Musée Oldmasters Museum
The remarkable collection of Old Masters, a testament to a rich past, spans from the 15th to the 18th century. Since 2025, the museum is gradually reintroducing new display sections into its museum route, extending up to the 21st century.
The core of the Old Masters collection lies in the Southern Netherlandish paintings, showcasing masterpieces from the 15th century by Rogier van der Weyden, Petrus Christus, Dirk Bouts, Hans Memling, Hieronymus Bosch, and Gerard David; from the 16th century, Pieter Bruegel the Elder is beautifully represented with major works such as The Fall of the Rebel Angels and The Census at Bethlehem. Furthermore, the Flemish school from the 15th to the 18th century is represented by Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Jacques Jordaens, while the French and Italian schools are featured through Simon Vouet, Philippe de Champaigne, Le Lorrain, Jusepe de Ribera, and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
The route is now enriched with new sections gradually incorporating works from the Fin-de-Siècle Museum and the Modern Museum (both currently inaccessible). Iconic works from the artistic boom around 1900 : James Ensor, Fernand Khnopff, Léon Spilliaert, etc. will gradually find their place in the permanent spaces. The public will also be able to revisit works by Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, Francis Bacon, Marcel Broodthaers, and Ann Veronica Janssens.
Temporary exhibitions and new galleries herald the return of modern and contemporary art to the permanent collections, which will be fully integrated into the Old Masters Museum route by the end of 2026. This reintegration ensures continuity between artistic periods and offers the public an in-depth and coherent reading of art history.
Find all information on current displays and exhibitions on the “Exhibitions & shows” page.
History of the collection
Its origins date back to the French Revolution, when many artworks were seized from religious institutions. Founded in 1801 by Napoleon, the Museum truly flourished following Belgian independence in 1830. In 1914, the de Grez donation enriched the collection with over 4,000 works on paper from the 16th to the 19th centuries (Hendrick Goltzius, Jacques de Gheyn the Younger, Rembrandt…).
Over time, numerous works have joined the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, shaping them into what they are today. The Modern and Contemporary Art collections cover the period from the late 18th century to the present day, including masterpieces like The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David (1748), as well as works by Constantin Meunier, James Ensor, Fernand Khnopff, Léon Spilliaert, Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, and Marcel Broodthaers. They reflect the diversity of contemporary artistic expression.
IMMERSIVE ROOM
During your visit, take a virtual stroll through the Bruegel room in the museum! Thanks to 3D digitization, you can explore in 360° with or without a VR headset. Zoom in on artworks, view available gigapixel images, or watch videos in which specialists share insights on Pieter Bruegel the Elder and his work.
Address
Musée Oldmasters Museum
Rue de la Régence/Regentschapsstraat 3
1000 Brussels
+32 (0)2 508 32 11
info@fine-arts-museum.be
Hours
Tuesdays – Fridays: 10:00-17:00
The ticket offices close at 16:30
Weekends: 11:00-18:00
The ticket offices close at 17:30
Closing days: Mondays, January 1st, 1 May, 18 June, 1 November, 11 November, 25 December
Map
Admission
INDIVIDUAL VISITORS |
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|---|---|
| Adult (19-64 years) | 10,00 € |
| Senior (+65 years) | 8,00 € |
| Student (-26 years) | 3,00 € |
| Youth (6-18 years) | 0,00 € |
| Child (-6 years) | 0,00 € |
| School teachers (except school group outing) | 3,00 € |
| Person with disability / 1 accompanying visitor (price p.p.) | 3,00 € |
| Belgian job seekers and integration income beneficiaries | 3,00 € |
| Article 27 | 1,25 € |
| Friends of the RMFAB / ICOM / BELSPO | 0,00 € |
| Fed+ card holder | 8,00 € |
| Press | 0,00 € |
A proof of eligibility is required for all reduced fees
