The 10 Most Unusual Museums In Brussels
These quirky and unusual museums hidden around Brussels tell stories you won’t find in the halls of Bozar or BELvue. From collections of underpants worn by celebrities to comic book figurines and the history of the city’s sewers, take the opportunity to learn something new by visiting one of these weird and wonderful destinations.
Clockarium
Building, Museum
Clockarium
If you want to journey back in time, you should pay a visit to the Clockarium, a museum filled with Art Deco ceramic clocks. During the 1920s and 30s, the Art Deco faïence clock was all the rage and proudly decorated every common home in Belgium and Northern France. The museum pays tribute to this time period by displaying more than a thousand clocks of various shapes, styles and decorations in its Art Deco building. You can even combine it with teatime for an extra €10.
Hours: Sun 2:55-4:30 p.m.
Price: 6€ (Private visits between 5€ and 25€)
Address: 163 Boulevard Reyers, 1030 Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium +32 2 732 08 28
The Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick | © The Arty Farty Cool Dude/WikiCommons
Museum of Fantastic Art
Museum
Hours: Sat-Sun 2-5 p.m. (May-September)
Price: 6€ (Free on the first Sunday of every month)
Museum of Original Figurines
Museum
Hours: Tue-Sun 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Price: 6€
Street Light Museum
Museum
Hours: Mon-Sun 12 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Price: Free
Underwear Museum
Founded by the filmmaker of The Sexual Life of the Belgians, Jan Bucuoy’s Underwear Museum is perhaps the quirkiest museum on the list. Following the philosophy that all men are equal, Bucuoy gathered underwear worn by Belgian celebrities from the Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders to Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur and put it on display in De Dolle Mol café. Those interested in paying a visit to the museum can now view these famous undergarments at Chez Claude.
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Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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2. Egypt
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Fencing Museum
Museum, Park
Hours: On appointment, Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
International Puppet Museum
Museum, Theater
International Puppet Museum
Containing almost 4,000 puppets from around the world, the International Puppet Museum is great to visit in combination with a puppet show at the Théâtre Royal du Peruchet next door. Some of the puppets are more than 200 years old, and they range from theatrical traditions as diverse as the Commedia dell’Arte to the Shadow Theater of the Orient.
Price: Free in combination with a puppet show (9€)
Address: 50 Avenue de la Forêt, 1050 Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium +32 2 673 87 30
Learn more about the Belgian police | © Eoghan O’Lionnain/Flickr
Police Museum
Museum
Hours: On appointment only, from Mon-Fri 9-12am/1-4:30pm
Price: Free
Sewers Museum
Museum
Hours: On appointment, Wed-Sat 10am-5pm
Museum of Erotics and Mythology
Museum
Hours: Mon 2-8pm, Thu-Fri 2-8pm & Sat-Sun 11am-5:30pm
Price: 10€
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