Record summer for Atomium visitor numbers

The Atomium saw record numbers of visitors this summer, with more than 190,000 people flocking to the iconic Brussels landmark.

More than 100,000 of those visitors came in August alone, according to the institution's board of directors.

Visitor numbers are up 20% compared to last year’s school holiday period, which was already celebrated as a success at the time.

Since 1 January, more than 580,000 people have visited the building, which was first built for the 1958 Universal Exhibition and now holds various art and cultural exhibitions and events, in addition to simply being a popular panoramic view and architectural sight to take in.

Belgian residents represented 35% of the visitors, with half of those coming from Brussels itself.

Other European sightseers were mainly French, German, Spanish or Italian. There were also tourists from the United States, India and Latin America.

The Atomium’s management said the successful summer season can be attributed in part to improvements in a number of areas, including an online reservation system and digital programming.

“The new temporary exhibition RESTART and the permanent installation CENTRALE are making a major contribution to attracting different types of audience, including young people,” said director Julie Almau Gonzalez.

“We are pleased with the success with the public and the work the teams have done since the start of 2023. Some small changes in the internal organisation have helped improve the quality of a visit during the summer period, such as a contact point outside the building to better inform the public and a smoother online ticket service.”