Top 100 best museums in Belgium

The Bruges ‘stadshallen’ and Belfry are protected monuments and recognized as world heritage. On the top floor, visitors can enjoy a view over Bruges and its surroundings. In addition, the clock mechanism of the carillon with 47 bells can be viewed. The treasury can also be visited where in the past

The In Flanders Fields Museum is housed in the Cloth Hall of Ypres. The museum is dedicated to the First World War and focuses on the personal stories in the larger story of the conflict that partly determined world history. The permanent exhibition highlights the leading up to the war, the invasion

The MAS – Museum Aan de Stroom is housed in a tall building with a spiral tower of 62 meters high and offers a beautiful panorama of Antwerp. The museum brings art and heritage of the city, the ‘stroom’, the harbor and the world together. The MAS unites the following various collections: the former

The Museum of the Holy Blood tells the story of the relic of the Holy Blood that Count Thierry of Alsace is said to have brought with him from the Holy Land (1150). Showpiece of the museum is the reliquary of the Holy Blood, made by the Bruges goldsmith Jan Crabbe (1617), with thirty kilos of gold a

The Mim (Musical Instrument Museum) is housed in an 1899 Art Nouveau building. The museum displays a collection of some 1,500 musical instruments. There are also sound recordings from antiquity to the present day. Mechanical and the 20th-century instruments and bells are displayed underground. On th

The Horta Museum is dedicated to the Belgian architect Victor Horta (1861-1947). The museum is located in this architect's private home and studio, which have been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2000. The interior of the museum consists of 11 half floors around a narrow central staircase. The mu

The Royal Museum of the Army and Military History is dedicated to ten centuries of military history. The common thread is the history of Belgium from the 18th century through World War II, but other countries are also featured. The collection includes uniforms, weapons, flags, pennants and badges of

Six centuries of Belgian visual arts in one location, with work by Flemish primitives such as Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and Gerard David, neo-classicism by Joseph Odevaere and Joseph Ducq, Flemish expressionism, and 20th century modern art by René Magritte, Roger Raveel, Raoul De Keyser.

The Ghent Cloth Hall is a building that was used as a trading and stacking place for cloth in the Middle Ages. The building also houses the museum of the Guild of St. Michael - a fencing museum.

The Town Hall of Bruges is one of the oldest town halls in the Low Countries that was completed in 1421. It served as a model for many other town halls. The Gothic room was created in its present form between 1895 and 1905 after a fire in 1887. Construction components also serve as decoration: medal

The Bastogne War Museum is a memorial dedicated to World War II in Belgium. It places the causes, events and consequences of World War II in a modern context, with special attention to the Battle of the Bulge.

Autoworld is located in the halls of the Jubilee Park. Through 250 vehicles of various origins, the museum shows the development of the automobile. The collection exhibited by Autoworld ranges from horse-drawn carriages to sports cars from the 1960s, from motorcycles with a rich past to the represen

The Red Star Line Museum is dedicated to the historic transatlantic migration from Europe to America, on the transport company Red Star Line and the transit port of Antwerp. The museum focuses on the stories of the Red Star Line passengers. Visitors travel with the passengers in the museum, as it we

Bourgogne des Flandres is a unique Belgian beer that is brewed in the heart of Bruges, in the province of West Flanders. This beer has a rich history and is known for its distinctive taste. The Bourgogne des Flandres Brewery, where the beer is brewed, is located in the historic center of Bruges, making it a significant part of the city's heritage.

The Rubenshuis is open! From now on, all visits start at 13, Hopland, where the brand-new building by Robbrecht en Daem architects is your gateway to the Rubens Experience, the library, and the lush, replanted Baroque garden. This verdant urban oasis also has a superb view of Rubens’s home. The his

In the MOOF - Museum Of Original Figurines, visitors get to know more than 650 figures as well as original objects.

