The Art of Security in Belgium

On 2nd June in 2009 the brand-new Musée Magritte Museum opened in the heart of Brussels, in Belgium. With space of more than 2,500 m², in just two months the museum saw more than 100,000 visitors. Each visitor encounters security officers from Securitas who view their task at the museum as a point of honour, both figuratively and literally practising the art of security.

The multidisciplinary collection which has been based there since June last year is the largest in the world, containing about 200 works. The world's most important centre for the study of the Brussels artist is now in his homeland.

As the Musée Magritte Museum had clear international ambitions from the start, the bar was set especially high for all aspects, including with regard to security and guarding. Following a public tendering process, the management of the Museum chose Securitas to carry out this extremely important commission.

Odd-man-out in the security services sector

Museum security is an odd-man-out in the security services sector. Museum security does of course as in many other locations consist of two types of guarding: man guarding and high-tech electronic security solutions. But what is unique is the fact that the job of the security officers involves more than just guarding. It requires them not only to guard the art works, but also to handle security in the event of evacuation and related first aid duties, and finally also have to assist the public.

Visitors' initial contact with the museum is often after all via the security officers. A welcoming, helpful manner and preferably also multilingual skills are all qualities that are practically indispensible for their duties. And if possible, the security officers should be able to provide museum visitors with a little information about an art work and so forth. For instance, the question, “Where is Magritte’s Mona Lisa” - one of his most important works - is asked several times a day.

30 Securitas employees

 The direct result of this is that it is a very varied and challenging job, and our employees are proud to be part of the Magritte family. At the same time, the Magritte Museum believes that the name Securitas contributes a 'serious' note to the external security.

Contact was particularly warm and flexible even before the public opening. One of the first major and successful services on the site was the museum’s opening event which was attended by many VIPs, with on average 2,000 visitors per day.

The employees also receive training on site and are kept alert with regular evacuation exercises: a realistic way to be able to guarantee the guarding of the surrealist Musée Magritte Museum at all times.

 

 

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