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Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) – When Art Nouveau architecture sets the tone for a sonic journey

The Musical Instruments Museum, better known as the MIM, offers an experience that begins even before hearing a single note. Overlooking the Mont des Arts in Brussels, the Art Nouveau Old England building draws the eye with its elegant lines and iconic silhouette. Once inside, an entire world of sounds, shapes and stories opens before you. Here, music is contemplated, listened to and felt, in a constant dialogue between heritage and emotion.

The MIM houses one of the largest collections of musical instruments in the world, offering a fascinating journey into human creativity through the centuries. A visit that unfolds as a sensory exploration, accessible to both seasoned music lovers and simply curious visitors.

A breathtaking Art Nouveau building

The MIM cannot be separated from its remarkable setting. The former Old England building, a masterpiece of Art Nouveau, captivates from the outside. Inside, the metal structure, glass roofs and light-filled volumes create a unique, almost theatrical atmosphere. Visitors often find themselves looking up as much to admire the architecture as to absorb the ambiance of the place.

On every floor, views over Brussels accompany the visit, reinforcing this impression of lightness and elegance. The building is not merely a backdrop: it fully contributes to the experience, giving music a setting worthy of its richness and diversity.

An exceptional collection from around the world

Across four floors, the MIM reveals a collection of more than 8,000 instruments, spanning every era and culture. Ancient or contemporary, scholarly or popular, Western or folk instruments: the route takes visitors from one continent to another and from one century to the next, without ever losing its thread.

Among the treasures on display, some are particularly fascinating, such as the oldest preserved saxophone, a rare testimony to the history of this iconic instrument. The Ruckers harps and keyboards, remarkable for their finesse, illustrate the exceptional craftsmanship and musical refinement of past centuries. Each display case tells a story: that of a sound, a use, a culture.

The diversity of shapes, materials and mechanisms is as surprising as it is captivating. Visitors discover sometimes little-known instruments, with unexpected silhouettes, awakening curiosity and inviting an inner listening.

An immersive visit to hear as much as to see

One of the great strengths of the MIM lies in its immersive audio tour. Thanks to an individual listening system, each instrument can be heard at the very moment it is observed. The sounds naturally accompany the gaze, bringing the displayed objects to life.

This sonic dimension transforms the visit into a true sensory experience. The galleries come alive subtly, without ever becoming overwhelming. Visitors move from a delicate timbre to a powerful resonance, from distant music to a familiar melody. Even without musical knowledge, one is carried away by the vibrations, rhythms and contrasts.

The museum thus succeeds in making music universal and accessible, appealing as much to emotion as to intellect.

Opening times

Tuesday to Friday: 9.30 - 17.00 • Saturdays and Sundays: 10.00 - 17.00 • Closed on Mondays, 1/01, 1/05, 1/11, 11/11 and 25/12.

Price

(Audio guide included) adults €15 • 65+ €13 • children and students (0-18 years) free of charge

Tour length

1.5 hrs • Audio guide in EN, FR, NL

Group

Price (min. 15 people) adults €13 • children and students (0-18 years) free of charge

Guided tour EN, FR, NL, DE (subject to prior booking, +32 2 741 73 02)

More information • Paying car park: Congrès-Albertine.

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