Coudenberg Palace
Brussels
0.00 Km 00:00
BELvue Museum
The BELvue Museum is a perfect place if you like understanding a country through its objects, its ideas and its everyday stories. An ideal visit with family, as a couple or solo, to take a curious and nuanced look at Belgium, in the very heart of Brussels.
- Monday : Closed
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Information
BELvue Museum – Understanding Belgium, past and present, through objects and ideas
The BELvue Museum is an ideal gateway to understanding Belgium—its history, its contradictions, its achievements and the elements that shape its identity today. Located in the heart of Brussels, just steps from the Royal Palace and the Mont des Arts, the museum offers a lively and accessible immersion into Belgian history. Here, the story goes beyond dates: visitors explore a society, its values, debates and symbols through familiar—and sometimes surprising—objects.
From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere feels unique. Housed in a magnificent 18th-century building, once a luxury hotel and later a princely residence, BELvue blends historic elegance with contemporary exhibition design. Light pours in through the glass roof, and the garden offers a peaceful pause—creating a true oasis of calm in the middle of the city.
Seven themes to tell the story of a society
The visit is structured around seven major social themes that guide visitors through Belgium’s past and present. Democracy, prosperity, solidarity, pluralism, languages and Europe are among the topics explored—subjects that still resonate strongly today. The modern, engaging scenography makes these complex themes accessible without oversimplifying them.
Moving from room to room feels like turning the pages of an open book, where each chapter reveals a different aspect of Belgian life. The museum invites visitors to reflect, compare, sometimes smile and often question. It speaks both to Belgians curious about their own society and to travellers eager to understand the spirit of the country.
A timeline told through everyday objects
Along the corridors, a gallery of more than 200 Belgian objects forms a fascinating timeline from 1830 to today. Displayed chronologically, these items tell history in a different way. They reflect culture, sport, folklore, industry, inventions, fashion and above all everyday life.
Visitors encounter a saxophone, a waffle iron, pears, an Art Nouveau balustrade, Val Saint-Lambert crystal vases, a stool from Expo 58, and references to Tintin, The Smurfs, Jacques Brel and Georges Simenon. A Magritte lithograph, Christmas ornaments, a mille-croquette , a food mill, and biscuit tins decorated with the royal family also appear along the way. Familiar or unexpected, these objects often spark a knowing smile: this is Belgium.
A museum that is accessible, lively and family-friendly
BELvue also stands out for its openness and accessibility. All content is available in four languages—French, Dutch, English and German—and the free audio guide can be accessed directly on a smartphone, with no app download required. This simple solution allows visitors to tailor their experience easily.
Families are especially welcome. Treasure hunts designed for children aged 3 to 12 offer a playful way to explore the museum, with a different game for each age group. It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy culture together without pressure—especially since entry is free for visitors under 18.
The museum also offers combined tickets that include access to the archaeological site of Coudenberg, allowing visitors to extend their exploration of Brussels and discover another fascinating layer of the city’s hidden history.
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Maestro
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Reduced mobility visitors
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92, 93 (Royale, Palais)
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Parc (1, 5) Trône , Porte de Namur (2, 6)
Opening times
Tuesday to Friday: 9.30 - 17.00 • Weekends + July and August: 10.00 - 18.00 • Closed on Mondays (except for groups), 1/01, 21/07 and 25/12
Price
• BELvue: adults €10 - 65+ €8 - students (18-25), jobseekers, disabled €5 - children (<18) free of charge • BELvue + Coudenberg: adults €18 - 65+ €14 - students (18-25), jobseekers, disabled €8 - children (<18) free of charge
Guided tour
Free audio guide on your own smartphone (EN, FR, NL, DE, IT)
Tour length
1.5 hrs • Free audio guide on your own smartphone (EN, FR, NL, DE)
Group
Price (min. 15 people) BELvue €8 • BELvue + Coudenberg €14 • Free of charge for schools
Guided tour (subject to prior booking) Guided or thematic tours, workshops and educational activities. More information at www.belvue.be
More information • www.belvue.be > prepare your tour > groups • groups@belvue.be
The BELvue is a museum about our flat country, but not just that! It's also a centre for democracy, with a host of permanent and temporary events. And over 200 objects from Belgium's past and present. Experience a 100% belgian day out when you go with the sncb.
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Experience this heritage escapade by train at a democratic price: buy your tickets for the BELvue and get a 50% discount with the discovery ticket!
Buy your e-ticket at https://www.belvue.be/ and add a free discovery ticket voucher to your shopping basket.
Look for the discovery ticket code on your BELvue e-ticket: it's a 16-character code.
Order your discovery ticket here.
Print out your discovery ticket or show the pdf on your smartphone screen when you check in on the train.
Enjoy your journey to BELvue!
Take advantage of the Discovery Ticket offer!
Weather in Brussels
Events
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Opening times
01/09/2021 - 31/08/2026: * monday: closed * tuesday, wednesday, thursday and friday: from 09:30 to 17:00 * saturday and sunday: from 10:30 to 18:00
LE MUSÉE BELVUE QUI S’EXPORTE CHEZ VOUS.
