House of European History

The House of European History opened on 6 May 2017 as an initiative of the European Parliament, which funds it, although the museum is run independently by its own board of trustees. Its aim is not to tell the story of each country in turn but to look at the experiences and ideas Europeans share, from myths and early discoveries to the upheavals of the 20th century and the debates of today. It occupies the Eastman Building in Parc Léopold, a building originally designed as a dental clinic.

The permanent exhibition is spread over five floors and moves broadly in chronological order. The journey runs from myths and discoveries through the turbulent 20th century, and ends by inviting visitors to think about where Europe goes next. Temporary exhibitions take up particular themes. All the content is available in the 24 official languages of the European Union, which makes it one of the most linguistically accessible museums anywhere.

Entry is free, which makes the museum a good choice for budget travellers, students and anyone spending time in the European Quarter. It is thoughtful rather than flashy, so it suits curious adults and teenagers best, although the museum provides tailored resources for families, schools and groups. The building is listed as fully wheelchair accessible, with facilities for blind, partially sighted, deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors and an adapted toilet.

Brussels Museums lists opening hours of 13:00 to 18:00 on Mondays, 09:00 to 18:00 from Tuesday to Friday and 10:00 to 18:00 at weekends, and Monday afternoon opening is useful because many Brussels museums close that day. It closes on several days around Christmas and New Year. Allow two to three hours if you want to see all five floors properly; a focused visit to one or two periods takes about an hour.

The museum is in Parc Léopold, between the European Parliament and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Schuman metro station is within walking distance, and the Parlamentarium visitor centre next to the Parliament makes a natural companion visit. The Place du Luxembourg, with its cafés, is just round the corner.