The best museums with activities for children

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With more than a hundred museums, Brussels is a cultural capital. There’s also plenty for children to discover! You’ll find not only “quiet” museums, but also places where kids are encouraged to play, experiment, and try things out. Whether they’re into animals, technology, or creative activities, there’s always a museum to match their interests. Here's our selection of the best museums and their range of activities for children.

The best kids’ museums at a glance

Brussels has a museum for every taste and interest. Here you can spot dinosaurs, taste chocolate, go on a treasure hunt in an underground palace, drive a virtual train, wander through miniature cities, or explore a building that feels like a spaceship! Are you into toys, art, vehicles, or history? In Brussels, you can take your pick!

Atomium

Halfway between sculpture and architecture, the Atomium was designed and built for the Brussels World's Fair (1958), for which it was the flagship building and emblem. Representing an iron unit cell (9 iron atoms) magnified 165 billion times, the monument with its unique silhouette has, over time, grown to become the symbol of Brussels and Belgium. On the inside the Atomium offers, not just the most beautiful view of Brussels, but also an entirely astounding and surreal ride through its interior spaces and volumes which alone makes a visit worth it. The Atomium ticket automatically includes the entrance to the Design Museum Brussels (150m away).

Atomium

Mini-Europe

The whole of Europe animated in miniature! Be amazed! Mini-Europe is a park featuring all the wonders of Europe, in miniature. Bonsai trees, flowery groves and dwarf trees embellish the 350 monuments which have been reproduced at scale 1/25. Thousands of lifelike figurines and animations! Set off the eruption of the Vesuvius and admire the takeoff of the Ariane rocket. The two hour walk, which is both entertaining and educational, will let you (re)discover the 27 member states of the European Union and the United Kingdom, their historical, architectural and cultural wealth This establishment has been awarded the Brussels Health Safety Label

Mini-Europe

Institute of Natural Sciences

The Institute of Natural Sciences: a great day out, naturally! In the largest Dinosaur Gallery in Europe, you can meet the famous Bernissart Iguanodons, T.rex, Triceratops, Diplodocus, and 34 other species. But that’s not all! The Earth is swarming with life - rediscover it in the Gallery Living Planet, through an aesthetic, family-friendly and scientific approach to biodiversity. Learn about the human body and how we evolved in the Gallery of Humankind and go back in time in the Gallery of Evolution. You can also find out about urban species in BiodiverCITY, discover 250 years of the history of Natural Sciences through 14 iconic specimens, beware of the kings of the Cretaceous seas in the Mosasaur Hall or admire the magnificent crystals in the Mineral Hall. And last but not least, don't miss the temporary exhibitions and all the activities of the Educational Service: more information at www.naturalsciences.be.

Institute of Natural Sciences

Train World

Train World is a unique railway experience that takes you from the very first steam locomotives to the flashing high-speed trains! It is a universe that appeals to all the senses in order to grasp the many different dimensions of the railways. A visit to Train World is an active and surprising outing. You can walk among locomotives, take a seat in 100-year-old trains, visit a railway house and walk across a real railway bridge. You will even experience how it feels to drive a train!

Train World

WOM - World Of Mind

Challenge your brain at the WOM! In a museum of 1500m², exercise your senses and challenge your brain in a colourful universe! Dedicated to the five senses, our perceptions and illusions, the WOM is scientific but also recreational. It's an exceptional experience which questions reality as we perceive it and where science meets fun! Discover famous illusions such as the mirror room or the vortex but also experiences never seen before in Belgium. Get ready for a visit full of surprises and emotions! Throughout your visit, meet the well-known neurologist, author and Francqui Prize winner Steven Laureys in the Science Corners. Learn about the five senses, the way our brain works, and discover what happens when we interact with illusions and how we treat the information sent by our environment.