"BELvue sur roulettes" se compose de quatre valises remplies d’objets historiques et contemporains sur lesquelles on peut travailler en groupe. Chaque objet sert de point de départ à une conversation, évoque des souvenirs, crée de l’inspiration et rassemble les gens autour de différentes histoires. L’objectif des valises est de créer du lien entre les participant·es en écoutant, en partageant, en apprenant les un·es des autres… Chaque valise a été développée selon une thématique spécifique et pour un groupe cible particulier :
• « Plutôt vintage, moderne ou rétro ? » : une valise au contenu intergénérationnel qui vise à favoriser les échanges entre les seniors et les jeunes hors du cadre scolaire. Cette valise s’adresse aux personnes âgées de 7 à 99 ans, aux familles, aux maisons de repos, de quartiers et de jeunes, aux mouvements de jeunesse, …
• « La Belgique pour les débutant·es » : une valise qui est le point de départ idéal pour faire découvrir aux novices quelques objets de prédilection, typiques ou inventés par des Belges. Cette valise est destinée aux personnes qui apprennent le français (FLE, DASPA) ou le néerlandais (NT2, OKAN).
• « Histoires d'ici et d'ailleurs » : une valise destinée aux écoles qui souhaitent explorer la thématique de la migration à travers diverses histoires sur des personnes d’ici et d’ailleurs. Cette valise est destinée aux classes de la 5ème primaire à la 2ème secondaire.
• « Capsule temporelle » : une capsule, basée sur le concept d’une boîte à souvenirs qui fera voyager les personnes âgées dans le temps en utilisant des objets de la vie quotidienne passée. Ces objets font référence aux loisirs, aux jeux de société, au sport et à la musique. La boîte est destinée aux personnes âgées, aux maisons de repos, aux centres de jour, …
Informations pratiques
Ces animations sont réalisées en autonomie (sans animateur·rice du BELvue). L'animation est réalisée par vos soins par la personne de votre choix.
Dimensions des valises : bagage cabine (55x45x25cm)
Durée de l'animation : 1h30-2h/valise. Ceci varie en fonction du groupe et du nombre d'activités réalisées.
La préparation de l'animation est vivement conseillée. Tous les documents sont téléchargeables en ligne.
La location est gratuite, seuls les frais de transport sont à votre charge.
La réservation doit être réalisée minimum deux semaines avant.
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Price
Groupe: 140,00 €
Dès la fin des années 40, les Italiens ont influencé notre histoire et notre vie de tous les jours, et pas seulement pour les pâtes et le Chianti !...
E-Guides, en collaboration avec le nouveau musée BELvue, vous propose un parcours pédestre dans le centre de Bruxelles, incluant deux salles du musée pour comprendre cette immigration et pour évoquer les Italiens connus ou anonymes qui ont marqué de leur empreinte notre quotidien ou celui de nos ancêtres.
Informations pratiques
Parcours pédestre, tout public
Prix: 140€ + 2€/pers (visite de 2 salles au musée BELvue)
Durée : 3h max.
Départ : Musée BELvue ou Bourse (à convenir)
Arrivée : Bourse ou musée BELvue (à convenir)
Infos et réservations via E-Guides : +32 (0) 499 21 39 85, info@e-guides.be
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Opening times
01/01/2026 - 31/12/2026: * monday: closed * tuesday, wednesday, thursday and friday: from 09:30 to 17:00 * saturday and sunday: from 10:00 to 18:00
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Price
Normal: 10,00 €
Every Wednesday afternoon and every 1st Sunday of the month, admission to the BELvue museum is free for all visitors. There is no need to purchase a ticket in advance for this.
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Opening times
01/01/2026 - 31/12/2026: * monday: closed * tuesday, wednesday, thursday and friday: from 09:30 to 17:00 * saturday and sunday: from 10:00 to 18:00
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Price
Normal: 18,00 €
For this type of tickets, you can purchase a maximum of 200 tickets. Are you over 18 and have a Museumpass or a Brussels Card ? All you have to do is present it at the museum counter without having to buy a ticket here. Do you want to come by train? Choose your ticket with "" SNCB "" in the title and benefit from a reduction for your train trip! This promotion does not apply to free tickets or to free temporary exhibitions.
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Opening times
01/07/2026 - 30/08/2026: * monday: closed * tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday and sunday: from 10:00 to 18:00
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Price
Enfants: 1,00 €
No holiday plans yet? Or starting to feel a bit bored? No worries – every day is full of fun at the BELvue Museum! Go on an interactive adventure through the museum with one of our game tours.
Game tours
- Mimi & Momo (ages 3-5) | Go on a treasure hunt with Mimi & Momo! Look for hidden objects and learn to recognize colours while playing. A sensory experience where – yes, just this once – you're allowed to touch the objects.
- I'm the minister! (ages 6-8) | Time to run Belgium! Step into the shoes of a minister, complete your missions, and collect medals. A role-playing game where you’ll discover all about Belgium and its history.
- Marmaille&Co Fun Bag (ages 6-12) | Go on an adventure with Mani the spider! Roll the dice, tell stories, and explore the museum in a fun and interactive way. A great activity for young and old alike.
- Are you our superhero? (ages 8-12) | Belgian superheroes need your help! Use your imagination and voice, take on the challenges, and earn your own hero medal.
- On the road with Zeno (ages 9-12) | Join Zeno the explorer on a mission! Crack the secret code and learn more about Belgium and its history while having fun.
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Price
Normal: 10,00 €
This summer, the BELvue exceptionally reopens its roof to the public. Come and admire one of the most beautiful views of Brussels from the roof of the BELvue museum. During the visit, guides will take you on a historical, architectural and contemporary journey. The BELvue, the beautiful buildings that surround it, the Brussels Park and their little and big stories will no longer hold any secrets for you.
The visits are organised in small groups of a maximum of 6 people. For safety reasons, children are only admitted from 13 years old.
Timing:
EN: 16:30, NL: 14:00, FR: 15:15
Important: To make the most of this unique walk and avoid damaging the roof, we ask you to wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes with rubber soles that allow you to step easily over a few obstacles. To get to the roof, you will need to climb a few stairs and stand firmly on your feet.
