Further Detailed Information Is Available At

TheKing Baudouin Foundation, an independent and pluralist organisation, supports projects and citizens who are committed to working towards a better society. One of the Foundation's areas of activity is cultural heritage, an activity that was launched 20 years ago. Under its President, ThomasLeysen, the Foundation'sHeritage Fund, allocates come €600,000 each year to the protection of important heritage items. It can acquire major items that could leaveBelgium or bring back pieces that have been abroad for some time. The Fund interprets “heritage” in the widest possible sense, to include archaeological material, paintings, sculptures, documents, furniture and the decorative arts, and to cover all ages from pre-historic times to the 20th century. The last twenty years have been a real treasure hunt for the Fund in its efforts to save numerous works bearing witness to Belgium's heritage and to make them accessible to everyone. During that time, almost 4,000 works of art and documents have been made available to the public disposal. Such achievements have also been realised with the support ofmany collectors and antique dealers.

These20 years' experiencehave allowed the Fund to become an additional representative alongside other players protecting heritage. The Foundation has always encouraged philanthropy.Collectors, sharing the Foundation's desire to protect heritage, have made significant donations.

TheBelgian Antique Dealers Fairhas kindly invited the Foundation to present its heritage activities. Among the works to be presented will be the Fund's latest acquisition:the Bruges ensign of the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood which disappeared from Bruges at the end of the 18th century, believed to have been lost or to have disappeared forever.Few works of this type and period have survived the test of time. The exquisite finish, historical background and rarity of the Bruges sculpture from the end of the Middle Ages prompted the Purchasing Committee of the King Baudouin Foundation's Heritage Fund to acquire the piece.

Several named funds have therefore been created to restore, acquire and promote Belgium's heritage.

Further detailed information is available at:

Dominique Allard: donations, gifts, legacies

Anne De Breuck: general management, acquisitions

Carine Poskin: events

géré par la Fondation Roi Baudouin