Under the leadership of Joep Schreurs and Hans van Genk, the Filmhuis Maastricht Foundation was given a 60-seat auditorium above what was then the Kombi Youth Club in the Capucijnengang. This became a haven for film enthusiasts seeking different stories and new perspectives. The first film to be screened was Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s *Wildwechsel*, a telling start for a cinema that, from the very beginning, consciously opted for an unconventional programme.

From 1983, the cinema received a municipal grant and Jan Besselink was appointed as director. Under his leadership, Lumière grew into a professional cinema with a firm place in Maastricht’s cultural life. In 1985, the cinema moved to Bogaardenstraat and was given its name: Lumière, a reference to the Lumière brothers, the founders of cinema. During this period, visitor numbers grew from 7,000 to 16,000 per year.

In the years that followed, Lumière continued to develop. A third screen was added and later the cinema expanded to six screens. The audience grew too: what began as a small cinema with a few thousand visitors a year developed into a regular cultural destination for more than 100,000 visitors a year.

Under the leadership of Nico Haenen and David Deprez, this growth continued, and Lumière increasingly established itself as both a cinema and a cultural meeting place. With a keen eye for programming and collaboration, Lumière’s position within the city and the region was further strengthened. Lumière continued to develop into an open house where visitors come not only to watch films, but also to meet one another. The connection between film, hospitality, education and social partners played an increasingly important role in this.

In September 2016, a new step followed with the move to its current location on ’t Bassin, in Maastricht’s Sphinxkwartier. The former electricity building, dating from 1910, gave Lumière not only more space but also a new dimension. Here, film, hospitality, social interaction and culture came together under one roof.

Between 2016 and 2026, Lumière continued to develop as Maastricht’s cultural hub. Alongside arthouse films, documentaries, classics and children’s films, festivals, premieres, post-screening discussions, educational programmes and collaborations with cultural and social partners took on an increasingly prominent role. With Lumière Lab, the educational function was further strengthened, introducing children, young people and students to the power of film and visual culture.

Under the leadership of Aerd de Boode, Lumière continues to develop as a contemporary cinema with a strong social and cultural role. Our original mission remains unchanged: to provide a platform for films and stories that move, surprise and bring people together, and to be a place where people gather to enjoy film.