Belgium and its history

Seven contemporary themes are addressed in the rooms: democracy, prosperity, solidarity, pluralism, migration, language and Europe. Each theme is firstly presented from the perspective of the present day, then explored in greater depth and explained throughout history. How did Belgium and the Belgians become what they are today? The galleries, containing more than 200 objects, help to fill in the dotted lines and showcase a more completed picture. The objects, displayed chronologically from the nineteenth century onwards to the present, consist of what could be seen as Belgium’s “material memory”. Visitors can admire a lithograph by Magritte, crystal vases by Val Saint-Lambert, a Gilles de Binche carnival costume, and the first four-stroke motorcycle, among others. It’s an eclectic collection of everyday tools, artwork and design, scientific inventions, artefacts evoking Belgium’s rich folk culture, and so much more. Combining a strong exhibition design with artful displays and a gallery full of surprising objects, the BELvue Museum showcases Belgium’s history with a contemporary twist. Located in a magnificent eighteenth-century building adjoining the Royal Palace, the museum immerses you in Belgium, with all the fascinating aspects it entails. It’s Belgian culture in the broadest sense of the term!