The Early Years of the Earldom of Watou

Guillaume Bijl's theatre piece explores a pivotal moment in Flemish history: the visit of Louis XIV to Watou Castle, performed by local amateur actors. About In The Early Years of the Earldom of Watou, Guillaume Bijl takes you back to a chapter in Flemish history. The theatre piece forms part of In Remembrance of the Earldom of Watou, an extensive installation Bijl created in 2002 for the Poëziezomer festival in Watou. In 2026, the work is being re-created for the first time in the former Dominican church of Kunsthal Extra City, as part of the artist's first posthumous exhibition. At the heart of the performance is the visit of Louis XIV to Watou Castle. What may seem like an insignificant episode in Flemish history became a significant event for the village. Local amateur actors bring this moment to life, dramatising the history of the earldom. The Early Years of the Earldom of Watou is the only theatre piece in Bijl's oeuvre and forms the heart of the installation In Remembrance of the Earldom of Watou. Here, Bijl brings together different ways of recording and staging history, creating a larger work in which the boundaries between historical reality and imagination are constantly shifting. For this revival at Kunsthal Extra City, the theatre piece takes on a new form while remaining faithful to the original work, brought to life by a new artistic team. Vanessa Van Goethem directs, with dramaturgy by Aline Bouvy and music by Hantrax. Pieter and Tinus Vermeersch are responsible for the set design, while Jelle Spruyt creates the costumes and textiles. On Saturdays, the kunsthal is only open to visitors with a ticket for the performance. Your ticket gives you access to the performance and the corresponding parts of the installation. The full exhibition can be visited on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays under our Pay What You Can scheme. The exhibition In Remembrance of the Earldom of Watou runs until 27 December 2026. Performances take place every Saturday until 19 December.