Museums and exhibitions

More information on all the Brussels museums

Art and history

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

Mont des Arts (FR/NL) is home to the big guns, including the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Magritte Museum, mim (museum of musical instruments), CINEMATEK (FR/NL), the interactive exhibition on Brussels at the Brussels Info Place (BIP) and the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts (Bozar).

You can also immerse yourself in the past at Musée BELvue (history of Belgium), the Palais de Charles de Lorraine (FR/NL) (18th century), which belongs to the Royal Library of Belgium (FR/NL) and the Coudenberg archaeological site (former palace of Charles V).

There is a large variety of museums in imposing buildings in Parc du Cinquantenaire. They include the Cinquantenaire Museum (art and archaeology from five continents), the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History and Autoworld.

Typically Brussels, typically Belgian

What could be more Belgian than comic strips? Brussels is home to no fewer than four comic strip museums: the Belgian Comic Strip Center, the Maison de la bande dessinée (FR), the Marc Sleen Museum (one of the biggest names in Flemish comics) and MooF (FR/NL) (Museum of Original Figurines).

Brussels is also the art nouveau capital of the world. The Museum of Musical Instruments and the Belgian Comic Strip Center are housed in art nouveau masterpieces. You can also visit art nouveau mansions like Maison Cauchie. You should also reserve some time to take in the Museum of Architecture - La Loge.

Gourmets will appreciate Belgium’s celebrated chocolate and famous beers. Beer enthusiasts will want to head for the Museum of Belgian Breweries on Grand-Place, the Brussels Gueuze Museum and the Schaerbeek Beer Museum. If you prefer chocolate, get yourself along to the Museum of Cacao and Chocolate or one of the many chocolatiers in the city, such as Maison des maîtres-chocolatiers belges.

Faraway lands brought within reach

Want to discover the world without leaving Brussels? Visit the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervueren or the Museums of the Far East (FR/NL) with their Japanese Tower, Museum of Japanese Art and Chinese Pavilion.

If your interested in other religions, try the Jewish Museum of Belgium (FR/NL), the Museum of the Orthodox Church and the Museum of the Black Sisters and the Museum of Modern Religious Art in the Basilica of Koekelberg.

Technology & industry

If you are fascinated by technical advances technical advances and traditional trades, you’ll love the Brussels Museum of Industry and Labour: La Fonderie (FR/NL), the Museum of Old Techniques in Grimbergen, the Belgian Museum of Radiology, the Tram Museum and many more.

Nature and the open air

If you like being out in the open air, Brussels has a treat in store for you. The Museum of Natural Sciences, the National Botanical Garden of Belgium at Meise, the Brussels Planetarium (FR/NL), the Jean Massart Botanical Garden and the Garden of Medicinal Plants (FR), which also houses the Garden of Sculptures (FR) are all top attractions.

Aquarium 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.

Have you heard about these museums?

Brussels is also home to some very specialised museums that you will probably not find anywhere else. Have you heard about the Fencing Museum (FR), the Museum of Spontaneous Art (FR) or the Museum of Fantastic Art (FR) ? Other specialised museums in Brussels are the Belgian Freemasonry Museum and the Museum of Medicinal Plants and Pharmacy (FR).