Royal Museum of Arts Archives

Brussels Museums and Ice Cream Delights for Summer Explorers

Posted on July 4, 2025July 4, 2025 by worldcityguides

Summer in Brussels can be a mixed bag. One day it’s blazing sunshine and the next? Surprise rainstorm! But don’t worry – whether you’re trying to cool down or dodge the drizzle, Brussels has you covered. Literally. In the form of air-conditioned museums and refreshingly delicious ice cream spots.

So let’s dive into how you can enjoy the capital like a pro this summer.

Museums That Save the Day (Rain or Shine)

Brussels boasts an impressive range of museums, perfect for escaping both heatwaves and showers. Here are a few you shouldn’t miss:

1. Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
If you’re looking for the big hitters, this is your place. Magritte, Rubens, Bruegel – they’re all here. The museum is huge (read: air-conditioned bliss) and offers something for all tastes. Check it out here.

2. Magritte Museum
Located within the Royal Museums complex but deserving its own mention. Step into the surreal world of Belgium’s most famous moustached artist. Great for kids, too – who doesn’t love floating men and apples?

3. BELvue Museum
Want to understand Belgium in one afternoon? This museum dives into the history, politics, and quirky facts that make the country tick. Bonus: it’s interactive and cool (literally and intellectually).

4. Train World
All aboard for an unexpectedly awesome experience! Even if you’re not a train enthusiast, Train World in Schaerbeek might just convert you. Massive halls, sleek locomotives, and enough buttons to keep curious fingers busy.

5. Art & History Museum (Cinquantenaire Park)
Escape the heat under the majestic arcades of Cinquantenaire and step into a museum that takes you from ancient Egypt to Art Nouveau. A true time-traveling escape from the weather!

Need more ideas? Brussels is brimming with exhibitions and events. Browse the full events calendar here.

Cool Down with a Cone: Best Ice Cream in Brussels

After soaking in some culture (or while bribing your kids), it’s time for everyone’s favorite summer ritual: ice cream! Brussels is blessed with artisanal gelato and quirky flavors, so here are the scoops you should chase:

1. Gaston
Located near the canal, Gaston is an institution. Think homemade ice cream, giant scoops, and even vegan options. Their mango sorbet on a hot day? Chef’s kiss.

2. Capoue
A Brussels classic. With multiple locations and over 40 flavors, Capoue has everything from vanilla to violet. Yes, violet. You’ll feel fancy.

3. Bargello
Italian gelato made with organic ingredients, served with a smile. Their pistachio is often hailed as the best in town. Located near Place Sainte-Catherine – museum hopping distance!

4. Il Monello
A hidden gem in the Uccle neighborhood. They take gelato seriously. Bonus: cute terrace.

5. Zizi
A family-run spot in Ixelles that’s been scooping happiness since 1948. Retro charm, creamy textures, and loyal fans.

Hot Tip: Mix and Match

Why not combine both worlds? Start your day at Train World, then hop on an actual train to central Brussels and reward yourself with a cone from Capoue. Or chill at the Magritte Museum and then float over to Bargello for some surrealist gelato dreams.

Looking for more summer fun? Don’t miss concerts, open-air festivals, and special museum nights like La Nuit des Musées (keep an eye on the Brussels events calendar for the 2026 date).

And remember: sunscreen for the sunny days, an umbrella for the rainy ones, and a sense of humor for everything in between.

Brussels: Summer-Ready, Rain-Resistant

Whether you’re escaping a scorcher or hiding from a storm, Brussels offers plenty of cozy, breezy, and tasty ways to enjoy the summer. So grab your museum pass, plan your snack stops, and get out there – weather be damned!

Still unsure where to start? Browse your go-to Brussels Guide for inspiration. Enjoy the adventure!

Exhibition on the works of Chagall

Posted on February 2, 2015February 2, 2015 by worldcityguides

There will be a major exhibition on Chagall at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium from the end of February to the end of June 2015. The exhibition focuses on the works of Chagall.

