Old England is the Art Nouveau former department store at Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, in the Royal Quarter beside Mont des Arts. Designed by Paul Saintenoy and completed in 1899, its iron-and-glass frontage now identifies the Musical Instruments Museum, usually called the MIM. Travelers come for the extraordinary commercial architecture and collections that explain how instruments make sound across cultures and centuries. The museum moved here in 2000; its institutional origins date to 1877.
What to Expect at Old England
Start across the street, where you can take in the curved glazing, slender exposed metalwork, decorative iron details, and prominent Old England lettering. Saintenoy used the possibilities of iron and glass to create generous shop windows rather than a conventional masonry storefront. The corner rises into an ornate turret, giving the building a distinctive silhouette above the slope. The museum complex also incorporates an adjoining neoclassical building, so the famous facade is only part of the architectural story.
Inside, the emphasis shifts from looking to listening. The collections encompass European keyboard and orchestral instruments, instruments from musical traditions around the world, and mechanical and electronic sound-making. Look for saxophones associated with Belgian inventor Adolphe Sax, richly decorated historical keyboards, and the Componium, Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel’s remarkable 1821 mechanical instrument designed to generate musical variations. The museum’s audio interpretation lets visitors connect unfamiliar shapes with recorded sounds; leave time for listening rather than treating the galleries as a quick cabinet-by-cabinet walk.
- Art Nouveau frontage: Curving glass, exposed iron, and original store lettering distinguish Saintenoy’s 1899 design.
- Adolphe Sax connections: Saxophones illuminate Belgium’s contribution to nineteenth-century instrument innovation.
- Historical keyboards: Harpsichords and pianos reveal changing musical tastes, craftsmanship, and mechanisms.
- The Componium: Winkel’s mechanical invention explores music-making through automated variation.
- Listening-led galleries: Recorded examples help explain instruments whose sound is impossible to guess from appearance alone.
Old England at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium |
| Neighborhood / Area | Royal Quarter, beside Mont des Arts and Place Royale |
| Operating Hours | MIM: Tuesday–Friday, 9:30–17:00; Saturday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00. Closed Mondays; check holiday exceptions. |
| Admission & Ticket Prices | Exterior viewing is free; museum admission is paid. See MIM’s official website for current prices and concessions. |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1.5–2 hours; allow longer for extensive listening. |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Royale/Koning tram stop, lines 92 and 93; Brussels Central station, roughly 10 minutes on foot; paid Parking Albertine nearby. |
| Official Website / Phone | Musical Instruments Museum — official visitor information |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Arrive near opening on a weekday to give the listening displays your full attention before fitting in other Royal Quarter museums. Book through the MIM website and check temporary exhibition arrangements, concessions, and holiday closures there. Coudenberg Palace is a separate nearby attraction: its website and tickets do not cover Old England. From Brussels Central, also served by metro lines 1 and 5, the walk climbs through Mont des Arts. Trams 92 and 93 to Royale/Koning put you nearer the upper end of that slope; Parking Albertine is an option for drivers, but still leaves an uphill approach.
The museum has lifts between public gallery floors and accessible toilet facilities, making its multilevel collections workable for wheelchair users and families with strollers. Outside, the gradient and paving around Mont des Arts require more care; avoid the garden staircases when approaching with wheels. Contact the museum about specific mobility needs before traveling. Pair your visit with the Magritte Museum, about five minutes away, or Coudenberg Palace’s underground archaeological remains, also around five minutes away. For lunch afterward, the Grand Sablon’s cafes and restaurants are roughly a ten-minute walk. Check rooftop restaurant access separately rather than assuming it accompanies museum admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Old England open, and when should I visit?
The MIM normally opens Tuesday–Friday from 9:30 to 17:00 and weekends from 10:00 to 17:00. It closes Mondays. A weekday opening-time visit leaves a useful afternoon window for neighboring museums.
Is admission free, and should I reserve?
You can admire the exterior free of charge. Entry to the collections is paid; consult the official MIM website for current rates, reductions, and booking options. Reserve ahead for organized groups.
How much time should I allow?
Budget 1.5–2 hours for the facade and a selective museum visit. Enthusiastic listeners and instrument specialists can easily spend longer exploring recordings and the keyboard collections.
Is it suitable for children and wheelchair users?
Yes. Instrument sounds give children an accessible way into the collections, although displays are not a general hands-on playing area. Lifts and accessible toilets support wheelchair visits; plan carefully for the sloping streets outside.
When browsing more top-rated attractions in Brussels, consider pairing your visit with nearby highlights such as Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon (0.3 km away).
