Historic houses 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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 Halle Gate is the only preserved city gate in Brussels. This 14th-century city gate tells the life story of the gate and that of the walled city. Stories of contrived plans and coincidences and of alliances and conflicts reveal how Brussels was protected from attack during the Middle Ages and th

Abby Kortrijk is a playful, accessible and multi-voiced museum of visual arts. Together with a diverse network of organisations, artists and communities, and with art as a universal language, we explore what defines and connects us as human beings across borders, generations and cultures.

The Autrique House is the first truly striking house by Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta. The house is an important benchmark of Art Nouveau, with elements that characterize the architect and his quest.

The Beghina 1660 Beguinage Museum includes an authentic 1660 beguine house. The museum is dedicated to the world of the beguines.

The Stedelijk Museum Hoogstraten is located in the Beguinage. The museum is dedicated to the heritage of Hoogstraten with a focus on city history and prehistory. The museum provides an overview of the city's history from 1210 to the present. The archaeological site 'Meirberg' is an important Stone A

Immerse yourself in the heart of the Brussels City Hall and let yourself be transported back through the centuries thanks to an interactive experience. As soon as you arrive on the magnificent Grand-Place, you'll be captivated by the imposing silhouette of this emblematic building, a veritable jewel

The National Bank of Belgium houses its museum in a magnificent nineteenth-century bank building. This is the perfect backdrop to get acquainted with the activities of a European central bank and the history of money. Use the audio guide to visit the museum (free) and test your knowledge of the Eur

Open Air Museum Bachten De Kupe is a reconstructed farming village from the Westhoek. The museum consists of 46 authentic buildings and thousands of objects that revive the life of the past. A Houtland farmstead with all the trimmings is part of it: the house, the carriage house, the stables, a baki

The Cauchie House is the home of Belgian painter-decorator and architect Paul Cauchie (1875 - 1952). The building dates back to 1905, was built in Art Nouveau style and is best known for the large sgraffito on its facade. It is considered one of the finest realizations of art nouveau in Brussels.

Hospital Museum St. Dimpna is located in the old hospital and monastic buildings of the Augustinians, of which the oldest parts date back to the 15th century. In the museum, the visitor learns about the everyday life in a hospital and the life of the hospital sisters. Also the memories of Saint Dymp

The Maison de Toone is simultaneously a typical estaminet with its Spanish pink brick walls, blackened beams and tiled floor, and a puppet theatre in the attic, with its wooden benches, festooned, multicoloured cushions nailed into the raw wood planks, a workshop that manufactures puppets, a library

The Heritage Centre | Sisters of Charity preserves and tells the history of the Sisters of Charity and their achievements in the field of education, health care, and welfare. By extension, we tell the story of women religious in general, of their life behind the convent walls, and of the pioneeri

At the request of King Leopold II, Henri Maquet designed these Venetian Galleries in 1900. It is a covered connection between the royal chalet and a large salon. When the royal family no longer used its residence by the sea, the city of Ostend received the complex under concession. Today, the Veneti

The Folklore and Beguinage Museum is located in the 1288 beguinage of Dendermonde. The museum is dedicated to everyday life of the late 19th and early 20th centuries: household, living, work, leisure. The museum includes three old houses: a small dwelling converted into a beguinage, the infirmary an

The Zwijveke Museum is housed in outbuildings of the former Cistercian Abbey of Zwijveke. The museum is devoted to local history from the French period to the present and displays cultural-historical objects from the 19th and 20th centuries. Various events and figures, politics and culture, justice

The Museum of the 18th Century is located in the Palace of Charles of Lorraine, the residence of the governor general of the Austrian Netherlands from 1744 to 1780. Charles of Lorraine was a lover of both art and science. The museum tells of the noblemen's comforts, their ostentation, their leisure

Want to learn more about the history of the city of Dendermonde? Then the meat house museum is a must. In the attic you stand eye to eye with the oldest inhabitant of the city: a real mammoth. Regional finds from prehistoric times can also be found here. The second floor provides a fascinating overv

The city palace of the lords of Gruuthuse is now an absolute highlight after a thorough restoration. The gables look magnificent. Renovated halls, a new museum concept, and special collection items are just waiting to be rediscovered. Gruuthusemuseum takes you to three crucial periods in the rich hi

The Court of Busleyden is one of the buildings in Mechelen that dates back to the early 16th century. It was commissioned by Hieronymus of Busleyden, a member of the Great Council. Jeroen van Busleyden was also the founder of the Collegium Trilingue at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, breeding gr

The Mining Museum Beringen is located on the former mining site of Beringen. The museum is dedicated to mine mining. A reconstructed pillar shows the work in the underground and a model with sound and light shows the operation of the above-ground mine.