Ghent City Museum (STAM) is housed in the 14th-century Bijloke Abbey. The museum depicts the story of Ghent with more than 300 collection pieces and interactive multimedia. Visitors take a journey through time. The story begins with the growth and prosperity of the medieval city. The modern city of

The Hergé Museum is housed in a building designed by French architect Christian de Portzamparc and is dedicated to the Belgian cartoonist Hergé, which is mainly known for The Adventures of Tintin. The museum features more than 80 original drawings, 800 photographs, documents and objects. Hergé is no

The Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum is located on the protected Provincial Domain of Raversijde. It features sixty structures, positions, bunkers and batteries, from the two world wars connected by open and underground passages. It is one of the best preserved remnants of the Atlantic Wall in Europe.

The Gallo-Roman Museum is located at a place where a Roman villa was situated in the past. The museum displays a collection of artefacts from arrowheads to coins that provide an overview from prehistory to the Merovingian period. The showpiece of the museum is the treasure of Ambiorix, 94 coins that

The Natural Science Museum of Belgium has a large collection of about 36 million pieces, of which fifteen million insects and nine million other invertebrates. In addition, the museum displays minerals and moon rocks, dinosaurs and mammoths, whale skeletons, shells and the Neanderthal man Spy. Speci

The Musée Magritte Museum (MMM) is located in the Altenloh Hotel, a neo-classical building designed in the 19th century by Alphonse Balat. The museum is dedicated to oeuvre, thought and life of Belgian surrealist painter Magritte. The museum displays more than 200 works by his hand.

Pay us a visit and experience an unforgettable day in the Train World universe. You will discover the most beautiful and unique pieces of the history of the Belgian railroads. We combine the fascinating story of the train through the ages with a glimpse of the future. Attention: last admission at 3:

St. Bavo's Cathedral Ghent is characterized by a collection of religiously inspired art accumulated over centuries. The oldest objects date from the 8th century, the youngest from the 20th century. A showpiece is the "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb," a work by brothers Jan and Hubrecht Van Eyck.

Museum Plantin-Moretus is the only museum in the world that is on the Unesco World Heritage List. It is a combination of a patrician house from the 16th to 18th century, a printing company that was founded in 1550 and active until the 19th century, a collection of art and a collection of manuscripts

Open air museum Bokrijk consists of reconstructed and furnished buildings, and small buildings from different areas and periods in Flanders, from sty to clergy houses. The collection includes 30,000 pieces of heritage that together illustrate daily life of the 17th century to 1950. Visitors experien

Museum of Fine Arts Ghent is one of the oldest museums in Belgium. The museum displays a collection of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, drawings and graphics. It owns two works by Hieronymus Bosch and etchings of James Ensor. In addition, it displays works by Maarten Van Heemskerck, Pieter Breughe

A unique space ! Opposite St. Waudru's Collegiate Church, discover an exceptional museum of decorative arts (1775-1825) with a multicultural, humanist and educational approach, and featuring not only a prestigious collection of clocks, unique in the world, but also majestic French gilt bronzes, sup

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 is housed in a castle that was devastated during World War. In 1925 it was rebuilt in Norman style. The museum illustrates the five battles at Ypres. Visitors walk into a German trench, descend into a British six meter deep dugout with headquarters, a communication

Kazerne Dossin is linked to the history of the Holocaust in Belgium. Between 1942 and 1944, the Nazis used the Dossin barracks as an assembly camp to gather Jews and Gypsies. From here, 25,484 Jews and 352 Gypsies left for Auschwitz- Birkenau. The museum tells the story of the persecution of Jews an

The Van Buuren Museum is a "house museum," a 1928 Dutch-style art deco home furnished by several reputable interior designers, decorators and the owners: banker and patron David van Buuren and his wife Alice. The museum also features a collection of paintings from the 15th to the 20th century. Among

The Hôpital Notre-Dame à la Rose was founded in 1242 as a shelter for the poor and sick. It is one of the last examples of a self-sustaining hospital with farm, gardens, ice cellar and cemetery, in addition to the convent buildings and hospital. The museum has some 800 pieces of pewter, Brussels and

Le Bois du Cazier is dedicated to Wallonia's industrial past. The three industrial sectors that made the Charleroi region great are featured in the museum: the steel, coal and glass industries. Workshops allow visitors to see how metal is worked and glass is made.

