The foundation is situated on the site of a former transport company, with many gallery spaces repurposed from industrial greenhouses.
It hosts the world's largest permanent collection of collages, a core focus of the foundation's archive.
The grounds include a 'sleeping' area where visitors can stay overnight in specialized art installations like the 'CasAnus', a structure shaped like a giant human colon.
The foundation does not follow a traditional curatorial structure, preferring an eclectic, ever-changing presentation style.
The site features a significant permanent exhibition of works by the late artist Jan Fabre.
An on-site swimming pond is available for visitors, naturally filtered by aquatic plants.
The terrain is intentionally maintained as a 'wild' landscape to promote biodiversity and organic decay as part of the artistic experience.
The Verbeke Foundation is a 12-hectare private art site in Stekene, Belgium, blending nature with an extensive collection of contemporary art. It features over 20,000 square meters of covered gallery space and vast outdoor grounds, housing one of the largest private collections of contemporary art in Europe. The foundation emphasizes bio-art, recycling, and organic forms, frequently integrating installations directly into the landscape. It also holds the world's largest public collection of collages, totaling thousands of works. Visitors can explore site-specific installations, permanent pavilions, and temporary exhibitions across converted glasshouses and agricultural buildings. The park serves as a habitat for diverse wildlife, creating a dynamic interaction between decaying industrial materials and natural growth.
The CasAnus sculpture, which provides a striking contrast against the surrounding natural pond environment.
Wear sturdy, comfortable footwear as the grounds are expansive and include uneven, unpaved terrain.
Bring layers; the converted greenhouse exhibition spaces can be chilly or humid depending on the outside weather.
Check the map upon arrival, as the outdoor art installations are spread across a wide area that is easy to navigate by wandering.
Avoid visiting with the expectation of a climate-controlled, traditional white-cube museum; embrace the raw, industrial, and natural environment.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Respect all outdoor installations; do not climb on artworks unless explicitly marked as interactive or for public use.
