Museums and exhibitions

The Brussels museums are mainly concentrated in two neighbourhoods: Mont des Arts and Parc du Cinquantenaire.

External linkMont des Arts is home to the big guns, including:

• the External linkRoyal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
• the External linkMagritte Museum
• the External linkmim (museum of musical instruments)
• External linkthe CINEMATEK
• External linkthe interactive exhibition on Brussels
• the External linkBrussels Centre for Fine Arts (Bozar)
• the External linkToys Discovery Museum

You can also immerse yourself in the past at External linkMusée BELvue (history of Belgium), the External linkPalais de Charles de Lorraine (18th century), which belongs to the External linkRoyal Library of Belgium and the External linkCoudenberg archaeological site (former palace of Charles V).

There is a large variety of museums in imposing buildings in Parc du Cinquantenaire. They include:

• the External linkCinquantenaire Museum (art and archaeology from five continents)
• the External linkRoyal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History
• External linkAutoworld

What could be more Belgian than comic strips? Brussels is home to no fewer than four comic strip museums:

• the External linkBelgian Comic Strip Center
• the External linkMaison de la bande dessinée (FR)
• the External linkMarc Sleen Museum (one of the biggest names in Flemish comics)
• External linkMooF (FR/NL) (Museum of Original Figurines).

Brussels is also the art nouveau capital of the world. 

The External linkMuseum of Musical Instruments and the External linkBelgian Comic Strip Center are housed in art nouveau masterpieces. You can also visit art nouveau mansions like External linkMaison Cauchie. You should also reserve some time to take in the External linkMuseum of Architecture - La Loge.

Gourmets will appreciate Belgium’s celebrated chocolate and famous beers. 
Beer enthusiasts will want to head for:

• the External linkMuseum of Belgian Breweries on Grand-Place
• the External linkBrussels Gueuze Museum
• the External linkSchaerbeek Beer Museum

If you prefer chocolate, get yourself along to the External linkMuseum of Chocolate or one of the many chocolatiers in the city, such as External linkBelgian Chocolate Village.

Want to discover the world without leaving Brussels? Visit the External linkRoyal Museum for Central Africa in Tervueren.

If your interested in other religions, try the External linkJewish Museum of Belgium, the Museum of the Orthodox Church and the External linkMuseum of the Black Sisters and the Museum of Modern Religious Art in the Basilica of Koekelberg.

If you are fascinated by technical advances technical advances and traditional trades, you’ll love the External linkBrussels Museum of Industry and Labour: La Fonderie (FR/NL), the External linkMuseum of Old Techniques in Grimbergen, the External linkPixel Museum, the External linkBelgian Museum of Radiology, the External linkTram Museum and many more.

If you like being out in the open air, Brussels has a treat in store for you. 

• External linkthe Museum of Natural Sciences
• the External linkNational Botanical Garden of Belgium at Meise
• the External linkBrussels Planetarium
• the External linkJean Massart Botanical Garden (FR)
• the External linkGarden of Medicinal Plants (FR), which also houses the Garden of Sculptures (FR)

External linkAquarium of Brussels (Aquarium Museum or Aquatic Study Center) (Koekelberg) leads you on a trip along warm seas and continents with small species from all over the world.

Brussels is also home to some very specialised museums that you will probably not find anywhere else. Have you heard about the External linkFencing Museum (FR), the External linkMuseum of Spontaneous Art (FR) or the External linkMuseum of Fantastic Art (FR) ?