They witnessed countless performances, waves of applause, and quiet moments of emotion. They carried generations of spectators, some of whom fell in love with the power of the stage long ago. And now? Now the Kursaal’s iconic red chairs are beginning a second life with our fans.

When we offered our iconic red theater seats a new home, we could never have imagined the wonderful responses and heartwarming stories we would receive. Because these seats are so much more than just places to sit. They are memories, emotions, and little pieces of Kursaal history.

A seat full of symbolism
Some stories went straight to the heart. Like that of a couple who have been together for 20 years, got married on October 5, live in apartment 5, and are overjoyed with their reserved seat number 5. “It might sound corny,” they wrote, “but this really is our lucky number.” Their red chair will be given a place of honor in the entrance hall, where it symbolizes their story full of fives.

A final tribute to a shared passion
Freddy’s story also touched us deeply. He and his wife, who has since passed away, sat together in the front row, center, for years. They enjoyed more than 30 concerts together, hand in hand, in their favorite venue. When Freddy bought a seat, he asked if he could have number 1. “I only bought one,” he wrote. “My wife passed away suddenly last year.” When they came to pick up the seat, a tear rolled down his cheek. “So many times we sat there and enjoyed ourselves,” he added. Freddy, your story stays with us.

From theater seat to TV throne
Others gave their chair a new life in the TV room. “We sit in it every day to watch our favorite shows,” someone said enthusiastically. The red plush fabric might feel just a little softer there than the average sofa, and who knows—maybe it makes Thuis or The Masked Singer just that little bit more special.

A little cinema dream
Somewhere, a chair is sitting there for now, “waiting for a little cinema project.” We can already picture it: popcorn in hand, lights out, projector on... and your very own private Kursaal, right in the basement or garage.

Start young, last a lifetime
A daycare center currently undergoing renovations has temporarily stored its chairs in the attic, but already has big plans: “So that children can learn what theater seats are, and learn to listen and watch attentively during daily activities.” Instilling a love of culture from an early age? We can only applaud that.

Ostend nostalgia in the Flemish Ardennes
For some, the chair is a little piece of home. “I was born and raised in Ostend; the Kursaal is an integral part of my life,” wrote a buyer who has since moved to the Flemish Ardennes. “As you get older, you become more nostalgic... I just had to have a little piece of the Kursaal with me.” And he’s absolutely right.

Every red chair carries a piece of history with it. But thanks to you, they also gain a future—one filled with new moments, memories, and stories. Thank you to everyone who gave a chair a new lease on life. You make Kursaal not only a house of culture, but also a house of people.