Musée de la Porte de Hal
Museum housed in the Porte de Hal, the last remnant of Brussels’ second city wall, with medieval collections and a 360° panorama.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Porte de Hal has overlooked Brussels since the 14th century. It is the last remnant of the city’s second enclosure wall, nearly eight kilometres long, of which it was one of seven gates, protecting the south of the city. When the walls lost their military usefulness in the 18th century, the gate survived by changing its function: customs post, grain store, place of worship and, above all, prison.
In the early 19th century its demolition was considered several times, and in 1832 the city even announced its public sale. The Belgian state intervened: a royal decree banned the demolition in 1840, and the gate was bought back in 1842. The architect Tieleman Franciscus Suys converted it into a museum, which opened on 25 March 1847 under the name Royal Museum of Armour, Antiquities and Ethnology. In 1860 Hendrik Beyaert gave it its present layout.
Today the museum is part of the Royal Museums of Art and History. It displays weapons, sculptures, paintings, silverware and curiosities that tell the story of the building, of Brussels’ city wall and of the city’s guilds. A climb of 169 steps leads to the wall walk and its 360-degree panorama over Brussels.
Highlights
- Last remnant of Brussels’ second city wall
- 360° panorama from the wall walk (169 steps)
- Armour of Archduke Albert
- Brussels dolls’ house
- Free audio guide in six languages
Permanent exhibitions
- Collections de la Porte de Hal – Weapons, sculptures, paintings, silverware and curiosities that tell the story of the gate, of Brussels’ city wall and of the city’s guilds.
- Panorama du chemin de ronde – 360° view over Brussels and its surroundings, after climbing 169 steps.
- Founded
- 1847
- Operated by
- Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Young people aged 18 to 25, jobseekers and recipients of the integration income, City of Brussels guides, people with disabilities and their companion |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for children and teenagers aged 0 to 17, individually or in groups |
| Seniors | €5From 65 |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3Free with the European Disability Card |
| Groups (15+ people) | €5 per personAdult groups from 15 people; booking required for groups of more than 15 people |
| FED+ card | €5 |
| Article 27 | €1.25 |
Free admission: The first Wednesday of the month from 13:00
Free for Belgian education staff, journalists, Friends of the MRAH, ICOM members and BELSPO staff, with 365.be, the Brussels Card and the museumPASSmusées, and for jobseekers during heatwave episodes. Tickets at the ticket desk or online by time slot; cash payments are not always possible at the desk.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- 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: no information
- Audio description: no information
A lift serves the floors up to the third floor, only for people with reduced mobility and on request at reception. The panorama on the wall walk can only be reached by stairs.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Porte de Hal
Train: Bruxelles-Midi station; metro 2, 3, 4 and 6; buses 48, 134, 136, 137, 365 and W; trams 3, 4 and 51 (Porte de Hal stop)
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No parking in front of the museum; paid car parks nearby.
Brussels is a low-emission zone (LEZ); vehicles registered abroad must register.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Coat check
- Lockers
No restaurant in the museum; several restaurants and cafés in the neighbourhood. Free lockers (token from reception); large bags, backpacks and umbrellas must stay in the cloakroom.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (FR, NL, DE, EN, ES, RU) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Free audio guide for adults, to be requested on site or downloaded to a phone. Guided tours and workshops must be booked at least three weeks in advance; booking is required for groups of more than 15 people. Allow one hour and thirty minutes to see everything. |
