marrit-westerweelVisitors coming to Brussels for a cultural experience have many museums to choose from. An overview of 5 museums to visit in Brussels, ranging from art to history.
Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium
Magritte Museum l MR
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium consists of six museums; the Oldmasters Museum, the Modern Museum, the Fin-de-Siècle Museum, the Magritte Museum and the Wiertz Museum. Together they have 20.000 works of art. The collections range from the 15th to the 21th century and consist out of paintings, sculptures and drawings. Works of, among others, Pieter Bruegel, Peter Paul Rubens, Auguste Rodin, Paul Gauguin, and René Magritte can be seen.
When: Monday closed. Tue-Fri: 10:00-17:00 h, Sat-Sun: 11:00-18:00 h. The Wiertz Museum and the Meunier museum are closed during the weekend and open from Tue-Fri: 10:00-12:00 h. 12:45-17:00h.
Where: Musée Oldmasters Museum, Musée Modern Museum, Musée Fin-de-Siècle Museum; Rue de la Régence / Regentschapsstraat 3, Brussels. Musée Magritte Museum; Place royale / Koningsplein 1, Brussels. Musée Meunier Museum; Rue de l’Abbaye / Abdijstraat 59, Brussels. Musée Wiertz Museum; Rue Vautier / Vautierstraat 62, Brussels.
Price: The Wiertz Museum and the Meunier Museum have free admission. The entrance fee of the other museums is €8,- each, a combi tickets costs €13,-. On the 1st Wednesday of the month the museum is free from 13:00 h.
Website: https://www.fine-arts-museum.be/en
Coudenberg
Wander under the ground to see the remains of the old palace of Brussels. Build in the 12th century as a castle it became eventually a palace and used to be one of Charles V’s main residences. The building was damaged by fire in 1731 and forty years later taken down. The ground was flattened.
When: Monday closed. Tue-Fri: 09:30-17:00 h, Sat-Sun: 10:00-18:00h.
Where: Mont des Arts, Place des Palais 7, Brussels (entrance via museum BELvue).
Price: €6,-.
Website: http://www.coudenberg.com
Parlamentarium
Parlamentarium l MR
What is the European Parliament doing and why is it working in three different places? The answers to these and other questions can be found in the Parlamentarium, the visitors’ centre of the European Parliament. The Parlamentarium explains visitors the work of the Parliament and the European integration through for example a history area and a virtual trip through Europe. Until 20 November an exhibition takes place titled ‘the family meal’. The Parlamentarium can be visited with a media guide that is available in all 24 languages of the EU.
When: 7 days a week. Mon: 13:00-18:00. Thu-Fri: 09:00-18:00. Sat-Sun: 10:00-18:00.
Where: Rue Wiertz 60/ Wiertzstraat 60, Brussels.
Price: Free admission.
Website: http://www.europarl.europa.eu
Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History
Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History l Marrit Westerweel
The museum offers an overview of the history of war by displaying lots of artefacts. Armours, uniforms, musical instruments, guns, planes and tanks can all be found in the museum. Visitors will cover the period from the Middle Ages to World War I and II. It is also possible to walk up to the arcade and have a view of Brussels.
When: Monday closed. Tue-Fri: 09:00-17:00 h, Sat-Sun: 10:00-18:00 h.
Where: Jubelpark 3, Brussels.
Price: Free admission until 4 January 2016.
Website: http://www.klm-mra.be
Musical Instruments Museum
The building of the Musical Instruments Museum is on the outside decorated with music notes. Inside visitors can see traditional musical instruments from all over the world. Also mechanical, electrical and electronic instruments are displayed as well as clocks and bells.
When: Monday closed. Tue-Fri: 09:30-17:00h. Sat-Sun: 10:00-17:00h.
Where: Montagne de la Cour 2, Brussels.
Price: €8,-.
Website: http://www.mim.be