30 years of the Tintin Shop in Brussels
Located in the heart of Brussels, just a stone's throw from the Grand-Place, Boutique Tintin has for 30 years been home to the entire range of products dedicated to the most famous Belgian: TINTIN.
ON JUNE 17, 2019, we shall celebrate its 30th anniversary.
It is firmly established in the landscape of Brussels and is an essential destination for the global fans of the boy reporter with the quiff.
Since 1989
Its opening took place on Saturday, June 17, 1989, a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The shop is situated in a narrow neoclassical style building which is topped by a cornice on top of which is a bull’s eye dormer window, which has now been sealed. Like many of the buildings in this area, it includes a cellar, a commercial ground floor above which are one or two floors reserved for housing on top of which is an attic. Each floor normally comprises a front and rear room connected by a central staircase.
Listed since 2002
This building has been listed since 6th June 2002.
Its address - 13, rue de la Colline (Heuvelstraat) - is one of the oldest (1) streets of the city: the "Huevelstroet" - one of the 7 streets (2) that lead to the most beautiful square in the world, La Grand -Place in Brussels.
(1) It has been known since 1322 under this name. A house called "La Colline" was built there.
(2) The others are: les rues de la Tête d’Or, Charles Buls, des Chapeliers, des Harengs, de Chair-et-Pain et au Beurre.
Near the Grand-Place
The Grand-Place in Brussels, is a prestigious centre of communal life, and was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in December 1998, together with the surrounding area, commonly known as Ilot Sacré, which was erected as a buffer zone at the same time. Until recently, there were still markets with herbs, flowers and birds.
A shop that will drive you CRAZY!
A mecca for Tintinophiles since it opened.
It’s also a forum for exchange and fiendship where visitors are informed about all major Tintin events, such as the first major exhibition, Au Tibet with Tintin, in 1994, or more recently, Hergé in Paris at the Grand Palais in 2016.
Both the interior and exterior design of the boutique create a bright space in harmony with the world of Hergé and are inspired by some details from the books themselves. The Blue Lotus dragon is featured on the floor of the entrance hall, the door handles remind us of the KIH-OSKH symbol, and the showcase frames resemble comic strips. There are so many elements that immerse visitors in The Adventures of Tintin.
Tchang Yifei, the daughter of Chang, the constant companion in The Blue Lotus, has arranged for this anniversary celebration to take place on June 20th in the presence of the entire staff of the Boutique, Moulinsart and the Hergé Museum and of course some of our most loyal customers and visitors. There will be a live concerto for orchestra to commemorate Tintin’s 90th anniversary. The invitations have been despatched.