The Liberty of Bruges is a country house from 1726 to 1795 where the seat of the government of the ‘Brugse Vrije’ was. It was built on the place where the second residence of the Count was situated. Since the late 18th century to 1984, the court was housed here. Now the City Archives have found a ho

The Church of Our Lady is a Gothic church from the 13th to 15th century. The collection of treasures includes twelve apostle sculptures that support the pillars, paintings by Jacques-Louis David, Bernard van Orley, Adriaan Isenbrandt, Pieter Pourbus and Gaspar de Crayer and the rococo pulpit with sy

The Jesuits built the Baroque church of St. Charles Borromeo between 1615 and 1621. Rubens had an important share in the decoration of the facade and the crowning of the tower.The apse of the main altar, the Marian chapel and the sculptures and carvings still testify to the former splendor.

Embark on a mind-bending adventure at the Museum of Illusions Brussels. Nestled in the heart of the city, the Museum of Illusions is an interactive exhibition that's a must-visit sight for thrill-seekers of all ages. Dive into a whirlwind of excitement with a 1-hour entry ticket. Your visit to th

Technopolis is the Flemish do-center for science and technology. Through more than 300 interactive exhibits, visitors experience science and technology. In the museum you can feel, try and experiment yourself. Some examples are cycling on a cable at a height of 5 meters, landing an airplane yourself

Experience Centre - Beguinage of Kortrijk illustrates the living environment of the beguines. Beguinage Kortrijk is one of the 13 Flemish beguinages that is part of the world heritage. It includes 41 houses that date from the 17th century. The experience centre is located in the Sint-Annazaal, which

The Mercator was the training ship for the officers of the Belgian merchant marine from 1932 to 1960. Now the ship is anchored in the marina in front of Ostend City Hall and is maintained in its original condition.

The Atomium has a permanent exhibition called: 'Atomium. From symbol to icon' which tells the story of more than 50 years of history of a pavilion that has become the symbol of Brussels and Belgium. It covers the history of the Atomium. Next, it tells the story of its decline in the late 1990s befor

Gaasbeek Castle is a medieval castle that has had an eventful history. The castle evolved from a strategic stronghold to a large estate. One of the most famous owners was the Earl of Egmont. The visitor walks in the Gaasbeek Castle through historical interiors, where tapestries, paintings, furniture

The Curtius Museum (Musée Le Grand Curtius) is a museum of archaeology and decorative arts. The building that houses the museum was a private mansion for Jean Curtius, a Belgian manufacturer who provided gunpowder to the Spanish army. It was built somewhere between 1597 and 1610 in the typical regio

In the Volkskundemuseum (Museum of Folk Life) you learn about ordinary daily life in Bruges in the 19th and early 20th centuries. You enter an old classroom, an old pharmacy, a tailor’s workshop, a confectionery store, or grocery store. Time seems to have stood still in these restored labourer's dwe

To visit Meise Botanic Garden is to enjoy plant growth and blossoms, fragrance and colour, opulence and variety – at any time of the year. 20,000 plant species from all over the world grow in a large, green oasis of 92 hectares, either outside in the domain, or inside in one of our iconic glasshouse

The Mons Memorial Museum covers three periods: the period 1830-1914; the Great War: 1914-1918 and World War II: 1940-1945. It displays collection pieces related to these three periods.

The Snijders&Rockoxhuis is an early-17th-century historic building. Nicolaas Rockox (1560 - 1640) bought the property in 1603. The museum is located on the ground floor which is a good example of 17th-century Flemish living culture. The collection includes furniture, sculpture, porcelain, pottery an

René Magritte House-Museum is located in the house where the Belgian surrealist painter worked from 1930 to 1954. The museum features the painter's old apartment as well as a biographical exhibition dedicated to the painter.

