Belgium built the first public railway in continental Europe, and Train World tells the story with real style. The museum begins in the restored Schaerbeek station, an elegant early twentieth-century building, and continues into huge halls where historic locomotives and carriages are displayed in moody, cinematic scenes designed by the comic artist François Schuiten. The collection includes one of the oldest surviving locomotives in continental Europe, royal carriages, steam engines you can climb into and simulators. It is a short train ride from the centre, which adds to the fun. The visit takes about ninety minutes, and the museum is closed on Mondays.
Working the visit: take a train from Brussels Central or Midi to Schaerbeek station, which brings you right to the door. Allow ninety minutes, or longer with railway enthusiasts.
Who it suits: families, rail fans and design lovers. The scenography makes it feel more like a film set than a museum.
Pairing: combine it with the Atomium on the same day for a full family outing, as both are in the north of the city.
Why it matters: Belgium was an early railway pioneer, and the museum uses that history to tell a wider story about how trains changed daily life, travel and industry. Even visitors with no special interest in railways tend to leave impressed by the staging, the lighting and the sheer scale of the engines. Allow time for the shop and café, and check the website for temporary exhibitions and family activities in the school holidays.
What to expect
The experience
A railway museum in a historic station with locomotives in dramatic scenes, simulators and engines you can climb aboard.
Best time
Weekday mornings; weekends are busy with families.
How long
About ninety minutes.
Tips
Arrive by train to Schaerbeek station, and remember it is closed on Mondays.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and rail fans.
- Families
- A top pick, with engines to climb on and simulators to try.
- Couples
- Better for design lovers than romance, but the setting is striking.
- Pair with
- The Atomium for a full family day in the north of the city.
- Time needed
- About ninety minutes.
Good questions
How do I get to Train World?+
Take a train to Schaerbeek station; the museum is in and beside the station building.
When is it open?+
Tuesday to Sunday; it is closed on Mondays.
Is it good for children?+
Yes, it is one of the best family museums in Brussels.
Who designed the displays?+
The comic artist François Schuiten, which explains the cinematic look.
How long should I allow?+
About ninety minutes.