The Musical Instruments Museum, known as the MIM, is one of the most enjoyable museums in Brussels, and its building is a landmark in itself. It occupies the Old England department store, an Art Nouveau confection of black iron and glass built at the end of the nineteenth century, together with a neighbouring neoclassical building at the top of the Mont des Arts. Inside, four floors display a vast collection from around the world: early keyboards and violins, folk instruments, brass and wind, mechanical instruments and curiosities. The trick that makes it special is the audio guide, which plays the sound of the instruments as you stand in front of them, so the museum becomes a concert you walk through. Finish on the top floor, where the café and restaurant look out across the rooftops toward the Town Hall spire.
Working the visit: start at the top for the view, then work down floor by floor. Allow ninety minutes, more if you want to listen to each section properly. The museum is part of the Royal Museums of Art and History.
Who it suits: music lovers, families with curious children, and anyone looking for a rainy-day museum that is not just paintings. The building alone is worth a look from the outside.
Pairing: the Magritte Museum and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts are across the square, and the gardens of the Mont des Arts lead down toward the Grand-Place. Check the weekly closing day before you go.
What to expect
The experience
Four floors of instruments with an audio guide that plays each one, in the Art Nouveau Old England building.
Best time
Weekday mornings, finishing with lunch or coffee on the top floor.
How long
About ninety minutes.
Tips
Start at the top for the view, and check the weekly closing day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Music lovers and anyone who enjoys a museum you can hear.
- Families
- The audio guide keeps children engaged and the building feels like a treasure box.
- Couples
- Pair it with a rooftop coffee and a walk down the Mont des Arts.
- Pair with
- The Magritte Museum and the Grand-Place.
- Time needed
- About ninety minutes.
Good questions
Where is the MIM?+
At the top of the Mont des Arts, near Place Royale, in the Old England building.
Can you hear the instruments?+
Yes, the audio guide plays recordings of the instruments as you approach the displays.
Is there a café?+
Yes, on the top floor, with views over the city.
Is it good for children?+
Yes, the sounds and variety make it one of the more child-friendly museums in the centre.
Is it open every day?+
It closes one day a week; check the hours before you go.