• Opening times

  29/03/2025 - 11/01/2026: * monday: from 13:00 to 18:00 * tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday and sunday: from 10:00 to 18:00

Far from being confined to museums or books, history plays a significant role in everyone's lives: visits to places that have become tourist sites, commemorations and re-enactments of events, excavations, conservation or collections of ancient objects. Interactions with the past can take many forms, and have a variety of purposes, such as ensuring links within a community, building identity, having fun or remembering certain tragedies of the past. In order to evoke all these links that the people living in Europe can have with history, the exhibition ‘Presence of the Past. A European Album’ is divided into seven main sections: The tourist appeal of historic sites, places of pilgrimage that are sometimes enjoyed simply to fill up our social networks. Commemorations which, in today's post-heroic era, highlight soldiers and civilian victims in rituals of remembrance or appeasement, without focusing solely on military leaders. Historical re-enactments, which have been practised for decades but have recently been gaining in popularity. The manufacture of heroes, to examine the mechanisms at work in creating cults of personality, sometimes spontaneous, sometimes imposed by the state. De-commemoration, to assess possible solutions to monuments inherited from bygone eras, such as those associated with colonisation, slavery or dictatorial regimes. The past as landscape, when nature gradually reclaims places marked by tragic histories. And the historians of everyday life, those citizens who go in search of old objects, collecting them or exhibiting them to anchor themselves in the past of their family, country or community. For this exhibition, the House of European History is partnering with Brussels-based Atelier de photographie de l'École nationale supérieure des arts visuels de La Cambre. Six of the 21 photographers whose work will be presented have studied at this college, and will thus showcase the younger generation’s take on how history permeates our daily lives. Visitors are encouraged to explore the historian in them through interactive activities in the exhibition.

Each tour is facilitated by a member of our museum team, offering their personal interpretation of the theme and a fresh perspective on the collection. Rather than exhaustive lectures, these tours highlight selected objects and aim to spark curiosity, reflection and conversation about European History. Practical information - Tours are free and take place from 12:15-13:00 in English. Meet the guide at the Family Kiosk in the Fables Room. No booking required. - Please be aware that to enter the museum, you must pass through security checks which can take some time – we advise you plan for this in advance. 20 January - Memories of the Shoah 2026 marks 80 years since the closure of the Nuremberg Trials, where Nazi perpetrators were brought to justice. The month of January also offers a time to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust on Remembrance Day. A week prior to the commemoration, the House of European History invites you to take time in the exhibition to remember the victims and hear the individual stories that must never be forgotten. 17 February - Feelings in History Feelings play a large part in historical narratives: sometimes for contradicting reasons, sometimes driving individuals or entire societies to take action. This February, come and uncover some of the many emotions behind historical events through the vast collection of the House of European History. 17 March - Women in European History In March we celebrate International Women’s Rights Day, making it the perfect moment to discover some of the extraordinary women represented in the House of European History. Delve into the collection, encounter the objects linked to their lives, and learn more about their impact on Europe’s past. 21 April - Meet Postcolonial? exhibition team 1/2 Our new temporary exhibition “Postcolonial?” has officially opened its doors! Come and meet the team that helped create and shape the exhibition that explores the long-lasting effects that colonisation and its ending have had in Europe over the last 70 years. 19 May - A little more EU in your lunch break EU don't know EU’re bEUtiful! Discover more about the European Union and the people, programmes and events that connect European countries. “Schuman”, “European Elections” and “Erasmus” this is your chance to learn more about these iconic European stories! 16 June - Love is Love Love makes the world go round and the House of European History holds many lovely objects and stories. Come and encounter them as you fall in love with history and take a closer look at some stories from the LGBTQIA+ community, their struggle to love who they want, their victories and the waves they made in European history. Love wins! 21 July - No lunchtime tour due to national holiday. 18 August - Europe in motion Behind every journey lies a story. This month, take a closer look at the movements that transformed Europe: the migrations that reshaped communities, the travels that opened new horizons, and the transport innovations that brought the continent closer together. Let’s uncover the human experiences hidden behind Europe’s roads, routes and roaming. 15 September - Generation to generation Which generation do you belong to? From Erasmus students setting off on European adventures, to the many age groups who lived, loved, fought and rebuilt this continent, each generation brings its own rhythm to history. Come and uncover how generations shape Europe and how Europe shapes generations. 20 October - A very European playlist Music in European history carries meaning, memories and moments of gathering. Let’s listen carefully to the sounds and songs throughout the House of European History including ‘’Ode to Joy’’, factory rhythms, Eurodance beats and Eurovision favourites... 17 November - Meet Postcolonial? exhibition team 2/2 “Postcolonial?” is the current temporary exhibition here at the House of European History. It explores the long-lasting effects that colonisation and its ending have had in Europe over the last 70 years. Come and meet the team that shaped this exhibition. 15 December - Preparation for a festive season Say hello to the festive season! Brush up on stories of European history for the perfect dinner table conversation this holiday period. Looking for inspiration for the perfect gift? Try a trip to the House of European History! Let’s unpack the history of certain objects that were given and maybe even returned.