BELvue
Museum of Belgian history in the former Hôtel Bellevue on Place des Palais: seven thematic rooms and a gallery of 200 objects.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The building is an 18th-century luxury hotel. In 1776 the wine merchant Philippe De Proft obtained permission to build the “Hôtel de Belle-Vue” on the remains of the old Brussels palace, destroyed by fire in 1731. The building, in the Louis XVI style like the rest of the Place Royale, welcomed many distinguished guests: French nobles exiled after 1789, European travellers and artists. During the Belgian Revolution of 1830 the façade on the park side was riddled with projectiles, and the hotel then became a national monument.
At the end of the 19th century the Dremel family turned it into a renowned tourist establishment. The building later served as a residence for Princess Clémentine and the future King Leopold and Queen Astrid, then as a refuge for the Red Cross, before being converted into a museum. Today the King Baudouin Foundation presents the history of Belgium there.
The current permanent exhibition celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026. The museum announces a profound transformation by 2028: a new permanent route, annual temporary exhibitions on historical and societal themes, and a sustainable renovation of the historic building, including a redesign of the entrance on the Place Royale side.
Highlights
- History of Belgium in seven rooms: democracy, prosperity, solidarity, pluralism, migration, languages and Europe
- Gallery of more than 200 objects of Belgium’s material memory
- Objects to touch, relief maps and texts in Braille
- Digital audio guide in four languages and free Wi-Fi
- 18th-century hotel opposite Brussels Park
Permanent exhibitions
- La Belgique en sept thèmes – Permanent exhibition tracing the history of Belgium across seven rooms, with news clips, posters, testimonies and objects to touch.
- Galerie des objets belges – More than 200 objects, from coffee filters to the footballs of the Red Devils, illustrate the country’s material memory.
- Operated by
- Fondation Roi Baudouin
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Young people aged 18 to 25, job seekers and people with disabilities |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for under 18s |
| Seniors | €8From age 65 |
| Visitors with disabilities | €5People with disabilities |
| Students & apprentices | €5Young people aged 18 to 25 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €8 per personFrom 15 people |
| Combined BELvue + Coudenberg Palace ticket (adult) | €18Seniors and groups €14; young people aged 18 to 25, job seekers and people with disabilities €8; free for under 18s |
| Social rate for associations | €3Per person, for associations working with vulnerable groups, without an Article 27 or Paspartoe ticket; to be requested when booking |
Free admission: Every Wednesday from 14:00 and the first Sunday of every month
Free entry on Wednesday afternoons and on the first Sunday of the month applies to the permanent exhibition. Online payment by Bancontact, Mastercard, Maestro and Visa (except V PAY), and cash on site. Discount cards, Brussels Card and museumPASSmusées accepted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum has ramps, lifts, adapted routes and adapted toilets; portable folding seats are lent, and the route is fully accessible with a pushchair. It is recommended to contact the museum before the visit. Objects to touch, relief maps and texts in Braille; the digital audio guide lets you read the text, and the videos have subtitles; videos in French-language Belgian Sign Language are available in the AppPatrimoine. The museum is taking part in the Access-i audit.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Kids’ birthday parties
Play routes for children (for example a booklet with missions for 6 to 10-year-olds and the game “En route avec Zeno” for 9 to 12-year-olds), workshops and family afternoons. Birthday parties with games and a snack. Free admission on Wednesday afternoons and the first Sunday of the month.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Parc
Train: Brussels-Central; metro: Parc, Trône, Porte de Namur and Gare Centrale; buses 27, 38, 71 and 95
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Public car parks on Rue des Sols (Albertine), Place du Trône and Rue Ducale; coaches can park on Rue Ducale (5 hours maximum, 4 spaces).
With the SNCB Discovery Ticket (code at sncb.be/discovery), you get 40% off the return journey to Brussels-Central.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi in the museum. The restaurant Les Filles closed permanently on 18 June 2025; the team is looking to offer a new catering service soon, and group meals can be arranged on request. The shop, in the atrium, is accessible without a ticket.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Six renovated rooms (Atrium, Borgendael, Dachsbeck, De Proft, Jardin and Sax) and a garden terrace. Rental income funds citizenship workshops for schools; partner caterers and packages are available.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (FR, NL, DE, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Online digital audio guide with two combinable routes (the seven rooms, or thirteen objects from the gallery). Guided group tours are provided by partner guide associations; the museum also offers themed tours, late-opening evenings and a virtual tour. Groups are welcome every day, with adjusted hours on Mondays. |
