Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Federal art museum in Brussels, Belgium
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts is an art institution in Brussels, Belgium, presenting paintings and sculptures from multiple centuries. The six connected houses extend across neighboring buildings and underground galleries in the city center.
The collection began in 1801 as part of administrative reforms under French rule in the occupied southern Netherlands. After Belgian independence, it was rehoused in a new neoclassical building during the 1880s.
The Wiertz studio preserves monumental canvases and drawings in the actual workspace where the artist created them during the mid-1800s. Visitors can also explore rooms dedicated to Belgian symbolism and Art Nouveau paintings in other parts of the complex.
The main entrance is on Rue de la Régence, within walking distance from the Royal Palace and Place Royale. Displays spread across multiple floors, so visitors should plan at least two to three hours for a visit.
Some rooms lie entirely underground and receive light only through artificial lighting. The Magritte collection ranks among the largest in the world devoted to a single artist, with several hundred works on display.
Location: Brussels-Capital Region
Inception: 1801
Founders: Napoleon
Official opening: 1803
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Address: Rue de la Régence 3, 1000 Bruxelles
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00
Phone: +3225083211
Email: info@fine-arts-museum.be
Website: http://fine-arts-museum.be
GPS coordinates: 50.84168,4.35824
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25
Brussels combines baroque guild houses, neo-Gothic churches, and modern architecture. The Grand Place forms the historic center with its cobblestone square and gilded facades. The Atomium from 1958 stands in the northern part of the city, displaying the structure of a magnified iron crystal. Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral preserves Gothic stained glass and wood carvings from the 13th century. The city holds numerous collections of European painting at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and the Magritte Museum. The Palais de Justice sits on a hill overlooking the city, while the Royal Palace serves as the official residence of the Belgian monarchy. Parks such as Bois de la Cambre and Cinquantenaire Park offer open spaces between city districts. The Belgian Comic Strip Center and the Horta Museum document Belgian contributions to illustration and Art Nouveau design.
Musée Magritte Museum
91 m
Palace of Coudenberg
172 m
Musical Instruments Museum
130 m
Old England
145 m
Old Masters Museum
13 m
Palace of Charles of Lorraine
164 m
Palace of the Count of Flanders
40 m
Church of St. James on Coudenberg
146 m
Fin-de-Siècle Museum
0 m
Equestrian statue of Godfrey of Bouillon
110 m
Royal Chapel
169 m
Musée Modern Museum
20 m
Abbaye du Coudenberg
123 m
Hôtel du Lotto
89 m
The Whirling Ear
162 m
Charles of Lorraine
153 m
Hôtel des Brasseurs
52 m
Hôtel de Spangen
135 m
Portiques de la place Royale de Bruxelles
63 m
Sculpture garden of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts
56 m
Portieken en gebouwen op het Koningsplein
107 m
Maison néoclassique
161 m
Maison traditionnelle
156 m
Maison traditionnelle
146 m
Leopold II & Maria Theresia of Austria
116 m
Maison néoclassique
166 m
Vestiges de l'ancien Palais ducal du Coudenberg
175 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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