The Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) moved to its current home in 2000 - a wonderful renovated Art Nouveau building, former Old England department store, designed by Paul Saintenoy in 1899.
Around 1,500 ancient and modern instruments are on display, and thanks to infrared headphones you can hear the sound of the exhibited musical instruments as you
walk around the museum. However, there is no descriptions in English!
Each floor of the museum is centred on a particular section: the ground floor (0) shows popular instruments, from Belgium and Europe as well as extra-European instruments; the first floor (+1) gives an historical tour, from antiquity to the 20th century; the second floor (+2) is presented more systematically, showing the development of keyboard instruments and stringed instruments. The basement (-1) shows the mechanical instruments, 20th-century instruments and bells.
You can get good views of the city from the top-floor restaurant of the museum!
The original creation of the Brussels Musical Instruments Museum dates from 1 February 1877, when it was attached to the Brussels Royal Music Conservatory with the didactic purpose of showing early instruments to the students.
(The Museum of Musical Instruments is part of The Royal Museums of Art and History (RMAH), which also comprises two other museums: Musée du Cinquantenaire and Museums of the Far East, which are in different locations.)
Prices
5 Euro
Opening Times
Tues - Fri : 9.30am - 5pm
Sat & Sun: 10am - 5pm
Closed Monday
Address
Montagne de la Cour 2
B-1000 Brussels
Tel: 02 545 01 30
How to Get There
Metro:
Gare Centrale
or
Parc/Park on line
External link
Official Web Site
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