Brussels with children

There are lots of children’s activities in Brussels, especially designed to capture their imagination. Here are just a few.

• Opens in new windowChildren's Museum (Ixelles): gives children the opportunity, through exhibitions involving their participation by way of play, to learn how better to know themselves and others.
• Opens in new windowBelgian Comic Strip Centre and the Opens in new windowcomic strip trail (Rue des Sables): Brussels has world-class comic strip credentials, just look at the number of characters that brighten up the Region’s walls.
• Opens in new windowMuseum of Natural Sciences (Wiertz): as well as its famous collection of dinosaurs, you’ll also enjoy lots of interactive exhibitions.
• Opens in new windowAquarium of Brussels (Aquarium Museum or Aquatic Study Center) (Koekelberg) : a trip along warm seas and continents with small species from all over the world.
• Opens in new windowAtomium (Heysel): the nine spheres of the Atomium represent the nine atoms that make up a iron crystal.
  Take the lift to the top for a bird’s-eye view of Brussels.
• Opens in new windowAutoworld (Parc du Cinquantenaire): lots of different cars from the past and the present.
• Opens in new windowRoyal Museum of the Army and Military History (Parc du Cinquantenaire): while you’re in Parc du Cinquantenaire, get up close to tanks, bombers and more.
• Opens in new windowBronks, theatre for young audiences (FR/NL) (Sainte-Catherine): if you’re looking for a performance that will keep the kids interested, Bronks is sure to have something to see (in Dutch).
• Opens in new windowThéâtre de la Montagne Magique (FR) (Rue du Marais): theatre for children and young people, hosting original programming and top quality festivals.
• Opens in new windowRoyal Peruchet Theater (FR) (Ixelles) : a string puppet theatre and its International Marionette Museum (in French)
• The Opens in new windowmaze in the garden of Van Buuren Museum (Uccle): when the weather’s fine, lose yourself in the magnificent Van Buuren garden.
• Each yearOpens in new windowLes 3 Heures Trottinettes (3HT) (FR) holds a scooter relay race for the youngest groups of the youth movements (usually 5- to 8-year olds). During the 3-hour race, which is held on the same weekend as the 24-hour cycling event at the Bois de la Cambre and the 5-hour cross-country event, there is a host of activities for families and children.

On the website of the Brussels Museums Council you will find an overview of the Opens in new windowspecial programmes and workshops for kids offered by the Brussels museums.

• Opens in new windowKidsgazette is a free cultural quarterly calendar for Brussels children aged 0 to 12 years old.
• The website of ideji asbl, Opens in new windowLe Kid (FR), provides the list of all workshops for children aged 2 to 18 years old.
• Opens in new windowjonginbrussel.be is an initiative of the youth service of the Flemish Community Commission (VGC). The website gives an overview (by theme or location) of the Dutch-speaking leisure activities for young people in Brussels.

The page over child care also provides information about leisure activities for children.

The website of visit.brussels also gives an overview of Opens in new windowactivities and Opens in new windowattractions for children.

Most attractions and museums have reduced prices for children. Visit the individual websites for up-to-date admission prices. Brussels also organises lots of free activities. See the pages "Brussels for free" for more details.

If you plan to criss-cross Brussels all day, you might be better off taking public transport. Children under 6 travel free on the STIB network if they are accompanied by a paying person aged 12 or more. Kids between 6 and 11 can get a Opens in new windowfree J pass at STIB Bootiks.

• At Resto.be, you can set your own search criteria to find a Opens in new windowrestaurant with a play area or a kids’ menu.
• Brussels has a huge number of parks and green spaces, typically with a children’s play area.