Europe

5 Oct '23

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Brussels is a city rich in culture, history and art. If you are planning to visit the capital of Belgium, you might be wondering which are the museums and other monuments that you should not miss. In this blog post, we will give you some suggestions for your itinerary, based on your interests and preferences.

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49 Brussels’ Card Museums

#	Museum
1	AfricaMuseum – Royal Museum for Central Africa Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080 Tervuren	Tervuren Station
2	Art & History Museum Parc du Cinquantenaire 10, 1000 Brussels	Merode
3	Art & Marges Museum Rue Haute 314, 1000 Brussels	Porte de Hal / Hallepoort
4	Autoworld Brussels Parc du Cinquantenaire 11, 1000 Brussels	Gaulois, Merode
5	Autrique House Chaussée de Haecht 266, 1030 Schaerbeek	Herman, Schaerbeek Robiano
6	Belgian Beer WorldBoulevard Anspach 80, 1000 Brussels (Bourse Building)	Bourse / Beurs
7	Belgian Chocolate VillageRue De Neck 20, 1081 Brussels (Koekelberg)	Simonis Elisabeth
8	Belgian Comic Strip Center Rue des Sables 20, 1000 Brussels	Central station, Arenberg
9	Belgian Museum of Freemasonry Rue Laeken 73, 1000 Brussels	De Brouckère
10	BELvue Museum Place des Palais 7, 1000 Brussels	Royale
11	BOZAR (Centre for Fine Arts) Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels	Royale
12	Brussels City Museum Grand-Place, 1000 Brussels	Central Station, De Brouckère
13	Brussels Design Museum Belgiëplein / Place de Belgique, 1020 Brussels	Heyzel
14	Boghossian Foundation (Villa Empain) Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 67, 1050 Brussels	ULB, Solbosch
15	CENTRALE for contemporary art Place Sainte-Catherine 44, 45, Rue Sainte-catherine 13, 1000 Brussels	Sainte Catherine
16	Charlier Museum Avenue des Arts / Kunstlaan 16, 1210 Brussels	Kunst-Wet
17	Choco-Story Brussels Rue de l’étuve / Stoofstraat 41, 1000 Brussels	Grand-Place
18	CIVA Rue de l’Ermitage 55, 1050 Brussels	Flagey
19	Coudenberg Palace Place des Palais 7, 1000 Brussels	Royale
20	Erasmus House and Old Beguinage THE ERASMUS HOUSE: Rue de Formanoir 31, B-1070 Brussels THE BEGUINAGE: Rue du Chapelain 8, B-1070 Brussels	Saint-Guidon
21	Fashion & Lace Museum
22	Fondation Jacques Brel (permanent exhibition)
23	GardeRobe MannekenPis
24	Halle Gate
25	Jewish Museum of Belgium
26	KBR museum
27	La Fonderie – Brussels Museum of Industry and Work
28	Le Botanique
29	Magritte Museum
30	Maurice Béjart House
31	Meise Botanic Garden
32	Migratie Museum Migration
33	MIMA – Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art
34	MOOF (Museum of Original Figurines)
35	Museum of abstract art + René Magritte Museum
36	Museum of Medicine
37	Museum of Natural Sciences
38	Museum of the Belgian Brewers
39	Musical Instruments Museum
40	Old Masters Museum+Fin-de-Siècle Museum
41	Planetarium of Brussels
42	Royal Military Museum
43	Schaerbeek Beer Museum
44	Sewer Museum
45	The Crossbow Guild Museum
46	Train World
47	WIELS

Museums

Brussels has more than 100 museums, covering a wide range of topics and disciplines. Whether you are interested in art, science, history, comics, chocolate or beer, you will find a museum that suits your taste. Here are some of the most popular and renowned museums in Brussels:

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium:

This is a group of six museums that display more than 20,000 artworks from the 15th to the 21st century. You can admire paintings by Flemish masters such as Bruegel, Rubens and Magritte, as well as modern and contemporary art by Belgian and international artists.

