly on the rise across the continent, the story of the Van Buurens should resonate as more than a backdrop. It is essential context.

Their return after the war, their continued engagement with the arts, and their decision to leave their home to the public as a cultural trust is not merely a tale of generosity—it is a quiet act of resistance. An insistence that beauty and culture, even when built on precarious ground, can outlast barbarism.

This house is not just about design. It is about memory, resilience, and the unspoken question: how can a home filled with light survive such darkness?

To honour the Van Buurens fully, the museum might consider integrating more visible, thoughtful interpretation around their wartime experience. Visitors deserve to see not only the sumptuous upholstery, but also the fragile threads of history that...

This museum was unknown to me, but what a find! The building for me was reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and houses I have seen in the USA. The house is a magnificent example of Art Deco style and the outside does not do it justice, you have to go inside. I absolutely adored my visit and you can take pictures. The furniture, carpets, stair case, windows, doors, lights are terrific designs from the 1920s and 1930s. Mr Van Buuren had a great eye for his home and helped by architects of the time using the Amsterdam movement style created this treasure. I love the details of the perspectives from the house looking out over the garden. So much though was put into making the house liveable. The details are superb with guides and pamphlets in French, Dutch and English to help you discover the stories. The greatest story for me was about the family themselves, though very wealthy they were also well connected, so the visitors to the house were well known politicians and even royalty. The garden too is charming and an inspiration. Definitely worth a visit if you're a fan...

Absolutely stunning! The Van Buuren house in Ukkel is a hidden gem that beautifully showcases the elegance of Art Deco. The interior architecture is a unique total concept complemented by the impressive art collection. I was particularly captivated by the art collection and restored works of masters like contemporaries of Pieter Brueghel de Oude, the focus on the School of Latem with Gustave Van de Woestijne also Gustave Desmet, statues of Minne, unfinished work of Rik Wouters, a dark seaview of Permeke and a little Ensor. Standing next to Eric satie's piano I often felt like the owners were present, with each piece in the rooms telling its own story. A must-visit for art lovers and architecture...