• Opening times

  18/02/2023 - 14/01/2024: * monday: from 13:00 to 18:00 * tuesday, wednesday, thursday and friday: from 09:00 to 18:00 * saturday and sunday: from 10:00 to 18:00

‘’Throwaway’’ is a project that unearths the hidden history of waste in Europe while simultaneously highlighting its significance as a marker of social change. Starting with the industrial revolution, ‘’Throwaway’’ brings us on a journey through wartime scarcity, the surge in post-war consumerism, and finishes with today’s insurmountable waste crisis. It displays the profound changes in how we have dealt with rubbish in bygone years, and the way we think, or don’t think about waste. By looking at the past, it makes current criticisms and the resounding calls for change relevant and meaningful. The ’’Throwaway’’ project includes: - an exhibition in Brussels - a digital platform - a publication - a programme of activities © Mandy Barker http://www.throwaway-history.eu/en

• Opening times

  18/02/2023 - 14/01/2024: * monday: from 13:00 to 18:00 * tuesday, wednesday, thursday and friday: from 09:00 to 18:00 * saturday and sunday: from 10:00 to 18:00

Waste is revealing. Waste is hidden. Waste is everywhere! Who are the Europeans from today and in the past who raised their voices to ask their contemporaries to change their habits related to the production of waste? What are the triggers that pushed people to raise public opinion on trash? From the industrial revolution until today, this workshop will encourage students to discover and discuss the profound changes in how Europeans have dealt with rubbish throughout history. Approximate duration: 90 minutes. Workshop available in EN, FR, NL, DE. Please book at least 4 weeks in advance.

Christmas is fast approaching, and so is the end of our temporary exhibition ’Throwaway - the history of a modern crisis’. With the hustle and bustle of seasonal preparations underway, many people are beginning to imagine hosting a magical Christmas without all the unnecessary waste and spending. This year don’t miss the special activities taking place with Zero Waste Belgium at the House of European History - this December “All we want for Christmas is zero waste”. With pop up stands and helpful tips and tricks, come and find some creative and funny solutions to “Refuse, Repair, Reuse, Recycle and Reduce” your way through the holiday season! Discover delicious recipes to avoid and reduce food waste with Zero waste tips Create your own beautiful reusable wrapping for special gifts using the traditional Furoshiki technique Practice designing your own window decorations - don’t forget to bring a glass jar to test it out Learn how to make unique garlands and baubles for your home from recycled materials Make tasks like washing the dishes a colourful shared family task with Tawashi reusable sponges Create your own special home-made gifts with thoughtful cookie jars and bath bombs Visitors are welcome to take home their gifts from the activities (limited stock available). Saturday December 9 - 12:00 -17:00 Sunday December 10 - 12:00 -17:00 Saturday December 16 - 12:00 -17:00 Sunday December 17 - 12:00 -17:00 All the activities will be in FR/NL and/or EN. Registration not required, this is a drop in activity taking place throughout the day. “All we want for Christmas is zero waste” has been organised as part of the public programming for our temporary exhibition ‘Throwaway - the history of a modern crisis’ running until January 14. Drop in to visit the exhibition before or after you take part in the ‘All we want for Christmas is zero waste’ to learn more about the history of Europe’s waste and what it means for our future.

Throwaway closing event with Live magazine 13 JAN 2024 (18:00 - 21:00) Event Type: Talks Event Category: Temporary Exhibition Audience: Adults Event Language: English, French Share on: To say goodbye in style to the temporary exhibition “Throwaway – The history of a modern crisis”, the House of European History has invited Live Magazine to take over the museum! Three stories related to waste will be presented in the galleries. Get ready for an immersive experience – in words, sounds, images – where two photographers and a visual artist will tell intimate and relatable stories that have impacted their lives. The group Les Garçons will be the comperes for the evening, accompanying visitors with music on their journey through the exhibition. The narrators: Barbara Iweins is a photographer. Her territory is the intimate. She photographed anonymous people getting out of bed, interfered in the lives of strangers and ended up turning the lens on her Brussels interior. This latest project, Katalog, which occupied her for five years, was exhibited at the most prestigious European festivals (from the Rencontres d’Arles to the Biennale de Vevey). Therefore, it is serious (she hates the spirit of seriousness). Come listen to her story entitled: “My not-frugal life” Jessica Hilltout is a photographer. One morning in Brussels, she took the wheel, heading towards Ulan Bator (Mongolia) and back home via Cape Town (South Africa). It is just 80,000 km. Later, she continued on her route – East Africa, West Africa and Madagascar – and added 14 borders and 20,000 km to her counter. The New York Times and National Geographic have published her work under the titles Grassroots Soccer and Soccer Joy. Moreover, she ended up understanding what she was looking for: The beauty of imperfect things. There is even a word for it in Japanese: Wabi-Sabi. Come listen to her story entitled: “Three billion players” Adrianna Wallis is a visual artist. She likes inaudible voices and forgotten things. Recent works include an installation based on objects described as “rare and beautiful” on eBay and a near-complete collection of monogrammed linen sheets arranged alphabetically (missing U's, W's and X, by the way...). Everything started well, for her, at Sup de Co Grenoble. Then, a little before celebrating her 30th birthday, she enrolled at the Fine Arts in Barcelona. Her exhibition Ordinary Letters enchanted the National Archives in Paris for an entire winter. Come listen to her story entitled: “Ordinary Letters” Three one-hour tours will be offered, starting at 18:00 - 19:00 (in French) - 20:00 (in English). Places are limited and online registration is required. Register via the link, until December 20 inclusive. During this evening of Saturday January 13, there are no guided tours of the temporary exhibition foreseen. If you would like to visit the whole Throwaway exhibition, it is open to the public every day until Sunday January 14 inclusive.