BELVUE MUSEUM

Description

Essentials about the BELvue Museum in brief

Anyone who wants to better understand the country of Belgium and its society should definitely visit the Musée BELvue. Located on Place Royale, the museum covers the country’s eventful history from its founding in 1830 to the present day through seven themes. This historical overview is complemented by a gallery of more than 200 objects with a strong Belgian connection. The museum is located above the ruins of the former Coudenberg Palace. Access to the underground excavations of the palace is also through the Musée BELvue building.

The history of the BELvue Museum

In 1977, the Hôtel Bellevue on Place Royale was converted into a museum building housing a collection from the nearby Royal Museums of Art and History. After 1992, two small museums on the history of the Belgian monarchy were opened in the building: The Dynasty Museum and the King Baudouin Memorial Museum. In 2005, the Hôtel Bellevue was finally reopened as the Museum of the History of Belgium, presenting a chronological exhibition on the history of the country since its independence in 1830.

The exhibition in the BELvue Museum

In the rooms of the Musée BELvue, seven themes will be addressed: Democracy, Prosperity, Solidarity, Pluralism, Migration, Language and Europe. Each theme is first presented from the perspective of the present and then explained against the background of Belgium’s history. All themes revolve around the central question of how Belgium and Belgians became what they are today. In BELvue’s new exhibition, history is not an end in itself, but a means and a key to understanding the country and its society.

The historical overview is complemented by a gallery of more than 200 objects. Presented chronologically from the 19th century to the present day, the pieces embody Belgium’s “physical memory.” Museum visitors are presented with everyday objects, works of art and design, famous brands, scientific discoveries and sporting achievements.