Founded by Napoleon in 1801, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium hold the country's most important art collection, with over 20,000 works spanning the 15th century to today across a complex on Brussels' Mont des Arts. Its heart is the Old Masters Museum, rich in Flemish painting (Bruegel, Rubens, van der Weyden), together with the Magritte Museum, home to the world's largest René Magritte collection (around 200 works). As of 2026 the Fin-de-Siècle and Wiertz museums are closed for works or reorganization while the modern collection is being integrated into the Old Masters Museum, so check which wings are open and plan a half-day pairing the Old Masters and Magritte museums.
Old Masters Museum: Pieter Bruegel (Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, The Census at Bethlehem), a dedicated gallery of more than twenty Rubens paintings, plus van der Weyden, Memling and Bosch
Jacques-Louis David's 'The Death of Marat' (1793), the museums' signature Neoclassical masterpiece (works do travel on loan, so confirm it is on display)
Magritte Museum: the world's largest René Magritte collection, roughly 200 paintings, drawings and sculptures including 'The Empire of Light'
The Mont des Arts setting linking the complex to the Place Royale and the wider Royal Quarter arts district
The modern and contemporary collection currently being rehung within the Old Masters Museum, offering an evolving display
Good to know
RulesClosed Mondays and on 1 Jan, 1 May, 18 June, 1 & 11 Nov and 25 Dec; ticket desks close about 30 minutes before the galleries. Always verify current hours and prices on the official website.
RulesThe Old Masters and Magritte museums have separate admission, with a cheaper combined ticket; the Fin-de-Siècle and Wiertz museums are closed/under renovation in 2026, so confirm the wing you want is open.
CautionBuy tickets from the official website or on-site desks rather than third-party resellers that add fees. Near the Grand Place and Central Station, ignore petition, bracelet or survey approaches that can be used as pickpocketing distractions.
SafetyPickpocketing is common at Brussels-Central, on the metro and in tourist crowds. Wear bags in front and keep phone and wallet out of outer pockets; large backpacks must be left at the museum cloakroom.
MannersKeep quiet in the galleries and do not touch the artworks. Flash photography and tripods are not allowed, and some temporary exhibitions ban photography altogether.
SeasonBrussels is often rainy year-round, making this indoor museum a reliable wet-weather option. Free admission to the permanent collections on the first Wednesday of each month from 13:00 draws big crowds, so choose a weekday morning for a calmer visit.
Practical info
It is a 5-10 minute walk from Gare Centrale (metro 1/5) or Parc station, with trams 92/93 stopping at 'Royale' right outside and Brussels-Central about a 10-minute walk away. Open Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00 and weekends 11:00-18:00 (closed Mondays); Old Masters and Magritte admission is roughly EUR 13 each with a combined ticket around EUR 20, but prices and hours change, so check the official website for the latest before you go.
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