Atomium
Brussels
0.79 Km 00:02
Design Museum Brussels
A perfect place if you like observing the world differently, understanding the objects around you and exploring design as a remarkable tool for reading our societies, during a cultural visit in Brussels, alone, as a couple or with a curious family.
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Information
Design Museum Brussels, understanding the world through objects
Just steps from the Atomium, the Design Museum Brussels invites visitors to look differently at the objects that populate our everyday lives. Born from the acquisition of a private collection by the Atomium, this museum is entirely dedicated to design from the 20th century to the present day, with a clear ambition: to make design understandable, accessible and profoundly human.
Design as a mirror of our societies
Here, design is not limited to form or aesthetics. It is presented as a witness to the economic, social, cultural, ideological and technical transformations of each era. Through the exhibitions, visitors discover how objects reveal our ways of life, our values, our innovations and sometimes even our contradictions.
The exhibition path encourages observation, questioning and connections. A chair, a lamp or an everyday object becomes a key to better understanding the world in which it was conceived.
Iconic and engaged collections
Since 2015, the Plastic Design Collection has explored the use of plastic in design, from the mid-1950s to the present day. This emblematic collection sheds light on the creative and technical landscape of the second half of the twentieth century, while also questioning our relationship with materials and their impacts.
In September 2020, the museum also inaugurated belgisch design belge, a permanent exhibition space dedicated to Belgian design. Here, visitors discover a rich, diverse and distinctive scene, revealing the talent, inventiveness and capacity for innovation of Belgian designers across the decades.
A vibrant, open and accessible place
Beyond its collections, the Design Museum Brussels aims to be a platform for reflection and dialogue. Temporary exhibitions, cultural programming and mediation activities bring together disciplines and perspectives in a deliberately cross-disciplinary, inclusive and accessible approach.
The museum also accompanies the major transitions of our time, questioning the role of design in the face of contemporary challenges. A place for awareness and education, it encourages the development of critical thinking and brings design closer to society, without ever making it elitist.
Between memory and future
By preserving and transmitting the material and immaterial heritage of design, the Design Museum Brussels also plays an essential role in the archiving of knowledge. It combines memory and foresight, heritage and innovation, to nurture understanding for present and future generations.
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Car park
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Coach park40 parking spots
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Maestro
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Reduced mobility visitors
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7 et 62 Heysel / Heizel - Bus 83 Heysel / Heizel
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6 Heysel /Heizel
Opening times
Every day from 11.00 to 19.00 • Also open on 24/12 and 31/12 from 11.00-17.00 - on 25/12 and 1/01 from 13.00 to 19.00
Price
adults: 11€ • seniors (65+): 8.50€ • children (13-18 years): 4€ • children (<13 years) free of charge
Guided tour
EN, FR, NL, DE. Subject to prior booking, minimum 15 days before the visit +32 2 669 49 21 or info@designmuseum.brussels
Tour length
1 hr
Group
Price (Min. 10 people) adults: 8.50€ • seniors (65+): 6.50€ • children (13-18 years): 3€ • children (<13 years) free of charge
Guided tour (Max. 20 people) subject to prior booking: info@designmuseum.brussels or +32 2 669 49 21 • Languages: EN, FR, NL, DE • Price: Contact us.
The Design Museum Brussels is a place dedicated to design and its history. Come and discover all the possibilities of design creation, in all its facets, from the 20th century to the present day. And get there by train, that's class!
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Enjoy this elegant train trip at a great price: buy your tickets for the Design Museum Brussels and get a 50% discount with the Discovery Ticket!
Buy your e-ticket at https://designmuseum.brussels/ and add a free Discovery Ticket voucher to your shopping basket.
Look out for the Discovery Ticket code on your Design Museum Brussels e-ticket: it's a 16-character code.
Order your Discovery Ticket here.
Print your Discovery Ticket or show the PDF on your smartphone screen when you check in on the train.
Enjoy your journey to Design Museum Brussels!
Take advantage of the Discovery Ticket offer!
Weather in Brussels
Events
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Opening times
01/04/2026 - 20/09/2026: * monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday and sunday: from 11:00 to 19:00
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Price
Normal: 11,00 € - Article 27: 1,25 €
From April 1st to September 20th, the Design Museum Brussels presents Designing Childhood. A History of Design for Children, an exhibition co-organised with the Centre Pompidou that explores the evolution of design for children throughout the 20th century.