Museum Dr. Guislain is housed in the former Hospice Guislain from 1857, the first institution in Belgium specifically built for the treatment of the mentally ill. Dr. Guislain was a pioneer in that field. The museum shows the history of psychiatry and 'madness'. A photo collection illustrates life i

The Museum of St. Salvator's Cathedral is housed in the 1912 neo-Gothic chapter house. The museum displays objects from St. Salvator's Church, the demolished St. Donaas Church and the monasteries abolished in the French era. Visitors walk through some 13 centuries of art history, from early Romanesq

During the dark days of the Great War, Pop was the first stop behind hell. The city became the beating heart of the British war machine known as Petit Paris. Talbot House, set up as an Every Man’s Club by Padre Tubby Clayton, quickly became the place to be. Through his famous notices (“To Pessimists

Museum Félicien Rops is housed in a bourgeois house from the early 18th century. The museum is dedicated to the Belgian graphic artist, painter and caricaturist Félicien Rops (1833 - 1898). It provides an overview of all aspects of the artist and his work. Among other things, the museum pays attenti

Museum Mayer van den Bergh shows artefacts collected by Belgian art collector and art historian Fritz Mayer van den Bergh. His collection consists of more than 3,000 artefacts. The museum displays paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, drawings and tapestries. Among others, the museum displays work by

One of Europe's oldest preserved hospital buildings with masterpieces by the Flemish primitive Hans Memling and surprising contemporary artworks by artists such as Berlinde De Bruyckere and Patricia Piccinini. The Museum St John’s Hospital extends a warm welcome to all of its visitors. Step inside

The Treasury of Tongeren Basilica features objects of religious art from the Merovingian period to the 19th century. The Basilica of Our Lady itself is a fine example of Gothic architecture. The collection in the treasury includes gospel books from the 11th century onward, reliquaries and shrines, t

The Middelheimmuseum is an open air museum with some 400 works of art. It provides an international overview of modern and contemporary art in the park, ‘Het Huis’, ‘het Kasteel’ and the ‘Braempaviljoen’. Among others, the museum displays works by Carl Andre, Jean Arp, Wim Delvoye, Alberto Giacomett

The National Fisheries Museum Oostduinkerke (Navigo) is devoted to the history of the Flemish sea and coastal fisheries. The museum also covers beach fishing and shrimpers on horseback. The collection is exhibited in various decors and interactively accessible. The collection seeks to unite heritage

Hopmuseum Poperinge is located on the ‘stadsschaalcomplex’ where hop used to be weighed, inspected and stacked. The museum illustrates the history of the hop plant, field works, hop harvest and the various applications of hop. The collection of the museum includes authentic hop tools, historical doc

Design museum Gent is housed in the 18th-century Hotel de Coninck. The collection of the museum mainly consists of modern and contemporary design objects from 1860 to now. The objects that were created before 1860 form the basis for the modern and contemporary design. The old museum collection mainl

Photography Museum Charleroi (Musée de la Photographie) is housed in a former Carmel in neo-Gothic style. The museum houses more than 60,000 images and 2,500 devices. The museum covers the entire history of photography, from the pioneers to contemporary artists along pictorialists, modernists, surre

MIAT (Museum about industry, labour and textile) illustrates the evolution of industrial society from 1750 to now. Periods covered are: the first Industrial Revolution, the rise of the machine, the evolution of the consumption and information society, the evolving technology and everyday life. Spec

M - Treasury of St. Peter is located in the choir of Leuven's St. Peter's Church, a fine example of 15th-century Brabant High Gothic. The collection consists of religious art, with paintings, silverware, furniture and sculptures, including a late Romanesque head of Christ. Also on display are two fa

The Paul Delvaux Museum is dedicated to the life and work of Belgian surrealist painter Paul Devaux (1897-1994). The museum displays the most important collection of his paintings, drawings and prints. In addition to the masterpieces, personal effects and treasured souvenirs are on display.

The Amandine (1960-1962) is Ostend's last Icelandic vessel. Once the Icelandic fleet numbered more than 80 ships, but in some 65 years some 25 perished. From 1974, this ship went fishing in the North for cod, but also haddock, red gurnard, red sea bream and plaice, among others. The Amandine is in d

The Our Lady of the Pottery Museum is housed in a historic hospital complex from the 13th century. The museum collection includes paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, stained glass, a silver collection, monastic and religious relics and healthcare items. The Gothic church with its baroque i

In the bunkers of Park den Brandt you can discover how during W.W.2 an important section of the enormous German Atlantikwall was commanded from them. Besides extensive information on the bunkers and Atlantikwall in general also the air war is given attention. Especially the technical aspects of the

