Philippe Geluck abandons Brussels Cat museum project amid rising construction costs

Thursday 18 - 10:48

The Belgian cartoonist Philippe Geluck has officially abandoned his long-planned museum project dedicated to his iconic character The Cat, citing sharply rising construction costs and repeated delays that made the project financially unfeasible.

The museum, which was intended to celebrate both the famous comic character and the broader art of humoristic illustration, was originally announced in 2015 with plans to open in 2019 in central Brussels, near the Royal Palace. However, nearly a decade later, the project has been halted indefinitely.

Geluck explained that the estimated cost of completing the museum had nearly doubled over time, rising from approximately 4.5 million euros to around 7 million euros. He attributed this increase to a combination of global economic pressures, including inflation, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and higher construction expenses.

According to the artist, the financial burden became impossible to manage personally. He stated that continuing the project under the revised conditions was “unworkable,” emphasizing that the decision was not emotional but purely practical.

The project was supported by the Brussels-Capital Region, which provided the building for renovation. However, delays in structural work and the slow progress of renovation efforts further complicated the timeline. What was initially envisioned as a flagship cultural attraction in the heart of Brussels gradually lost momentum as costs and deadlines escalated.

The Cat, created by Geluck in the 1980s, is one of Belgium’s most recognizable comic figures. Known for its minimalist design and philosophical humor, the character has been featured in more than twenty albums and has gained an international audience over the years.

The museum was intended not only as a tribute to the character but also as a broader celebration of comic art, reflecting Belgium’s strong tradition in the bande dessinée (comic strip) culture. Its cancellation represents a setback for Brussels’ cultural development ambitions, particularly in its historic city center.

Despite the project’s collapse, Geluck remains a central figure in European comic art, and The Cat continues to be widely published and exhibited in various forms.