As a testing ground for new materials and production processes, children’s furniture has left its mark on the history of 20th-century design. It embodies the ambitions, social changes and technological advances of its era. Children’s furniture is characterised by its playful nature and versatility, while at the same time reflecting the evolution of the child’s place in the family and social structure. Gradually recognised as individuals in their own right, children are no longer seen as ‘little adults’ and have carved out a specific place for themselves in the home, society and the market.
In this new collaboration, the Design Museum Brussels enriches the narrative initiated by the Centre Pompidou by highlighting the Belgian contribution. This exhibition is the result of the encounter between the collections of the Design Museum Brussels and the Centre Pompidou, unfolding a dialogue that spans the entire 20th century, from the children’s bedrooms by Pierre Chareau in the 1920s or by Sylvie Feron in Belgium in the 1930s, from school equipment in the 1930s (Jean Prouvé, Arne Jacobsen) to the Reconstruction classroom by Marcel Gascoin in France or by Jules Wabbes in Belgium. In the 1960s, pop aesthetics and the spread of plastic materials marked the peak of children’s design through light and flexible furniture.
Through pieces from its collections, the Design Museum Brussels highlights the vitality of design in Belgium, in line with major international trends. It reveals an approach that is attentive to children’s needs, integrating ecological and educational issues from an early stage, as well as current initiatives such as the ecoBirdy duo’s Charlie chair made from recycled plastic. Today, designers are once again turning their attention to children’s furniture with a focus on learning and inclusivity, which is reflected in the two collections, where formal innovation is combined with a reflection on society and the environment.
This exhibition will also provide an opportunity for the Design Museum Brussels, in collaboration with BNA-BBOT (Bruxelles Nous Appartient-Brussel Behoort Ons Toe), to launch its podcast series dedicated to leading figures in Brussels design. This first episode focuses on the career and work of Marie Paquay Wabbes.
The book Designing Childhood. Le mobilier pour enfant – Kindermeubilair – Children’s furniture, edited by Marie-Ange Brayer and Arnaud Bozzini will be published by Maison CFC Éditions to accompany the exhibition. This trilingual volume presents a selection of iconic pieces from the history of children’s furniture and offers an accessible introduction to the evolution of children’s design.
Linked to the exhibition, a selection of two objects can be seen through the windows of the museum’s storage. The selection focuses on design for babies and offers a glimpse into parts of the collection that usually remain behind the scenes, revealing the wider holdings that support exhibitions and research.
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Opening times
24/04/2026 - 25/10/2026: * monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday and sunday: from 11:00 to 19:00
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Price
Normal: 11,00 € - Article 27: 1,25 €
In 1826, François Kemlin and Auguste Lelièvre founded the public limited company ‘Verreries et Établissements du Val Saint-Lambert’ in Seraing. The glassworks quickly benefited from considerable investment, which promoted technical progress, the growth of exports and the promotion of a young national industry. In 1879, they became Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert, a key player that successively bought up several glassworks and, between 1880 and 1914, enjoyed a real golden age: more than 5,000 workers, outlets all over the world and a reputation consolidated by prestigious participations in the World’s Fairs, from 1894 in Antwerp to 1925 in Paris. Throughout its existence, Val Saint-Lambert has successfully reinvented itself, navigating the Art Nouveau era, the 1930s and the post-war period by collaborating with renowned artists and designers: Léon Ledru (1855–1926), the Muller brothers (Henri Muller, 1868–1936; Désiré Muller, 1877–1952; Eugène Muller, 1883–1914), Charles Graffart (1893–1967), René Delvenne (1901–1968), Yan Zoritchak (born in 1944) and Philippe Starck (born in 1949).
In 2026, Cristalleries will celebrate its bicentenary. To mark this anniversary, the Design Museum Brussels is joining forces with several museums and scientific institutions to highlight this jewel of Belgian industrial heritage and creativity. In collaboration with the Charleroi Glass Museum and curated by Catherine Thomas and Anne Vanlatum, the exhibition Val Saint-Lambert & Design at the Design Museum Brussels is dedicated to the creative output of Val Saint-Lambert from the 1958 World’s Fair to the early 2000s, a period that witnessed an unprecedented creative renewal. It embodies Val Saint-Lambert’s desire to preserve craftsmanship while bringing it into the modern era and engaging in constant dialogue with design. In line with the American Studio Glass movement, it opened its doors to international artists and designers who, alongside the crystal factory’s master glassmakers, experimented with new forms and pushed the boundaries of creation. Crystal, a material that symbolises artisanal excellence, became the medium for bold creations, combining traditional know-how with aesthetic innovations. Created in 1989 under the impetus of director Patrick Depuydt, the Crystal Studio marked a decisive step in the history of Val Saint-Lambert.
