Step into a 1899 Art Nouveau masterpiece where 1,500 musical instruments tell stories spanning from ancient civilizations to modern times, each voice waiting to be heard through innovative audio technology.

Welcome to the Mim, where Brussels' architectural heritage meets centuries of musical innovation. Nestled in one of the city's most stunning Art Nouveau buildings, this museum transforms the way visitors experience musical history.

Rather than simply displaying silent artifacts behind glass, the Mim invites you to hear the voices of instruments from every corner of the globe and every era of human creativity. With headphones that activate as you approach each display, the museum becomes a living concert hall where ancient lyres, medieval viols, and experimental 20th-century instruments speak directly to you.

From Royal Collection to Public Treasure

The Musical Instrument Museum traces its origins to the late 19th century when Belgium's royal collections began forming what would become one of Europe's most significant organological institutions. The museum found its perfect home in 1899 when architect Paul Saintenoy completed the Old England Building, a jewel of Art Nouveau design featuring ornate ironwork and sweeping curves.

The building itself narrowly escaped demolition in the 1970s, saved by preservationists who recognized its architectural importance. Today, the marriage of this historic structure with the museum's collection creates an experience where visitors journey through musical history while surrounded by period architecture.

A World of Musical Voices

The Mim's collection of 1,500 instruments spans continents and millennia. In the underground galleries, mechanical instruments and carillons demonstrate how music-making became automated, while 20th-century experimental instruments show the radical reimagining of sound.

The first floor celebrates global diversity, displaying Belgian bagpipes alongside Indonesian gamelans and African drums. The second floor offers a chronological journey from ancient Greek lyres through Renaissance lutes to Baroque harpsichords, culminating in a dedicated space for keyboard and string instruments where Stradivarius violins share space with early pianofortes. Each instrument can be heard through the museum's innovative audio system.

Hearing is Believing

What sets the Mim apart is its revolutionary approach to visitor experience. Upon entry, guests receive wireless headphones that automatically play recordings as they approach different instruments. This infrared technology means you hear a medieval shawm or a Japanese koto in action, transforming static displays into living performances.

The building's rooftop restaurant offers panoramic views across Brussels, providing a perfect intermission during your visit. The architectural details of the Art Nouveau structure are themselves exhibits, with sinuous ironwork and flowing organic forms that seem to echo the curves of cellos and the bells of brass instruments throughout the galleries.

Mim - Musical instruments museum Highlights & Tips

• Underground Mechanical Marvels The basement galleries showcase self-playing instruments and Belgium's famous carillon bells, demonstrating centuries of automated music-making.
• Interactive Audio Experience Wireless headphones activate automatically as you approach each display, letting you hear authentic recordings of ancient and rare instruments.
• World Music Gallery The first floor features an impressive collection of non-European instruments, from Asian string instruments to African percussion.
• Art Nouveau Architecture The Old England Building itself is a masterpiece of 1899 Art Nouveau design with ornate ironwork and period details throughout.
• Rooftop Restaurant Views Take a break at the top-floor restaurant for stunning panoramic views across Brussels' historic cityscape.
• Allow Plenty of Time Plan for at least 2-3 hours to fully explore all floors and listen to the instrument recordings at your own pace.
• Start from the Top Some visitors prefer beginning on the upper floors and working down, ending with the dramatic mechanical instruments in the basement.
• Central Location The museum is located in central Brussels near the Royal Palace and other major attractions, making it easy to combine with other sightseeing.

The Mim represents museum innovation at its finest, proving that historical collections need not remain silent relics of the past. By combining cutting-edge audio technology with one of Brussels' most beautiful buildings, it creates an immersive journey through humanity's universal language of music.

Whether you are a musician seeking inspiration, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about how cultures worldwide have created sound, the Mim offers discoveries at every turn. The museum reminds us that instruments are not just objects but voices waiting to sing their stories across the centuries.