Art & History Museum
Brussels
0.40 Km 00:02
Royal Museum of the Armed Forces & Military History (War Heritage Institute)
The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History is an ideal visit for those who wish to understand conflicts differently, through objects, stories and human destinies. A powerful, impressive and accessible place to discover with family, as a couple or solo, for a deep immersion in memory and history, in the heart of Brussels.
- Monday : Closed
- Tuesday : -
- Wednesday : -
- Thursday : -
- Friday : -
- Saturday : -
- Sunday : -
Information
Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History – A thousand years of history and memory in the heart of Brussels
The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History impresses from the very first glance. Located in the majestic setting of Cinquantenaire Park in the heart of Brussels, it invites visitors to dive into more than 1,000 years of military history, from medieval weapons and armour to some of the most iconic fighter aircraft. Many people walk past its grand arcades without entering—but those who do often leave deeply impressed.
Here, history is not limited to battles and dates. It unfolds through authentic objects, human stories and spectacular spaces. The visit moves between wonder, reflection and discovery, in a place that is both monumental and emotionally powerful.
From medieval armour to the world wars
The journey begins with the early centuries, featuring a remarkable collection of medieval weapons and armour. Some pieces rank among the museum’s treasures, including those that once belonged to Charles V and the Dukes of Burgundy. Their craftsmanship, weight and decoration tell stories not only of warfare but also of power and prestige.
The visit continues with an in-depth exploration of the First and Second World Wars. The museum holds a unique collection dedicated to the First World War, bringing together objects from all the countries involved in the conflict. Uniforms, equipment, weapons and historical artefacts help build a broader and more human understanding of the events that shaped the 20th century.
Few visitors leave these galleries untouched. They encourage reflection on the past, its consequences and its echoes in today’s world.
A spectacular aviation hall
One of the highlights of the museum is the impressive Aviation Hall. In this vast, light-filled space, more than one hundred aircraft are displayed—from early flying machines to modern fighter jets such as the famous F-16. The scale of the hall and the diversity of the aircraft fascinate both aviation enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
Some fascinating details make the experience even more memorable: several aircraft arrived at the museum in pieces, dismantled so they could fit through the doors. Some of them have been exhibited here for almost a century, silent witnesses to technological progress and the conflicts of the modern age.
For many visitors, this hall remains one of the most striking parts of the museum thanks to its impressive scale and unique atmosphere.
The Cinquantenaire panorama: history meets the city
The visit can continue to the top of the Cinquantenaire Arcades, accessible from the museum. From there, visitors enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of Brussels. The city stretches out in every direction, offering a striking contrast between the modern urban landscape and the historical journey just experienced inside the museum.
The arcades themselves have an interesting story: they were built in just nine months in 1905, replacing a temporary arch that had previously been assembled and dismantled repeatedly. This architectural detail adds yet another layer to the rich history of this remarkable site.
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Maestro
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Reduced mobility visitors
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1,5 Merode
Opening times
Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 to 17.00 • Closed on Mondays and 1/01, 1/05, 1/11, 25/12.
Price
adults €12 • students and children (6-18): €9 • Free for children (< 6), disabled with carer, veterans and Belgian defence staff • Free for everyone on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 13.00
Tour length
2 hrs
Group
Price (15 / 25 visitors): adults €9 • children and students (6-18): €4
Guided tour €87 per group (max. 25 people) for a weekday visit (€97 on weekends) + admission: €7 per adult / €3 per youth. Duration: 1h30 Conditions: reservation required at least 3 weeks before the chosen date: reservation@whi.be
More information • Cafeteria and shop.
This is one of the largest military museums in the world. It showcases 10 centuries of history, with no fewer than 130 aircraft from every era. An impressive collection of military uniforms from medieval times to the present day. An exhibition on the two great world wars. In short, the Royal Museum of the Army and Military History has everything to charm young and old alike. The train will be just the thing to take you to the Parc du Cinquantenaire!
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Enjoy this historic train trip at a royal price: buy your tickets for the Musée de l'Armée and get a 50% discount with the Discovery Ticket!
Buy your e-ticket at https://militarymuseum.be/fr and add a free Discovery Ticket voucher to your shopping basket.
Look out for the Discovery Ticket code on your Musée de l'Armée e-ticket: it's a 16-character code.
Order your Discovery Ticket here.
Print your Discovery Ticket or show the PDF on your smartphone screen when you check in on the train.
Enjoy your trip to the Musée de l'Armée!
Take advantage of the Discovery Ticket offer!
Weather in Brussels
Events
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Price
Etudiants: 5,00 € - Normal: 8,00 €
Cette année encore, le Musée de l'Armée participe aux Nocturnes des Musées de Bruxelles. De l’armure médiévale à l’avion de chasse, venez découvrir les riches collections qui vous entraîneront du Moyen Âge à la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Et pour cette nocturne, le musée vous ouvre les portes d’endroits secrets !
Rendez-vous le 9 avril en soirée pour un programme exceptionnel :
x. BEHIND THE SCENES
Accéder aux endroits habituellement fermés au public du Musée de l’Armée, ça vous tente ? Découvrez les ateliers et les réserves, approchez au plus près des mosaïques du péristyle, rencontrez les passionnant·es restaurateur·ices, écoutez les histoires inédites des pièces de collections racontées par les conservateur·ices et rentrez à la maison avec une photo souvenir surprenante.
Horaires : en continu
x. NOCTURNE EXTRA LATE
La nuit, le musée a un autre visage et les collections cachent beaucoup de secrets. Venez les découvrir lors d’une visite guidée inédite à la lampe de poche avant de profiter d’un verre de bulles avec une vue époustouflante sur la capitale.
Attention : Veuillez prévoir votre propre lampe de poche et de bonnes chaussures de marche. L’activité n’est pas accessible aux personnes à mobilité réduite (nombreux escaliers).
Langues : FR, NL
Horaire : 22h
Durée : 1h30
Places limitées
Depuis sa réapparition sur la scène historiographique moderne dans les années 1970, l’Armée des Flandres est devenue l’une des études de cas centrales des débats scientifiques, notamment autour de la « Révolution militaire » de l’époque moderne et de l’émergence de l’État fiscalo-militaire européen. Toutefois, la nature même de l’Armée des Flandres, en tant que force expéditionnaire et d’occupation multinationale, l’a maintenue en marge des traditions historiographiques nationales (espagnole, flamande et wallonne, italienne, britannique, irlandaise, française, etc.) qui s’expriment aujourd’hui au nom des naciones qui la composaient autrefois. Il en résulte que l’Armée des Flandres a souvent été étudiée — lorsqu’elle l’a été — comme une simple somme de ses composantes, plutôt que comme un ensemble organique pouvant être considéré comme le premier « armée européenne ».
L’objectif de ce workshop est d’initier un processus de réévaluation et de redéfinition de la place de l’Armée des Flandres dans le cadre de la recherche historique contemporaine. En réunissant différents experts, en rassemblant une documentation dispersée et en identifiant de nouveaux axes de recherche, méthodologies et outils, il s’agit de révéler pleinement son potentiel scientifique et sa portée auprès du public.
Inscription obligatoire via info@warheritage.be