WOM - World Of Mind

GardeRobe MannekenPis

The incredible Manneken-Pis dressing room awaits you at 19 Rue du Chêne, a stone's throw away from the famous fountain. A representative selection of more than one hundred costumes is presented according to seven themes: geography, folklore, charity and citizens’ associations, trades, celebrities and characters, sports and designers. They show the richness of this fabulous and uncommon collection, which today includes nearly 1,000 items! The sculpture’s clothing – which is a tradition dating back to the 17th century! – is still part of the folklore and historical heritage of the city of Brussels. Combined ticket giving access to the Brussels City Museum -Maison du Roi and the Garderobe MannekenPis.

GardeRobe MannekenPis

Coudenberg Palace

Once upon a time, the Coudenberg Palace towered over the city of Brussels. Charles V and many other of the most powerful rulers ever to reign in Europe made this princely residence their home between the 12th and 18th centuries, until it was consumed by a terrible fire. Every trace of this prestigious palace simply disappeared underground for many years. Today, however, these ruins constitute a fascinating archeological site incorporating a network of underground passages and chambers. When you visit it you can explore the principal buildings of the palace and enjoy a stroll along the Rue Isabelle, which is now underground. In the Coudenberg Museum, located in Hoogstraeten House, the finest of the archeological discoveries made during the various excavations of the Coudenberg site are displayed.

Coudenberg Palace

BELvue museum

Chips, beer and chocolates... surely there is more to Belgium than that? Democracy, prosperity, solidarity, pluralism, migration, languages and Europe: these are the themes used by the BELvue Museum to help you to discover Belgium. Each one is developed through present-day testimonials and then traced right through history. This is a modern, original way of gaining a fuller understanding of modern-day Belgium. Have a look at the gallery too: there are more than 200 objects to view, each one forming a tangible memory of Belgium. Here are just a few examples: a lithograph by Magritte, a motorcycle, crystal vases by Val Saint-Lambert, and a football signed by the Red Devils. The very essence of Belgian-ness! Speciale openingstijden op schoolvakanties en feestdagen 9.30 tot 17.00 uur 24/12 en 31/12 9u30 tot 16u00 Het BELvue Museum is elke woensdag vanaf 14u en de eerste zondag van de maand gratis toegankelijk.

BELvue museum

Choco-Story - The Chocolate Museum

Visit to the Choco-Story Brussels museum Right next to the Grand-Place, Choco-Story Brussels plunges you into the world of cocoa and chocolate, from the origins of cocoa over 5,000 years ago to the famous Belgian praline. You start your journey in the Amazon, passing through an Aztec temple before boarding the Cortes ship that brought cocoa beans to Europe. You'll discover how cocoa is transformed into chocolate and how it is sublimated by our chocolatiers. The tour ends with a traditional praline-making demonstration and tasting sessions. The audioguide, available in 11 languages, is included in the admission price. Adult admission, without discount: €14/ person

Choco-Story - The Chocolate Museum

Frietmuseum Brussels

Frietmuseum Brussels is a fun, educational and tasty museum that takes visitors on a journey through the history, culture and traditions of this emblematic Belgian dish. With over 1,600 exhibits, old posters, interactive games, films and testimonials from fry makers, you can discover not only the history of the potato, but also the evolution of fries over time, and the secrets of perfect cooking. Spread over three floors, the audio tour (available in 11 languages) starts in Peru, the origin country of the potato, before taking you on a world tour tracing the history of potato cultivation in South America and Europe.

Frietmuseum Brussels

Sewer Museum

Why not visit the Brussels sewers and the Sewers museum during your next excursion in Brussels. A visit of Brussels' sewerage network - led by experienced guides or ex-workers - is extraordinary, full of surprises, but above all fascinating. The sewers have become vital to our way of life, so much so that it's hard to imagine what it was like before they existed. A visit of the Sewers Museum (and a real sewer!) is therefore an amazing, unusual and thrilling experience. Brussels' first sewerage network came into use in the 17th century, but they were very limited and a large part of the city's waste still found its way into the river Senne. The river carried waste and carrion and regularly overflowed, or dried out in the summer, leaving behind less-than-pleasant smells. It was partially due to this, that the government in the second half of the 19th century decided to completely transform the Senne and its neighbouring streets by building great boulevards to cover the insalubrious area. Between the two world wars a second transformation: a portion of the Senne was diverted and then covered over. The sewerage network improved and grew over the years, going from 45 km in 1847 to the 350 km that we have today. The entrance to the museum is housed in one of the toll pavilions that used to collect taxes on goods that entered the city.