#	Museum
1	Musée Magritte Museum Place royale / Koningsplein 1 – 1000 Brussels	P. Royale / Koningsplein
2	Musée Fin-de-Siècle Museum Rue de la Régence/Regentschapsstraat 3 – 1000 Brussels	P. Royale / Koningsplein
3	Musée Oldmasters Museum Rue de la Régence/Regentschapsstraat 3 – 1000 Brussels	P. Royale / Koningsplein
4	Musée Modern Museum Rue de la Régence/Regentschapsstraat 3 – 1000 Brussels	P. Royale / Koningsplein
5	Musée Meunier Museum Rue de l’Abbaye / Abdijstraat 59 – 1050 Brussels
6	Musée Wiertz Museum Rue Vautier / Vautierstraat 62 – 1050 Brussels

The Belgian Comic Strip Center

This museum celebrates the rich tradition of Belgian comics, also known as the Ninth Art. You can learn about the history and evolution of comics, see original drawings and sketches by famous authors such as Hergé (creator of Tintin), Peyo (creator of Smurfs) and Franquin (creator of Gaston Lagaffe), and explore the different genres and styles of comics.

The Museum of Natural Sciences

This museum is home to the largest dinosaur gallery in Europe, where you can see the skeletons of iguanodons, tyrannosaurs, stegosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. You can also discover the diversity of life on Earth, from insects and mammals to minerals and fossils, and learn about the evolution and ecology of our planet.

The Atomium

This is not exactly a museum, but rather a monument and an exhibition space. It is a giant model of an iron atom, built for the 1958 World Expo. It consists of nine spheres connected by tubes, which offer panoramic views of the city and host temporary exhibitions on various themes. The Atomium is one of the most iconic symbols of Brussels and a must-see attraction.

Autoworld

A museum dedicated to the history of automobiles, featuring a vast collection of vintage and classic cars.

Musical Instruments Museum (MIM)

Housed in an Art Nouveau building, this museum displays a unique collection of musical instruments from around the world. The building itself is worth a visit for its architecture.

BELvue Museum

This museum provides insights into the history, culture, and politics of Belgium. It’s a great place to learn about the country’s development.

Horta Museum

Devoted to the life and work of Victor Horta, a famous Belgian architect and one of the pioneers of Art Nouveau. The museum is actually located in Horta’s former residence and studio, which is an architectural masterpiece in itself.

Cinquantenaire Museum (Royal Museums of Art and History)

This museum showcases a wide range of historical artifacts, including art, archaeology, and ethnography. It’s located in the beautiful Cinquantenaire Park.

Train World

A railway museum that tells the story of trains and their role in Belgian history. It’s an engaging museum for both adults and children.

Museum of the City of Brussels (Maison du Roi)

Located in the Grand Place, this museum focuses on the history and folklore of Brussels. It also houses the famous Manneken Pis statue.

African Museum Tervuren

Situated just outside Brussels, this museum showcases an extensive collection of African art, history, and culture. It recently underwent a significant renovation to provide a more contemporary perspective.

Monuments

Besides museums, Brussels has many other monuments that reflect its history, culture and identity. Here are some of the most remarkable ones:

The Grand Place

This is the central square of Brussels and one of the most beautiful places in Europe. It is surrounded by magnificent buildings dating from the 17th to the 19th century, such as the City Hall, the King’s House and the guild houses. The Grand Place is also the venue for many events and festivals throughout the year, such as the Flower Carpet, the Christmas Market and the Ommegang.

The Manneken Pis

This is a small bronze statue of a boy urinating into a fountain, located near the Grand Place. It is one of the most famous and beloved symbols of Brussels, representing its humor and rebellious spirit. The Manneken Pis has hundreds of costumes that he wears on special occasions, such as national holidays, sports events or cultural celebrations.

The European Quarter

This is the area where most of the institutions of the European Union are located, such as the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council. You can visit some of these buildings and learn about their role and function in the European integration process. You can also enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of this district, where you can find restaurants, cafes and shops from different countries and cultures.

We hope that this blog post has given you some ideas for your visit to Brussels. Of course, there are many more museums and monuments that you can explore in this fascinating city. The best way to discover them is to wander around its streets and neighborhoods, where you will find surprises and wonders at every corner.