175 years of the Order of Leopold and the National Orders @ Musée royal de l'Armée

On the left-hand side of the exhibition, the visitor will be able to discover the rich history of honorary distinctions, granted to both famous people and ordinary citizens, men and women with their small or large destinies. What started out as an exclusive club, gathered around mediaeval sovereigns, over the years became a system rewarding various merits. On the right-hand side, assorted themes are broached, such as the difference between orders, medals and decorations or the way in which to wear the orders, a matter of discipline and good taste. Attention is also drawn to manufacturing: each jewel, big or small, has to be designed and created. The central axis leads straight to the future. The exhibition indeed also considers the problems orders face today. Merits will always have to be rewarded, but the system has to reflect present-day needs and expectations.