Sewer Museum

Children’s Museum

Pioneer in Europe, The Children’s Museum is located in a beautiful mansion which offers a 600m2 exhibition spaces. In this educational environment, where playing has a key role, you won’t find computers nor video games. Stage settings and scenery, wooden toys, workshops are but some examples of the different means the Museum has put in place to help children in the discovery of the world that surrounds them, as well as themselves. Every exhibition is an exclusive creation that benefits from the guidance of various external specialists in different areas of the educational work fields. Summer Hours Private family "Escape Game" at Calypso in the morning (9 to 12 people) Tuesday through Friday Open to the public every afternoon Monday through Friday (2:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.) Special openings to the public every Monday morning (10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)

Children’s Museum

Art & marges museum

Located in the heart of Brussels, the Art et marges museum is dedicated to ‘art brut’ or ‘outsider art’. Its collection was built up from the mid-1980s with artworks from self-taught artists and artistic workshops for the mentally disabled and the psychologically fragile. It now comprises over 4,500 international works produced outside the established contemporary art circuit. Its temporary exhibitions bring together artists from both sides of the fringe, questioning the boundaries of art and its very definition.

Art & marges museum

Bozar - Centre for Fine Arts

It’s impossible to talk about culture in Belgium without mentioning the Centre for Fine Arts located in Brussels. Whether it comes to exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, movies or projects concerning literature and architecture, BOZAR will always put originality and innovation first. They prove to keep a finger on the pulse with their varied and sophisticated programme. Besides emphasizing the importance of creation, quality and a rich artistic offering, BOZAR is especially concerned about the total experience of the visitors.

Bozar - Centre for Fine Arts

Autoworld

An impressive historic building in Brussels, linked with automotive history, is home to Autoworld, the Belgian National Automobile Museum. Situated in the ‘Parc du Cinquantenaire’, the neo-classical building commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Kingdom of Belgium in 1880. From 1902 to 1936 it hosted motor¬car and motorbike exhibitions. Since 1986 it has treasured the major part of Ghislain Mahy’s renowned classic car collection. Over 300 vehicles, ranging from cars and trucks to motorcycles, are on permanent display. From the earliest models of the dis¬tant past to contemporary cars that prefigure the automobile of tomorrow, visitors are guided through the motorcar’s history dating as far back as 1896. Various cars representing the most exciting years of the auto¬mobile history since 1960 can be approached and admired from close by, thanks to a brilliantly designed scenography. Special sections focus on sports and competition, cars owned by the Belgian Royal Family, micro and bubble cars, and car design. The Belgium at Autoworld section is dedicated to the roots and history of the Belgian car industry. Autoworld is a museum on the move, with temporary exhibi¬tions taking on various automotive themes organised through¬out the year. More detailed information on autoworld.be

Autoworld

Comic Art Museum

A world full of comics An accomplished attraction located in the heart of Brussels, the Comics Art Museum has been honouring the creators and heroes of the 9th Art for 30 years. The regularly renewed permanent exhibitions and a diversified programme of temporary exhibitions enable visitors to discover the countless aspects of comics art. Famous characters lead the way towards new adventures, an encounter with a world where creativity has no limits. Enhanced by an exceptional Art Nouveau home designed by Victor Horta, the Comics Art Museum is just as much a tribute to the pioneers as a glimpse of contemporary comics art.

