Dominik Gehl Photography

The BELvue Museum, located in Brussels' Royal Quarter, is a history museum dedicated to exploring Belgium's national identity and societal development. Managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, the museum offers a thematic and interactive exhibition that delves into seven key aspects of Belgian society: democracy, prosperity, solidarity, pluralism, migration, language, and Europe.

https://www.belvue.be/en/museum

In 2000, a subterranean passage was constructed to connect the museum with the archaeological remains of the former Coudenberg Palace, further enriching the site's historical context.

former Coudenberg Palace

The museum is housed in the Hôtel Belle-Vue, an 18th-century neoclassical building situated between Place des Palais and Place Royale, adjacent to the Royal Palace of Brussels. Originally constructed in 1776 by wine merchant Philippe de Proft as a luxury hotel, it hosted numerous notable guests over the years, including European royalty and prominent cultural figures, such as Honoré de Balzac, Franz Liszt and Sarah Bernhardt. In 1905, King Leopold II acquired the building to integrate it with the Royal Palace, commissioning renovations that included the addition of a monumental staircase.

monumental staircase

fountain

spiral staircase

Significant renovations were undertaken between 1997 and 2001 by the architectural firm Art & Build to enhance the museum's facilities. These renovations introduced a glass-roofed atrium that provides natural light and views of the Royal Palace gardens.