They have witnessed countless performances, waves of applause, and moments of quiet emotion. They have supported generations of audience members, some of whom fell in love with the magic of the stage many years ago. And now? Now the iconic red seats of Kursaal are beginning a second life in the homes and hearts of our fans. 

A Seat Full of Meaning

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 number 5, and were absolutely delighted to receive reserved seat number 5. “It may sound cheesy,” they wrote, “but this really is our lucky number.” Their red seat now has a place of honour in their entrance hall, where it stands as a symbol of their story, filled with fives.

A Final Tribute to a Shared Passion

Freddy’s story also touched us deeply. He and his wife, who sadly passed away last year, spent many years sitting together in the centre of the front row. They enjoyed more than 30 concerts side by side, hand in hand, in their favourite venue. When Freddy purchased a seat, he asked whether he could have seat number 1. “I only bought one,” he wrote. “My wife passed away unexpectedly last year.” When he came to collect the seat, emotions ran high and tears were shed. “We spent so many wonderful evenings sitting there and enjoying the performances together,” he added.Freddy, your story will stay with us.

From Theatre Seat to Television Throne

Others have given their seat a completely new purpose in their living room. “We sit in it every day to watch our favourite TV programmes,” one owner told us enthusiastically. The red velvet probably feels a little softer than the average sofa, and who knows — it might make watching Thuis or The Masked Singer just that little bit more special.

A Small Cinema Dream
Elsewhere, one of the seats is currently “waiting for a small home cinema project.” We can already picture it: popcorn in hand, lights off, projector on... and your very own private Kursaal, right there in the basement or garage.

Start Young, Enjoy for Life
A childcare centre undergoing renovations has temporarily stored its seats in the attic, but already has ambitious plans for them: “So that children can learn what theatre seats are, and learn to listen and watch attentively during everyday activities.” Introducing children to culture from an early age? That’s something we can only applaud.

Ostend Nostalgia in the Flemish Ardennes
For some, the seat represents a piece of home. “I was born and raised in Ostend; the Kursaal is simply part of who I am,” wrote one buyer who has since moved to the Flemish Ardennes. “As you get older, you become more nostalgic... I simply had to have a piece of the Kursaal with me.” And we couldn’t agree more.

Every red seat carries a piece of history. But thanks to you, they now have a future as well — one filled with new moments, memories, and stories. Thank you to everyone who gave a seat a second life. You help make Kursaal not only a house of culture, but also a house of people.