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Bond in Motion

The Bond in Motion exhibition can be visited through May 14 at Palace 1 of Brussels Expo (Heysel). Covering an area of 6,000 square meters, the Bond in Motion exhibition takes visitors behind the scenes of 007. The exhibit is divided into four worlds: air, water, earth and fire.

Various iconic models

Of course, there are a large number of typical Aston Martins on display, from the 1960s DB5 to the DB10 that never went into production. Also, many other iconic and more or less battered Bond cars, such as the Lotus Esprit, BMW Z8, Jaguar C-X75, the (half) Renault 11, Land Rovers and Rolls-Royces. But also motorcycles, flying and watercraft, snowmobiles, a complete subway car from Skyfall and much more. In the central 007 bar, a Martini (shaken, not stirred) can be ordered and, of course, official Bond merchandise cannot be missed. 

60 years, 25 films, 6 actors: Bond is still alive and kicking

All the iconic vehicles that visitors can admire at the Bond in Motion exhibition are the 100% original objects from the films. So that means that every piece on display for the past 60 years was actually used during film shoots by one of James Bond’s performers, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, or some other character.

Dutch actors and actresses

Interesting from a Dutch perspective are vehicles from the films “The Living Daylights” with Jeroen Krabbé, “GoldenEye” with Famke Janssen and “Tomorrow Never Dies” with Daphne Deckers, which are also on display at the exhibition. The impressive collection includes cars, motorcycles, boats, planes, helicopters, hovercrafts and even a subway car more than 11 meters long, known from Skyfall. Some of the cars even still show impressive traces of the stunts during the filming.

Take a walk

Bond in Motion’s course includes the Lotus Esprit S1 car that transforms into a submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), the 1985 Aston Martin V8 from The Living Daylights (1987), the BMW Z8 from The World Is Not Enough (1999) and the Aston Martin DB10 from Spectre (2015). Of course, the Aston Martin DB5 is also not missing as a classic and typical Bond car.

Gadgets, of course they are also present

There are also fake identity papers, walkie-talkies, weapons and other accessories that appear in the various films. In short, a dream for fans of the British secret agent. Thanks to scale models and explanations of the special effects, visitors also get a behind-the-scenes look at the stunts and James Bond’s most famous cult scenes.

From London to Los Angeles to Brussels

The Bond In Motion exhibition saw the light in 2012 at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Great Britain, to mark the secret agent’s 50th birthday. The exhibition then moved to London’s Film Museum, where it ran for six years and attracted more than nine million visitors.

It was then on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles until the end of the summer of 2022. Brussels is now the first chance to discover this event in continental Europe, and it is also the first time that this exhibition is not in a museum, but on a floor entirely dedicated to the world of James Bond.

Shaken, not stirred

Those who have always dreamed of crawling into the costume of the most famous spy on earth or playing the sexy Bond Girl for an evening can visit the 007 bar that is part of the exhibition. For a glass of champagne or the famous “Shaken, not stirred” in a glamorous decor as known from the movies.

About James Bond

James Bond is a fictional character and was created by writer Ian Fleming in 1953. Countless fictional biographies exist because never could the author have imagined that his character would live this long. The British secret agent works for MI6, has code number 007 and has been the hero in 25 action movies. On the silver screen, he is portrayed by six legendary actors:

• Sean Connery: dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967), Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
• George Lazenby: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969).
• Roger Moore: Live and Let Die (1973), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), A View to a Kill (1985).
• Timothy Dalton: The Living Daylights (1987), License To Kill (1989).
• Pierce Brosnan: GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), Die Another Day (2002).
• Daniel Craig: Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), No Time to Die (2021).

Double O seven

James Bond is a British Secret Service spy with the number 007 (“double O seven”). The first zero means that he has permission to kill, the second that he has already done so, and the 7 that he is the seventh agent with that authorization.

About Ian Fleming, the creator of 007

Ian Fleming, born in 1908, was a British writer of spy novels, journalist and naval intelligence officer. He came from a wealthy family affiliated with the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co. His service during World War II and his experience as a journalist had a profound influence on the creation of James Bond’s lifestyle. For his character’s name, Fleming took inspiration from an ornithologist, or birder.

Ian Fleming wrote his first book James Bond, Casino Royale in 1953. It was so successful that it took three print runs to meet demand. Eleven more novels and two short story collections followed between 1953 and 1966. All the novels are about James Bond, an officer of the Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6. Bond, also known by his code number 007, is a commander in the Royal Naval Reserve. With 100 million copies sold, the stories about Agent 007 are among the most widely read fiction books of all time!

James Bond’s spiritual father was a womanizer, drank heavily, smoked heavily and suffered from heart disease. He died of a heart attack in 1964 at the age of 56. Two of his books were published posthumously. After Fleming’s death, his character was adopted by other writers.

Practical information Bond in Motion

Bond in Motion
Palace 1 – Brussels Expo
Belgium Square 1
1020 Brussels

From 09-12-2022 through 14-05-2023

Open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (during school vacations open every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Admission price

from 19 euros (incl. VAT)

Learn more at www.007brussels.com