Fort Liezele is one of the best-preserved armored forts of the Fortress of Antwerp dating back to 1906. The museum paints a picture of how a garrison of 350 men lived and worked. A historic multimedia presentation is shown in an ammunition magazine. The museum rooms contain a collection of equipment

In 2017 and 2025 renewed interactive experience centre, about Father Damien. He was sent to the Hawaiian Islands where he worked on the island of Molokai in the segregated colony for sufferers of Hansen's disease (leprosy), a terrible, contagious and incurable disease in those days. He spent the res

't Gasthuys - Urban Museum Aalst is located in the Oud-Hospitaal, the oldest core of the city. The museum is a historic building in the center. The new display 'DNAalst' tells the story of city and region through 8 themes. There is also a focus on carnival, Valerius De Saedeleer and priest Daens.

The Brouwershuis was built in the 16th century by noted architect Gilbert van Schoonbeke. It was never actually a brewery, but the breweries nearby were supplied with water from the Brouwershuis.

The Faber Mill is a water and flour mill built in 1729. The mill consists of four floors: the engine room, grinding chairs, sifting room and attic.

The Romanesque tower of Amay, also called tower of Waroux dates from the 12th century. The tower is made of coal-bearing sandstone and is 15.60 meters high. The tower served as a watchtower for the procurators who were supposed to guard the principality.

The Hertboom Mill Museum shows how the mill has lived and continues to live. There are maps and documents about the mill, as well as songs, legends and tall tales.

A 19th century residence that traces the way of life (until around 1950) of this region of Famenne on the ground sorely lacking in resources. Local craftsmanship is widely represented there. The building houses a creperie, you can also discover (by reservation) the local cuisine. The museum, made up

In the museum, you will discover the history of the Geuzenhoek, the Protestant community in and around Horebeke from 1550 to the present. What was life like throughout the centuries in this enclave? And what is happening in the Protestant church today? In addition, the history of the Protestant scho

Since 1833... Did you know that De Korhaan is one of the oldest active distilleries in Belgium? This means there is a lot to discover behind its authentic walls. Experience via Augmented Reality the origins of De Korhaan through the new interactive center that will open its doors on November 1,

Xpo Center Bruges programs exhibitions on art, culture, science. The exhibitions take place in a piece of Bruges' heritage: the former Saint John's Hospital.

On the Hunnegem site, several museums are housed; The Museum Huge is housed in Hunnegem's Romanesque church and in the adjacent neo-Gothic Pax Hall. Besides the genesis of the town and the monastic community, specific themes are highlighted; monastic life, Marian devotion, Benedict, education, the

The Ansembourg Museum is housed in the House of Ansembourg, an old private mansion built around 1740. The museum paints a picture of aristocratic life during the Enlightenment period. The building still has its original interior, including furniture, carpets, Venetian glass chandeliers and ceramic w

In Museum Poorterswoning the visitor lands in the time of the Middle Ages. The private museum is housed in a building that dates back to 1533. Accompanied by a guide, the visitor experiences how the wealthy Antwerp burgher lived and lived.

The Hooy Kaye Museum is located in the only remaining 17th-century warehouse on the lost docks of the old Brussels harbor. The museum seeks to create a platform where art lovers and artists can meet.

At Musée communal Georges Mulpas, visitors will discover, among other things, what a classroom looked like in the early 20th century and what ancient materials and techniques craftsmen used.

Archives and Museum of Flemish Student Life paints a picture of student life and the student movement in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Collections of the CPAS (Public Center for Social Welfare) include Brabant sculptures, Brussels tapestries, paintings by Brussels masters. There is also medical material and testimonies about life in hospitals.

Clock Museum Huis Michiels is located in a 17th century building called 'den Clippel'. Huis Michiels is a historical workshop for tower clocks and carillons. The museum displays tower clocks and the history of bell casting.

The Museum of Contemporary Lace displays works made to designs by Ursuline Sisters during the period of the renewal and revival of lace, in the 1970s. In addition, the museum displays the Sisters' collection of old lace.