“The Memory Palace: when dementia enters the Royal Palace”
On 7 July 2026, my husband Geert and I had the opportunity to visit “The Memory Palace” at the Royal Palace in Brussels as part of a delegation from Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen. During the visit, we were joined by Flemish Minister for Welfare and Poverty Reduction, Culture and Equal Opportunities, Caroline Gennez, who expressed her wish to meet not only people living with dementia, but also what she called the "shadow stakeholders": the family members and friends whose lives are equally shaped by the condition.
I found this expression particularly meaningful. Dementia never affects just one person. Behind every diagnosis is a partner, a child, a sibling or a friend whose daily life changes profoundly. Recognising these "shadow stakeholders" is an important step towards acknowledging the true societal impact of dementia.
The exhibition itself, created by researcher Kasper Bormans together with the artistic duo Unik-ID, invites visitors to reflect on memory, communication and human connection through an immersive artistic experience. It demonstrates how art can open conversations that traditional information campaigns often cannot.
At the same time, the visit also reminded me how valuable it is to involve people living with dementia and family carers from the earliest stages of developing initiatives like these. Their lived experience brings a perspective that cannot be replaced by expertise alone. Co-creation is not only about consultation, but about ensuring that projects truly reflect the realities of those they aim to represent.
What struck me most during our visit was not only the exhibition itself, but the fact that dementia had found a place within the Royal Palace. The involvement of both the Belgian Royal Family and the Minister sends a powerful message. Dementia is not solely a healthcare issue. It is a societal challenge that deserves visibility, understanding and political commitment.
As members of Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen, Geert and I were grateful to contribute our voices to this conversation. Every opportunity to bring together policymakers, researchers, artists and people with lived experience helps build a more dementia-inclusive society.
Perhaps that is the greatest value of initiatives such as “The Memory Palace”: not simply inviting people to remember but encouraging society to listen.
