Two Iconic Belgian Party Venues Close After Decades of Celebrations
Two well-known party venues in the Avelgem and Anzegem region of West Flanders, Belgium, are closing their doors this year after more than half a century of hosting weddings, jubilees, and community celebrations. Feestzaal Alta Ripa in Avelgem (Outrijve) will close definitively at the end of September 2026 after 63 years of operation, while Feestzaal Te Lande in Anzegem (Tiegem) is shutting down after more than 55 years. Neither owner found a successor to take over the business, according to VRT NWS.
A Changing Way of Celebrating
The closures are independent of each other, but both owners point to the same underlying cause: a fundamental shift in how people celebrate. “In the past, the parents of the couple took care of the invitations and they gave a party of 200 to 250 people,” the owners told VRT NWS. “Today, couples already live apart and arrange everything themselves. They then choose a smaller party.”
The owners describe an industry under pressure. “A classic menu is also disappearing, food trucks become more interesting, as do small halls where they can serve their own drinks,” they said. “Company parties on location have also fallen away. Our sector has really become difficult. We have lower turnover and higher costs.”
A Farewell After 63 Years
Alta Ripa has been a fixture in the region since 1963, known for its quality, service, and warm memories. In a farewell message on the venue’s official website, owner Philippe wrote: “With great gratitude, I want to let you know that we will close the chapter of Alta Ripa at the end of September 2026. Since 1963, our party venue has been a fixture in the region, known for quality, service and warm memories. What my parents started back then, I continued with pride and passion for more than 30 years.”
Te Lande, located in Tiegem near the foot of the Tiegemberg, has been a well-known venue for family celebrations and events. The venue is listed in the Anzegem municipality business directory and on Zalen.be, where it is described as a venue in a “rural and quiet environment with walking opportunities in the beautiful Tiegembos.”
The Iconic Mushroom Sculpture
Te Lande is perhaps best known for the iconic mushroom sculpture (paddenstoel) at the foot of the Tiegemberg, a famous climb for cyclists and cycling enthusiasts. The Tiegemberg, with a height of 82 meters, has been included in the Tour of Flanders 23 times and is part of recreational cycling routes, according to Wikipedia. The mushroom sculpture is a well-known landmark for cyclists, with one Climbfinder user noting it is “a must-do with the mushroom and the unmistakable trees along the road.”
The sculpture will need to make way for the redevelopment, but the owners are willing to find a solution — it could potentially remain standing a few meters further.
Redevelopment for Housing
Both properties will be redeveloped for housing. The municipality of Anzegem has already granted a permit for a subdivision of 10 lots on the Te Lande site. The plans for the Alta Ripa site are not yet known.
This is not the first time a party venue in the region has made way for housing. Several years ago, Salons Rembrandt in Anzegem also disappeared. The 4,148 m² site was redeveloped by project developer Steenoven as ‘Rembrandt’, a sustainable housing project with 23 energy-neutral apartments and houses, as reported by Bouwenwonen.net. The project, designed by Wielfaert Architecten, brings together offices, retail, apartments, and ground-level homes around a central green space, according to Architectura.
A Broader Trend in Belgian Weddings
The closures reflect a wider evolution in how Belgians celebrate. According to the National Wedding Survey by House of Weddings, the majority of Belgian couples now choose a party with about 80 to 120 guests. The average wedding budget has risen to around €31,750, up from €21,339 in 2022. Gen Z couples are more focused on experience, personalization, and quality over quantity, with some inviting fewer guests to invest more in the experience.
What’s Next for the Region
The loss of these two venues marks a significant change for the local community, which has seen three major party venues disappear in recent years. As the owners noted, large parties are “no longer of this time.” While the sites will be transformed into housing, the community loses spaces that hosted generations of weddings, jubilees, and celebrations. The fate of the iconic mushroom sculpture remains to be determined, but the willingness of the owners to preserve it offers a small piece of continuity amid the change.