Boccaccio Life: The Legend of the Temple of House and New Beat

The Beginnings and the Golden Age

When it first opened in 1963, Boccaccio was nothing more than a simple local event hall. However, with the addition of a jukebox in 1964, it quickly grew into one of the biggest dance venues in Belgium. Decorated with nautical elements due to its proximity to a pond, Boccaccio’s popularity exploded throughout the 1970s and ’80s under the influence of renowned DJs such as Dick Van Gelder and Phill Watts.

A major revival came in 1986 with the opening of the nearby Carrera, prompting owners Robert and Dirk De Maesschalck to modernize Boccaccio. The club then became the largest nightclub in Belgium, renamed “Boccaccio Life International,” and was the first in Europe to introduce Acid House and New Beat—launching it into its legendary status as *the* place to be.

The Glory Years and the Legendary Sunday Parties

From 1986 to 1993, Boccaccio was the birthplace of New Beat, attracting thousands of partygoers from across Europe. The Sunday parties—starting on Sunday evening at 10 p.m. and sometimes lasting until Tuesday morning—became truly legendary. Despite the long queues, clubbers flocked to experience the unique atmosphere of Boccaccio Life.

The Closure and the Resurrection

However, its success was overshadowed by increasing issues related to drugs and disturbances for local residents. In October 1993, Belgian authorities ordered the closure of Boccaccio, bringing an end to an exceptional musical era. In 2001, the building reopened under the name “The Temple,” but despite all efforts, it never regained the brilliance of its iconic 1986–1993 years.

Boccaccio Life in Halen: A New Era

After the closure of the legendary Boccaccio Life in Destelbergen in 1995, the name was purchased by Benny Strouven, owner of nightclubs in Ostend and Halen. In Halen, the club remained faithful to the name “Boccaccio Life,” while in Ostend it became “Boccaccio Beach.” Although it never reached the same iconic status as its predecessor, the Halen Boccaccio left its mark on the music scene in the late ’90s and early 2000s, producing compilations and musical projects.

In 2018, Benny Strouven decided to close the Halen Boccaccio, only to reopen—after careful reflection during the lockdown—under the new name “Boccaccio East.” This new chapter highlights the resilience of the Boccaccio legacy, now ready to write a new page of its history in Halen.

Retro Events and the End of an Era

In 2008, retro events such as “The Sound of B” revived the former glory of Boccaccio Life, but in 2010, “The Temple” closed its doors. Renamed “Riva” and later redesigned again in 2013, the club ultimately lost its original essence. Nevertheless, the “Sound of B” parties continue to be held there annually, a testament to the lasting impact of Boccaccio Life.

The Documentary “The Sound of Belgium”

In 2013, the documentary *The Sound of Belgium* captured the story of Boccaccio Life, revealing its influence on the Belgian music scene from 1920 to 1995. Through interviews and archival footage, the film immortalized this temple of electronic music, preserving a major chapter of Belgium’s cultural history.

Although Boccaccio Life has closed its doors, its legacy lives on through generations of electronic music fans, recalling an era when this Belgian club stood as a beacon of House Music and New Beat in Europe.