Marc Chagall was a Russian-French artist who was born in 1887 and he died in 1985. At the exhibition over 200 various art works will be presented to the visitors and the exhibition gives a special attention to the works of his Russian period. The wide collection of his art works show the main themes of his work such as the connection with the Jewish culture, the various folk traditions, his discovery on the 17th literature (La Fontaine) and the use of colour and light on his paintings. The early works of 1908s until the final works of 1980s will be on display in the museum. This colourful exhibition gives the chance to the visitors to have an overall look on the artist’s career and the main stages and development in his art.

The exhibition on Chagall will be held from 28th February 2015 until 28th June 2015. The exhibition will take place at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Rue de la Régence 3, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

For more information on the museum and the exhibition check the official site.

Exploring the works of Portaels

Posted on January 28, 2015 by worldcityguides

The exhibition on the famous Belgian artist will be shown at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium from the middle of February to the end of May. The exhibition ‘Portaels and the call of the Orient’ shows the works of the Belgian painter.

The famous Belgian painter Jean Portaels was born in 1818 and he died in 1895. He is known for being one of the most influential painters of the 19th century in Belgium. The exhibition will answer the unanswered questions and reveal the secrets of his works. The exhibition mostly focuses on the early days of the works of Portaels and the exhibition displays the works of Portaels of the Orient travels which he made between 1845 and 1847. He transferred the experiences from Egypt, Syria and Palestine to sketches and paintings and later in his life Orientalism became his major theme. The exhibition will show countless of works of the Belgian painter even paintings and sketches that has never been exhibited before.

The exhibition ‘Portaels and the call of the Orient’ will take place at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels from 10th February 2015 to 31st May 2015. The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 17.00, from Saturday to Sunday it is open from 11.00 to 18.00.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Rue de la Régence / Regentschapsstraat 3, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

For more information about museums in Brussels, click here.

Constantin Meunier exhibition

Posted on November 17, 2014May 4, 2015 by worldcityguides

There is a major exhibition about Constantin Meunier in Brussels at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. Constantin Meunier was a Belgian painter and sculptor who was born in 1831 and he died in 1905.

He is one of the most outstanding artists of Belgium and his work had a great influence on the art of the following generations. Constantin Meunier was one of the first artists who presented the social reality in Europe in the 19th century. He started his career as a sculptor and only between 1857 and 1884 he started painting. Meunier showed great interests for workers and he often presented them on his paintings. He was mostly interested in the miners in the Borinage region, women workers, steel workers and dock workers around Antwerp. The exhibition shows a wide range of different paintings from Meunier and let the visitors have a closer look on the pictures and the life of the painter. Through the pictures visitors have the chance to explore more on the life back his time and to see the social problems at the time in Belgium.

The exhibition is shown at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels. The exhibition is held from 20th September 2014 to 11th January 2015. The address of the museum is: “Rue de la Régence 3, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.”

If you want to know more on the exhibition and the museum check the official site for more information.

Kokoschka & Gauguin unravelled, See the invisible – Brussels exhibition

Posted on September 30, 2014September 30, 2014 by worldcityguides

The exhibition of Kokoschka and Gauguin unravelled will take place in Brussels at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

The exhibition will show two major paintings of Kokoschka and Gauguin. It presents the Portrait of Suzanne Bambridge by Gauguin and the Trance Player by Kokoschka. Paul Gauguin was a French Post-Impressionist. His art work was not appreciated until he died but his paintings and art work truly inspired the French avant-grade and well known painters such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Mattise. He was one of the most important figures of the Symbolist movement. Oskar Kokoschka was an Austrian painter and poet. He is best known for his intense expressionistic landscapes and portraits.

At the exhibition the two paintings are in the focus and with the new technology visitors will have the chance to have an inside look of the paintings and discover the pictures hidden secrets. The multispectral image analysis makes it possible for the visitors to explore the secrets the paintings may have and to learn more about the painters and their art works. The canvas characterization and crack detection will be monitored under close scrutiny. At the exhibition demo films, photographs and interactive films will explain the how this new technique, the multispectral image analysis works through the two paintings. The exhibition will take place at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium from 22nd July 2014 until 25th January 2015.

For more information on the exhibition check the official site. For information about other exhibitions and happenings in Brussels just click the link.