The Lange Max Museum is a must-see place for the World War I tourist on the German side of the western frontline. In a brand new contemporary museum, the visitor learns all about the huge cannon that was designed to bombard Dunkirk and Ypres. The German occupation of Koekelare during the First World

Trésor de la Cathedrale de Liège is housed in the annexes of the monastery where art is displayed and the history of the former principality of Liège is illustrated. Most of the Treasure Room comes from the now-defunct 'Saint-Lambert' Cathedral, including two 11th-century sculpted ivory pieces and t

The House of Alijn is located in the Children Alijn Hospital, a former place of worship. The museum is dedicated to the popular culture in the 20th century. The basis of the collection is formed from the collection of the Museum of Folklore. The collection includes thousands of objects, documents, p

The Sunshine is a non-profit organization that provides lifetime sanctuary for abandoned, abused and neglected native & non-native wildlife that cannot be returned to the wild. Our goal is to provide lifetime sanctuary for all rescued animals with the care, safety and well-being of the animals as ou

The museum of the Folon Foundation is located in the farmstead of Terhulpen Castle. The foundation exhibits over 500 works by the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon (1934 - 2005). On display are watercolors, etchings, posters, and sculptures. The trail is additionally animated by music, films, and opt

Museum Vleeshuis is located in the Vleeshuis in Antwerp, a former guild house. The Museum focuses on 600 years of musical life in Antwerp. It highlights centuries of sound, music and dance. From ancient players, bells in the tower, music in theaters and opera, in churches, on kiosks and concert hall

The Museum of Natural History and Vivarium of Tournai (Musée d'histoire naturelle et vivarium de Tournai) is housed in a neoclassical building, with an 1839 gallery a large hall and a conservatory. The museum invites visitors to discover its historical past and the great diversity within the animal

The Royal Museum of Mariemont is located in a 45-hectare park that includes monumental sculptures and the ruins of Charles of Lorraine's palace. The museum's collection consists of objects from a donation made to the Belgian state by industrialist Raoul Warcqué. The collection includes pieces from c

The Folklore Museum in Tournai is housed in two buildings from the late 17th century. The museum is a treasure trove of memories of the city in which old trades are depicted. Among the museum's exhibits are those of the cobbler, the weaver, the cooper's and blacksmith's workshop, the tribal pub with

The Archéoforum de Liège is a monumental forum covering 3,725 square meters, making it the largest of its kind in Europe. Through both movable and immovable archaeological remains, it paints a picture of Liège's history, from Prehistory to the newest times. Among the remains of a Roman villa, the cr

Musée International du Carnaval et du Masque (International Carnival and Mask Museum) is devoted to carnival in Binche. But carnival in Wallonia and in the rest of Europe are also discussed in detail. The museum owns some 10,000 masks, costumes, musical instruments, puppets and posters.

The Arboretum Kalmthout is one of the oldest tree and plant gardens in Flanders. Arboretum Kalmthout features plants from all over the world. Within the plant collection, the witch hazels are the best known. The plant collections focus mainly on trees, shrubs and ornamental garden plants. All plants

The Antwerp Fotomuseum (FOMU) is one of the most prestigious photography museums in Europe. FOMU is recognised at home and abroad as a leading expert in the preservation and management of photographic heritage. The museum’s historical and contemporary collections enjoy worldwide renown. There are 3

The National Playing Card Museum is dedicated to the history of the playing card. Since the early 19th century cards are made in Turnhout and in the 20th century the city became the sole manufacturer of playing cards in the Low Countries. Besides the history, it also shows the production of playing

BOZAR - Palace of Fine Arts is an art center housed in a building designed by Art Deco architect Victor Horta that dates back to 1928. It hosts about 20 thematic or individual exhibitions of ancient or contemporary art each year. There are also concerts and space for contemporary theater and contemp

In the Historic Center Canal, visitors experience the hydraulic elevators that bridge a height difference of about 17 meters using one energy source: water. There is also the opportunity to take a ride on a tourist train and participate in tours of a machine hall.