Musée belge de la Franc-Maçonnerie

About the museum

The Belgian Museum of Freemasonry presents the history of Freemasonry in Belgium since the early 18th century and its international influence. This tradition has played a progressive, philanthropic and emancipatory role, notably during the revolution of 1830, in public education between 1878 and 1884, and in the ethical debates of the 20th century.

The idea of a museum is an old one: as early as 1833, Théodore Verhaegen, founder of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), set up a first museum within his lodge, Les Amis Philanthropes. In 1984 the Grand Orient of Belgium proposed creating an independent museum, and several obediences and masonic jurisdictions joined the project. In 2011 the association Les Amis du Musée belge de la Franc-Maçonnerie took the name Musée belge de la Franc-Maçonnerie and opened its doors to the general public with a permanent exhibition.

The museum occupies the ground floor of the Hôtel Dewez, a neoclassical bourgeois mansion from the late 18th century, the work of Laurent-Benoît Dewez, architect to the court of Charles of Lorraine. It shows symbolic objects used during lodge meetings and banquets, jewels and decor, documents, books, paintings and sculptures. It also covers famous personalities, anti-Masonic movements, especially under dictatorships, and Freemasons who acted courageously in the name of liberty, fraternity and equality. A study centre, the CEDOM, keeps archives and a rich library. Guided tours also allow visitors to discover the temples of rue de Laeken.

Highlights

• Symbolic objects, jewels and decor of masonic meetings and banquets
• History of Belgian Freemasonry since the 18th century
• Hôtel Dewez, a neoclassical mansion from the late 18th century
• Guided tours of the temples on rue de Laeken (by reservation, for groups)
• Escape game “En Quête Maçonnique” throughout the museum

Permanent exhibition

• Exposition permanente sur la franc-maçonnerie belge – History of Belgian Freemasonry since the 18th century, with symbolic objects, jewels, documents, books, paintings and sculptures.

Founded

2011

Operated by

ASBL Musée belge de la Franc-Maçonnerie

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month, 13:00–17:00

Free entry for jobseekers, teachers, journalists, holders of the Brussels Card, ICOM card, Museum Pass, Pass 365, Riebedebie or the Friends of the Museum card, and for school groups from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. Rates cannot be combined with other discounts or cards.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Brussels Museums indicates wheelchair access. During guided tours, a Tour Guide system (microphone for the guide, headset receivers for visitors) helps in particular people with hearing impairments. Audio guides are offered to individual visitors, and guides are trained to lead tours in easy language (FALC).

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops: not available

No specific offer for families is published; the escape game is reserved for visitors aged 15 and over.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The glass-roofed hall of the 18th-century building hosts private receptions, board meetings, seminars with dinner and team-building activities; a brochure is available on request by email.

Plan your visit