ING Arena

ING Arena is an indoor arena in Brussels, Belgium, forming part of the Brussels Expo complex on the Heysel (Heizel) Plateau in the Laeken district. It ranks among the city's best-known event venues, hosting everything from live music to major sporting fixtures, and remains one of the go-to indoor spaces for large-scale gatherings in the Belgian capital.

Where did ING Arena come from?

The building's story begins in 1989, when it was constructed as the twelfth hall of the Brussels Expo complex. For years it served primarily as an exhibition and trade-fair space, part of the broader network of pavilions on the Heysel site. Over time, its original layout no longer matched the demands of modern large-scale entertainment, which set the stage for a complete redesign.

When did the arena reopen in its current form?

Following an extensive redevelopment, the venue reopened in September 2013 as a purpose-built arena capable of hosting international-scale productions. The redesign transformed the hall from a conventional exhibition space into a flexible venue suited to concerts, shows and competitive sport alike.

Where exactly is ING Arena located?

The arena sits on the Heysel (Heizel) Plateau in Laeken, in the northern part of Brussels — an area already associated with major exhibition and sporting facilities. Its geographic coordinates place it at roughly 50.901 latitude and 4.342 longitude, right within the wider Brussels Expo grounds.

How many people can the venue hold?

ING Arena has a maximum capacity of 15,000 people, putting it among the largest indoor arenas in Belgium. That scale allows it to host productions on a level comparable with major indoor venues found in other European capitals.

What kind of events take place there?

The hall operates as a multi-purpose event space. Its calendar includes concerts, conferences, entertainment shows, and major sporting events. This versatility keeps ING Arena a recurring fixture on Brussels' cultural and sporting calendar, drawing both local residents and visitors to the city.

Is ING Arena part of a larger complex?

Yes — the venue is one of the halls within Brussels Expo, the wider exhibition and events complex on the Heysel Plateau. Being surrounded by other exhibition halls and event spaces makes the ING Arena area one of the city's principal hubs for mass-attendance events, combining trade-fair, entertainment and sporting functions in a single location.

Frequently asked questions

Is ING Arena a new building? No, the structure dates back to 1989, though it has operated in its current, fully redeveloped form since September 2013.

What is the maximum capacity of ING Arena? It can hold up to 15,000 people, making it one of the larger indoor arenas in Belgium.

Which district of Brussels is the arena in? Laeken, on the Heysel (Heizel) Plateau in the northern part of the city.

What types of events are held here? Concerts, conferences, entertainment shows, and major sporting events.

Is the arena part of the Brussels Expo complex? Yes, ING Arena is one of the venues within the Brussels Expo complex on the Heysel Plateau.