Belgium’s capital city, Brussels, is home to dozens of museums. Fine arts, history, comics, cars, and even clocks are represented. From the whimsical to the wondrous, we’ll explore some destinations for your next visit.
Chocolate Heritage in Brussels
Known for its chocolate, get an inside look at the history of this sweet treat with a visit to Choco Story Brussels. In this museum dedicated to chocolate, galleries examine the origins of the bean, how it is grown, and the history of chocolate as we know it.
Displays are often interactive, and it has numerous examples of molds, retro vending machines, and a delightful selection of serving pieces made just for the consumption of chocolate, including antique mustache cups.
These came into fashion to keep one’s mustache clean of beverages and were popularized during the Victorian era. These whimsical pieces delighted us, as did the chocolate-making demonstration where we sampled delicious pralines, a Brussels creation.
In all, over 600 pieces on display take you through 5,000 years of chocolate history.
Prebook your ticket to Choco-Story in Brussels here and explore the history of chocolate at your own pace.
Read More: Sweet Things: The Story of Italian Chocolate Candy
Brussels City Museum at Grand-Place
The Brussels City Museum is located in the stunning square known as the Grand-Place (Grote Markt) in an equally stunning building. They share that the most important work in their collection is, indeed, their building.
It is called “Maison du Roi” (the King’s House) in French and “Broodhuis” in Dutch. This Neo-Gothic building dates to the last quarter of the 19th century.
Beautiful inside and out, exploring the museum is a delight as you view tapestries, paintings, antiquities, sculptures, maps, and porcelain from Brussels.
Sure to make any dining table look stellar, the Service with Birds for the First Consul traces the history of table service painted in Brussels at the start of the 19th century. The detail is astounding.
The museum also has temporary exhibitions and great views from the upper floor of the Grand-Place. Fans of the Instagram favorite Manneken Pis fountain can see the original from 1619 here, and admission also includes a ticket to GardeRobe Manneken Pis, located near the Manneken Pis fountain.
It’s here you can view the wondrous collection of outfits that have been worn by the fountain and their meaning. At any time, 150 costumes out of their 1,000-plus collection are on display.
Art Deco Timepieces at Clockarium
Tick tock, do you like clocks? Perhaps a visit to the Clockarium will make you even more clockwise.
Home to 3,000 antique clocks, the Clockarium, Museum of the Art Deco Ceramic Clock, specializes in the Art Deco faience clock—the first affordable timepiece for the masses.
Common in Belgian households in the 1920s and 1930s, today’s visitor can see Art Deco examples from Belgium, France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia.
Please note, the museum is open limited days and English tours are available by appointment only. If you are visiting Brussels during its open hours, make time to visit.
Exploring Belgian Beer Heritage
Belgium Beer World Experience is a short walk from the Grand-Place and is located in the impressive former Stock Exchange building. Here you will learn about the history of one of Belgium’s most famous products—beer.
Travel through interactive galleries as you discover the origins of beer. Prior to entering the galleries, your ticket also gives you entry to go underground and explore Bruxella 1238.
This archaeological site is the remains of a former Franciscan convent and was built during the first half of the 13th century. The foundations of buildings from the Middle Ages tell stories of the past. Artifacts and the burial grounds were discovered in 1988.
In galleries, you’ll discover an array of signage, information about production, artifacts, and even get to create your own beer label—as we did, to celebrate our trip.
Your ticket also includes samples and entry to its rooftop terrace to enjoy a beer with a view.
Inside the Parlamentarium
European Parliament’s Parlamentarium is a truly unique destination. While technically not a museum, it is a great way to learn about democracy and history.
After exploring the grounds of the European Parliament, head inside the Parlamentarium and grab an audio guide. Here, you are traveling through more contemporary history and learning about issues that affect many of us. Poverty, war, equality, and more are explored with interactive displays and vibrant videos.
Comics Culture in Brussels
Belgium is the birthplace of Tintin and the Smurfs, and Brussels celebrates its comic heritage with vibrant murals throughout the town and many shops providing both souvenirs and books.
Next to Brussels-Centraal railway station (railway and metro station), you will find the Comic Art Museum.
For over 35 years, it has been honoring the creators of comic art by displaying original drawings, memorabilia, larger-than-life displays, and exhibits celebrating a century of comics. Programs, a comic strip library, and a bookshop add to the fun.
More Museums to Explore
There’s so much to see and do in Brussels; other museums include the Royal Museums of Fine Arts (Mont des Arts), the René Magritte Museum, and the Centre for Fine Arts—BOZAR.
Also consider the Tram Museum, Autoworld, the Children’s Museum, the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, the Sewer Museum, and the Design Museum.
We loved our time in Brussels and enjoyed our time at these museums; the experiences were very different, and each had its place in enriching our visit.
For a complete list of museums and things to do, visit www.visit.brussels.
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Author Bio: Mary Casey-Sturk is an Editor and Writer for Living Magazines (Kentucky) as well as a contributor to Smoky Mountain Living Magazine (North Carolina). Mary is also a content developer, freelance travel, food, wine and features writer and the author of “Eating Cheese Curds With Strangers”.
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