Knokke Casino’s Last Gamble: A 110 Million Euro Transformation

The iconic Casino de Knokke, a symbol of Belgium’s coastal golden age for nearly a century, is preparing for the most ambitious transformation in its history. With a renovation budget of 110 million euros, the historic building will undergo a dramatic metamorphosis that promises to reshape both its physical form and its role in the cultural life of the Belgian coast.

The project, financed by the municipality of Knokke-Heist which owns the building, will see construction begin on 1 September 2026, according to La Libre Belgique. The ambitious transformation will be carried out in two major phases, with completion expected by 2033.

A Century of History

Built between 1929 and 1931 according to the modernist vision of young architect Leon Stynen, the Casino de Knokke became the largest of Belgium’s nine casinos and a cultural temple of the interwar period. As documented in the French Wikipedia entry on the Casino de Knokke, the building hosted performances by Josephine Baker, Maurice Chevalier, and Edith Piaf in its early years, before being converted into a bunker as part of the Atlantic Wall during World War II.

The post-war decades marked the casino’s golden age. The building housed significant artworks including a monumental 360-degree fresco by Rene Magritte created in 1953, a mural by Keith Haring from 1987, and a painting by Paul Delvaux installed in 1983. The casino also featured ten tapestries by Jean Lurcat and a monumental Venetian chandelier by Jozef Selis. During the 1950s and 1960s, it hosted exhibitions by Chagall, Dali, Picasso, and Matisse, alongside performances by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jacques Brel.

The building was classified as Flemish immovable heritage on 5 October 2009, cementing its status as one of Belgium’s most treasured architectural landmarks.

The Renovation Project

The winning design, created by Barcelona-based Barozzi Veiga, Belgian firm Tab Architects, and Parisian landscape architects Mosbach Paysagistes, honors Stynen’s original modernist vision while creating a contemporary building for the 21st century. According to Architectura.be, the northern half of the building, which retains significant original Stynen qualities, will be renovated within the existing volume, while the southern half—except for the protected Magritte Room—will be demolished and replaced.

The project includes a new underground casino beneath Canadasquare, along with a restaurant, wine bar, and three-level underground parking. The construction pit will be approximately 15 meters deep, with about 500 linear meters of diaphragm walls reaching 30 meters depth. The ground movement is estimated at approximately 140,000 cubic meters, according to the Knokke-Heist municipality website.

New facilities will include three exhibition halls, a nightclub, a restaurant accessible without entering the casino, a kunsthal of approximately 2,000 square meters, underground parking, a landscape park, and a belvedere with sea views.

Preserving the Magritte Room

A central challenge of the project is the preservation of the Magritte Room, a protected monument featuring Rene Magritte’s monumental 360-degree fresco “L’Empire enchante.” The room was officially designated as an architectural monument on 13 November 2003 and will be preserved in place.

According to Architectura.be, the multidisciplinary design team worked closely with heritage specialist Barbara Van der Wee, structural engineering firm Bollinger+Grohmann, and HP Engineers to develop a comprehensive protection strategy. The strategy includes specific technical and organizational measures to safeguard the Magritte Room through all construction phases.

A Complex Engineering Challenge

The renovation represents one of the most complex construction challenges on the Belgian coast. The Architectura.be article on Bureau Bouwtechniek’s technical advisory role details how the project involves curved glass facades, significant cantilevered concrete volumes, and extensive underground waterproofing requirements in a demanding maritime environment.

The design team had to balance architectural ambition with physical constraints. Curved glass allows little deformation, while the underlying concrete structure is subject to deflection, creep, shrinkage, thermal movement, and wind loading. The technical advisory work also addressed daylight optimization through carefully designed skylights and roof structures that must withstand high wind loads, salt exposure, and intense solar radiation.

Corporate Context

The casino is operated by Napoleon Casino, a subsidiary of the Romanian group Superbet, now known as Super Technologies. According to Napoleon Corporate, Napoleon has 18 gaming halls in Belgium, the iconic Napoleon Casino Knokke, and an online platform, with more than 250 employees working from its headquarters in Erembodegem.

The acquisition of Napoleon Games by Superbet in 2021 marked a significant consolidation in the Belgian gaming market. As reported by Jeu-Argent.be, Superbet’s entry into the Belgian market made it the leader in both physical and online gaming. Napoleon Games reported revenue of 134 million euros with a profit of 32 million euros in 2020.

The casino has also earned recognition on the international stage, winning the World Casino Awards for three consecutive years as Best Casino of Belgium. As KW.be reported, casino director Thomas Van Cromphout expressed pride in the recognition, stating: “We are extremely proud and grateful for the recognition we receive for the third consecutive year from the World Casino Awards.”

Economic and Urban Impact

The renovation represents one of the largest municipal investment projects in Belgian coastal history. According to P-magazine, the project will create significant construction employment over 7-8 years and is expected to boost the local economy through enhanced tourism and cultural offerings.

The redesign of Canadasquare into a green, car-free zone with underground parking reflects a broader trend in Belgian coastal towns toward pedestrianization and environmental improvement. The project connects to other developments in Knokke, including the high-end real estate market and beach bar concessions.

What’s Next

The tender dossier was approved by the municipal council in January 2026, with approximately 1,500 documents. Contractor bids were expected by end of March 2026, with a contractor to be selected in June 2026. As VRT NWS reported, Mayor Cathy Coudyser explained the deliberate timing: “That date is after the tourist summer months and after the construction stop, and we deliberately chose it so that the start can proceed in calm and safe conditions.”

Phase 1 (2026-2028) will focus on underground works beneath Canadasquare, while Phase 2 (2029-2032) will address the existing Kursaal building. The full project is expected to be completed by 2033.

As the casino prepares to roll the dice on its future, the project embodies a delicate balance between preserving cultural heritage and modernizing for contemporary needs. The preservation of the Magritte Room within a major redevelopment represents a significant heritage management achievement, while the design approach—preserving the northern half while replacing the southern half—offers a pragmatic compromise between conservation and renewal.

The coming years will reveal whether this ambitious gamble pays off, transforming one of Belgium’s most beloved coastal landmarks into a dynamic cultural and entertainment destination for the 21st century.