Parlamentarium

The Parlamentarium is the visitor centre of the European Parliament, located at Rue Wiertz 60 in the European Quarter of Brussels, beside the Parliament buildings. Admission is free, and the centre is designed as an interactive introduction to the European Union, its history and the way laws are made. Exhibits span a large, modern hall, with multimedia displays, a timeline of European integration, and installations that explain how the Parliament's members are elected and how decisions are reached. Free audio guides are available in many of the EU's official languages, and a panoramic film presents Europe's story through personal accounts. Visitors move at their own pace through the exhibition, which is built around screens and touch interaction rather than traditional objects, and a typical visit takes about ninety minutes. School groups are common on weekday mornings, and weekends can be busy with families, but the building is large and rarely feels overcrowded. Opening hours vary on parliamentary holidays, so checking in advance is sensible, and security checks apply at the entrance. Photography is usually permitted for personal use in the exhibition areas. The centre is a seven-minute walk from Maelbeek metro station, and buses 34, 80 and 95 serve the area. It pairs well with a walk through Parc Léopold or a visit to the nearby Museum of Natural Sciences, and with the House of European History, a short distance away, for visitors who want a deeper look at the continent's past. The Parlamentarium is useful for first-time visitors who want to understand why Brussels hosts so many European institutions.