The Giants or De Reuzen of Royal de Luxe are coming back to Antwerp on Friday 25, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August 2023. What exactly they are doing and where they will be seen remains a well-kept secret. But that it will be a unique and unlikely experience is certain. 

“Whoever is in Antwerp cannot miss them. The Giants are always fantastic to watch, even when they are asleep. But if you want to follow them on their route through the city, it’s best to come during the day”, DeReuzen.be says.

“The Giants are there for young and old We expect a lot of fans, so keep in mind that it will be busy. Allow enough time to drop by and look for yourself. It is best if you discover De Reuzen yourself.”

Come by bike, as the City of Antwerp provides large bicycle parking facilities on Cockerillkaai and Sint-Jansplein. 

On foot

The route of De Reuzen is best done on foot. Of course you can also come by public transport. Driving becomes very difficult in the city those days. Leave your car at a Park & Ride on the outskirts of the city.

“The Giants are completely free and for everyone, so you don’t have to book tickets! Don’t miss the Bull Machin and his friend.” 

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Bull Machin

This year, Royal de Luxe is presenting its newest Giant to Antwerp: the Bull Machin. He was born in Villeurbanne, near Lyon in France. As a puppy he was discovered under a pavement tile during road works. He was no bigger than a hand then. He hid in cellars and learned to read from newspapers left behind at the local market. 

As a result, he knows as well as you who won the last Tour de France or who was elected president. In 2022, he took his first stroll through the streets of the city where he was born, Villeurbanne.

The Bull Machin is a purebred dog that wags its tail, drools and sticks its tongue out. It is 4.40 m high and weighs 880 kg, just like its peers it has a sturdy head of up to 65 kg. Of its 43 teeth, one is even made of gold. When he walks he can reach a top speed of 12 km/h and he will keep that up for a while. Not always obvious for the 29 Lilliputians who walk with him.

Royal de Luxe

Royal de Luxe is a street theater company founded in 1979 by Jean-Luc Courcoult. He is an author and director and is regarded as a pioneer of street theatre. Based in Nantes since 1989, the life of this unusual company is characterized by significant or imposing shows that are always open to the public free of charge. Their fantastic creations are full of poetry and emotion and can be seen on the streets of world cities, but also in the most extreme landscapes in Asia, America or Africa.

Jean-Luc Courcoult makes shows in which you are taken to a dream world. Historical figures sometimes cross your path during the performances of Royal de Luxe. Sun king Louis XIV, Jeanne d’Arc, William Shakespeare and Molière have already featured in performances. Not only history, but also current themes are often the subject of their shows. 

Royal de Luxe is currently exploring an entirely new form of theatre: artistic interventions in the urban renewal plan of Bellevue, a suburb of Nantes. During this 5-year project, the company tries to install an artistic presence in the neighborhood that is inspired by folk theater and that brings poetry to the residents.

In addition to theater performances in all its forms, another original form of theater was created in 1993 that immediately became the company’s signature: the story of The Giants. For several days, The Giants bring a story that takes place over entire cities. Accompanied by the Lilliputians, they traverse the globe with their stories that impress the collective imagination every time. 

They mix eras and genres and always bring together millions of spectators. Some critics see these living works of art as “contemporary myths” that contribute to a city’s collective memory. This is precisely the strength of the performances of Royal de Luxe.