Belgian crystal glassware manufacturer Val Saint Lambert celebrates 200th anniversary
The famous Belgian crystal glassware manufacturer Val Saint Lambert, located at Seraing in Liège province, is celebrating its bicentenary this year. To mark this special anniversary, various events will take place on site from 11 April to 6 December. The Design Museum Brussels is also dedicating an exhibition to the rich heritage and creative innovation of the iconic Belgian crystal factory.
The exhibition “Cristal Vivant” will trace the development of the crystal factory, featuring, in particular, a selection of iconic pieces as well as glass-blowing demonstrations. The tour will include a modernised version of the permanent exhibition.
To complement the exhibition, an immersive experience will take over the building’s basement. Visitors will be immersed in 360° settings thanks to projections on the walls, sound and lighting.
Finally, fire, crystal and transparency will be showcased in a show combining live performers, music and projections on the abbey’s façade. Other cultural events and activities will be scheduled throughout the year.
Brussels expo
To mark this anniversary, the Design Museum Brussels is dedicating the exhibition “Val Saint-Lambert & Design” to the rich heritage and creative innovation of the iconic Belgian crystal factory. The expo will run from 24 April to 25 October 2026.
This exhibition focuses on the period from Expo 58 to the early 2000s, a time when the Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert reinvented itself by combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. At the exhibition, visitors will discover how the crystal glassware manufacturer, founded in 1826 by François Kemlin and Auguste Lelièvre, grew to become an internationally renowned symbol of Belgian creativity and industrial craftsmanship.
The Brussels exhibition is a collaboration between the Design Museum Brussels and the Charleroi Glass Museum.
The Val Saint Lambert crystal factory building © BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY
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