Comic Art Museum

Brussels Comics Figurines Museum

Where Comics come to life ! The Brussels Comics Figurines Museum will immerse you in a private collection of figurines from the world of Belgian comics (Tintin, Spirou, The Smurfs...), American comics (Spider-Man, Batman...), mangas and many others. You will also find these characters in other formats: with video games, explanatory videos or during a projection of cartoons in a period movie theater. This immersive, sound-enhanced experience will appeal to the whole family. It will bring back many memories for adults and will also be suitable for the youngest: the visit is easily accessible, with very visual and colorful displays. Trip Advisor awarded the Moof the certificate of excellence in the year 2014 to 2024. It is located in Brussels, behind the big statue of the white Smurf, in the HORTA gallery on LEVEL -1.

Brussels Comics Figurines Museum

Fantastic Art Museum

Brussels is fantastic! This museum, one of the most atypical of Brussels, presents pieces of different generations which all link to the fantastic, the strange or surrealism. Its collection mixes many techniques and invites on a journey through the imaginary. Conceived as a cabinet of curiosities, the museum is sure to offer visitors a fantastic and unique walkthrough. As would Bosch, Breughel, Delvaux, Magritte, Hergé or Rops, you will not be able to ignore this spooky place in the heart of Brussels!

Fantastic Art Museum

Royal Museum of the Army & Military History

The museum houses around one hundred thousand items (weapons, uniforms, scale-models, documents), making it one of the world's largest military museums. You'll see: a section weapons and armours from the Middle Ages, a beautiful collection about Napoleon and the French Empire, the Belgian army from 1831 to 1914 with display cases devoted to King Leopold I and Leopold II, the development of weapon technology (up till the mid-twentieth century), the First and Second World Wars (uniforms, equipment, photos and documents), armoured vehicles and warships. The museum's "Air" section includes a complete range of aircrafts, around 80 of which are on display. Don't miss our educational games for all ages. The documentation centres are open to the public. Spectacular panorama overlooking the city from the arcade. Temporary exhibitions about varied subjects.

Museums & tourist attractions

Royal Museum of the Army & Military History

Tram Museum

Trams, trolleybuses, buses, and taxis that have crisscrossed the capital for 150 years can be seen in these warehouses built in 1897. During the opening season you can make a trip with one of the historical vehicles and relive the atmosphere of the early 20th century on the Avenue de Tervuren and in the Sonian Forest. A dedicated Museum line with old buses takes you to the areas between the Museum and the Place Royale: Cinquantenaire Park, the European quarter, the squares quarter… Additionally, you can rent the vehicles as well as the museum halls for any kind of event.

Tram Museum

Museum of Illusions

Located in the heart of the beautiful capital of Belgium and Europe, the Museum of Illusion offers a unique experience of fun and interactive learning discovery. The extraordinary space of the former theatre “La Gaite” provides stage for a unique exhibition based on science of optical illusions. Share a unique experience with family, friends or colleagues. All ages will have fun exploring limits of own perception!

Museum of Illusions

Illusion Brussels

Enter the fascinating world of illusions that will trick your reliance on your senses, but also amaze you at the same time; the world that will confuse you completely, but also educate you… Visit us and you will be thrilled because nothing is what it seems, especially not in HERE! Are you ready for an adventure that goes far beyond what you could ever imagine? Visit the Museum of Illusions in Brussels for an intriguing, visual, sensory and educational experience with our amazing illusions.

Illusion Brussels

Virtual reality: four Brussels locations where you can have a go

Do you want to feel new sensations and be immersed in an entirely fabricated virtual world? In Brussels, immersion is guaranteed thanks to virtual reality! 

Virtual reality: four Brussels locations where you can have a go

Brussels loves a sing-along

Music, conviviality and fun are the key ingredients behind the growing success of karaoke, and Brussels loves a karaoke bar. The capital has some must-visit addresses, ranging from Japanese-inspired private rooms to more traditional bars where everyone is invited to sing along. Whether it's for a birthday party, a stag night or hen night or a team-building exercise, karaoke is always an unforgettable experience.

Brussels loves a sing-along

The best escape rooms in Brussels

Are you looking for an activity to try out with family or friends?

The best escape rooms in Brussels

Activities to do when it rains

You’ve planned all sorts of outdoor activities and suddenly the heavens open? Don’t panic, we know exactly how you can still make the most of your day while keeping the rain at bay!