From 14 to 19 March 2026, the King Baudouin Foundation is taking part at TEFAF Maastricht as Museum Partner, in international recognition of the Foundation’s role in preserving Belgium’s cultural heritage. The Foundation will exhibit Belgian masterpieces and highlight international patronage.

International recognition

This year, the King Baudouin Foundation is participating as Museum Partner exhibitor at TEFAF Maastricht, one of the world’s leading art and antiquities fairs. In so doing, the Foundation is joining the very select club of Museum Partners, which number only four in total, alongside the Zurich Kunsthaus, Utrecht’s Centraal Museum and the Prince Claus Fund. This accolade is a recognition, at international level, of the role played by the Foundation in the preservation and promotion of Belgium’s cultural heritage. Moreover, our presence at this important event also coincides with a symbolic moment in time, since 2026 marks the King Baudouin Foundation’s 50th anniversary.

Belgian masterpieces and international patronage

At TEFAF, the King Baudouin Foundation will present Belgian masterpieces that illustrate the impact of philanthropy in conserving heritage and making it accessible to the general public. Among the works exhibited, visitors can admire works by Hans Memling, James Ensor and Pol Bury, as well as a listed ensemble of silverware that once belonged to Peter Paul Rubens. Memling’s Portrait of a Member of the De Rojas Family (c. 1470) is one of the masterpieces on the Foundation’s stand. This 15th century painting was returned to Bruges thanks to a donation from American philanthropist, J. William Middendorf, which was facilitated by Myriad USA (a KBF sister organization). The work is now kept and exhibited at the Museum St John’s Hospital, in Bruges.

The Myriad network in the service of international patronage

Thanks to Myriad, its international network, the King Baudouin Foundation provides tailor-made philanthropic solutions that enable works of art to be donated and protected across national frontiers. It brings together collectors, donors and museums, thereby contributing to the long-term (re)integration of works of art into public collections.

A bridge between heritage, the arts and patronage

«Our participation at TEFAF provides us with a unique opportunity to highlight the crucial importance of international philanthropy for our heritage and culture», commented Melanie Coisne, Head of the Heritage & Culture Programme at the King Baudouin Foundation. Through its presence at TEFAF Maastricht, the Foundation is reaffirming its role of providing a bridge between art, heritage and philanthropy and continuing its commitment to making cultural heritage accessible to as wide a public as possible.

Practical information:
TEFAF
MECC Maastricht, Forum 100, NL – 6229 GV Maastricht, The Netherlands
From 14 to 19 March, 2026
Open from 11 h to 19 h
King Baudouin Foundation stand: no. 920