Through this joint exhibition, the Design Museum Brussels and the Charleroi Glass Museum invite their visitors to discover the Crystal Studio, a founding chapter in the contemporary history of glass, reflecting the dynamism, the innovation and the international influence of the Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert.
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Opening times
01/07/2026 - 31/08/2026: * monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday and sunday: from 11:00 to 19:00
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Price
Seniors: 8,50 € - Normal: 11,00 € - < 12 ans: 0,00 € - Jeunes: 4,00 € - Article 27: 1,25 €
This summer, the Design Museum Brussels is taking part in ‘Vlieg’ Treasure Hunt! Bring the whole family, step into the shoes of a young creator and set off on an adventure full of discoveries on the theme: “Do you see what I see?”
Through an interactive scavenger hunt in the exhibition “Designing Childhood. A History of design for children”, children explore a world created just for them, filled with amazing, colorful, and surprising objects. Equipped with an interactive booklet, young and old alike are invited to see the world of design in a new light.
Ready for an adventure? Keep your eyes wide open, share your best creations, take a close look at the objects around you, and solve the puzzles to find the mystery word. Each clue will bring you closer to the treasure chest filled with surprises!
The treasure hunt is free and available on request at the museum reception desk during your visit.
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Opening times
16/10/2026 - 07/03/2027: * monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday and sunday: from 11:00 to 19:00
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Price
Normal: 8,50 € - < 12 ans: 0,00 € - Seniors: 6,50 € - Pass musées: 0,00 € - Etudiants: 6,00 € - Article 27: 1,25 €
The Design Museum Brussels welcomes the exhibition Identita – The Story of Czech Graphic Design from 16 October 2026 to 7 March 2027. The exhibition provides a concise insight into a cultural community living in the socially, politically, and visually turbulent region of Central Europe over the last hundred years or more.
It looks at the field itself through the prism of contemporary understanding of quality; one whose objective validity will only be confirmed over time. It therefore does not aspire to become a universal arbiter of taste, nor does it attempt to define an ideal connection between visual form and content.
Rather than restricting its scope, it seeks to connect artists, approaches, disciplines, and phenomena in an effort to present graphic design in all its complexity. The primary goal of Identita is not to build a canon or a mythology of Czech graphic design and typography, but to showcase the field in its cultural context and define its social impact. The exhibition offers an overview of Czech graphic design through selected originals, reprints, and informational panels.
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Opening times
20/11/2026 - 07/03/2027: * monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday and sunday: from 11:00 to 19:00
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Price
Normal: 11,00 € - Article 27: 1,25 €
The Design Museum Brussels presents a unique exhibition dedicated to Pierre Lallemand, an architect and designer from the contemporary Belgian scene. Through a rich and well-documented exhibition route, visitors are invited to discover more than thirty years of creative work at the crossroads of design and architecture.
Preparatory drawings, models, prototypes, objects, furniture, and experimental pieces mark the exhibition and reveal the singular universe of a creator for whom each project is a form of research in itself. The exhibition highlights a body of work in which technical rigour is in constant dialogue with formal freedom, as well as with a critical reflection on our built environment.
Trained in Brussels at the end of the 1970s, Pierre Lallemand developed an early, highly personal approach to design, shaped by experimentation, attention to detail, and a direct relationship with manufacturing. The first part of the exhibition looks back at his beginnings on the Brussels scene of the 1980s, notably through his first lighting designs shown at Galerie Théorème. These pieces already demonstrate an interest in hybrid objects, oscillating between function and sculptural expression.
The exhibition then explores the international dimension of his career. Visitors discover how his experiences in Italy, within the Milan-based firm BBPR, and later in the United States working with César Pelli, profoundly influenced his way of thinking about space, from furniture to architecture, from object to city. This global vision is reflected in the wide variety of projects presented: bicycles, sailboats, sculptures, furniture and architectural studies.
Throughout the exhibition, a coherent and committed approach emerges, in which each work is conceived as an act of visual thinking. For Pierre Lallemand, designing means questioning form, use, and the poetic dimension of the objects that surround us.
The Design Museum Brussels offers an immersive journey into a body of work in constant motion, shaped by the technical, urban, and cultural challenges of our time, and invites visitors to (re)discover design as an open, experimental field, deeply connected to the way we inhabit the world.
