Brussels, 12 December 2025 - a ceremony was held at the Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) in Brussels to mark the donation of two traditional Kazakh musical instruments — the dombra and the sazsyrnai. The instruments were presented by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Belgium in cooperation with the concert organization Alatau Auenleri, representing an important step in strengthening cultural dialogue between Kazakhstan and Belgium.

During the ceremony, musicians of the Qulansaz ensemble from the Almaty region performed traditional Kazakh kyui and melodies, allowing guests to experience the live sound of the instruments before they were placed on display. The dombra and sazsyrnai will become part of the museum’s permanent collection and will also be available in digital format through the online catalogue and audio guide, enabling visitors to hear each instrument and learn about its origins and cultural significance.

Saskia Willaert, representative of the Musical Instruments Museum of Belgium, highlighted the importance of the donation: “These instruments will enrich our museum and allow visitors to discover another vibrant musical tradition of the world. We are grateful to Kazakhstan for this contribution and are delighted to present the dombra and sazsyrnai to a wide audience.”

The Musical Instruments Museum of Belgium (MIM) is part of the Royal Museums of Art and History, founded in 1877, and is today regarded as one of the world’s leading music museums. It houses an extensive collection of approximately 8,000 instruments and is located in a historic Art Nouveau building that is one of Brussels’ architectural landmarks.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-brussels/press/news/details/1125225?lang=kk