House of European History

The House of European History takes visitors on a journey along the path of Europe’s history and challenges them to contemplate its future. Entrance is free, with audio-guides in the 24 official languages of the European Union.

At the heart of the House of European History, the permanent exhibition galleries use objects, reconstructions and multimedia resources to take visitors on a thought-provoking narrative that focuses on the continent’s 19th and 20th centuries.

The museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. For example, exploring the issue of waste in Europe, disinformation or artwork during wartime. Discover the current temporary exhibition on the website.

Teachers and Students
Learning aids and resources are available both on-site and online. There are downloadable teachers’ notes, class and group activities, along with photographs, written testimonies and videos. These materials can be easily adapted to use with curriculum content.

Families
For families with 6-10 year olds - take a backpack and 'time-travel’ through different periods of Europe’s past! Kids will smell, feel and live history as never before, through role-play games in a 1960s Travel Agency, walking in the shoes of an astronaut or grappling with robots. Family Spaces are available in 24 languages and accessible during opening hours of the museum. Extra facilitated learning activities are on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 14:00 to 17:00. Entrance is free. No reservation required.

The museum is family-friendly, with baby-changing facilities and access for buggies. Parents may feel certain aspects of the permanent exhibition are only suitable for children over eleven years old.
  • The House of European History is easily accessible by train (Bruxelles-Luxembourg station), bus or metro.
    The nearest metro stops are Maelbeek and Schuman on lines 1 and 5, and Trone on lines 2 and 6.
  • 1, 5 Schuman - 2, 6 Trône / Troon

On the occasion of International Women's Day 2024, the House of European History proudly presents three extraordinary and very different European films, written and directed by three leading ladies in genuine European cinema. The Czech director Věra Chytilová (1929-2014), the Belgian director Chantal Akerman (1950-2015) and the French director Céline Sciamma (1978), representing three generations of powerful and independent European filmmaking from the 1960s to today. Each film will be introduced in English by film historian and film curator Wouter Hessels (RITCS & INSAS) and followed by a brief discussion and Q&A. Registration in advance is mandatory, the event is free of charge. We encourage you to join a guided tour at 18h15 in the permanent exhibition before the movie screening, focusing on women and their role in society. Wednesday 20/3/2024 19:00 - The Captive (La Captive), Chantal Akerman Belgium/France, 2000, 118’, Original FR version, with EN subtitles “The Captive / La Captive” was inspired by “La Prisonnière” - the fifth and final volume of “À la recherche du temps perdu” by Marcel Proust. Chantal Akerman transforms this work of world literature into a mesmerising study of voyeurism, control and sexual obsession. Akerman was director of “Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080”, which was recently voted ‘greatest film of all time’ according to Sight & Sound's poll of 1000 film critics. The film is centered on the relationship between a possessive young man Simon (Stanislas Merhar) and his lover Ariane (Sylvie Testud). With this abundant plot, full of hilariously absurd details and references to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”, Akerman once again proves her talent for subjects like the destructiveness of love and the complex nature of sexuality.

On the occasion of International Women's Day 2024, the House of European History proudly presents three extraordinary and very different European films, written and directed by three leading ladies in genuine European cinema. The Czech director Věra Chytilová (1929-2014), the Belgian director Chantal Akerman (1950-2015) and the French director Céline Sciamma (1978), representing three generations of powerful and independent European filmmaking from the 1960s to today. Each film will be introduced in English by film historian and film curator Wouter Hessels (RITCS & INSAS) and followed by a brief discussion and Q&A. Registration in advance is mandatory, the event is free of charge. We encourage you to join a guided tour at 18h15 in the permanent exhibition before the movie screening, focusing on women and their role in society. Wednesday 27/3/2024 19:00 - Portrait of a lady on fire (Portrait de la jeune fille en feu), Céline Sciamma France, 2019, 122’, Original FR version, with EN subtitles Synopsis French director and screenwriter Céline Sciamma, also known for “Tomboy”, “Girlhood”, “Petite Maman”, turns the male gaze over its head to present its female version: a feminist tale of lesbian desire, aching romanticism and artistic collaboration. The result is a great romantic costume thriller, glistening with sumptuous images and two unforgettable actresses : Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant. Sciamma won the Award for Best Screenplay and the Queer Palm in Cannes.