Royal Army Museum (Museum of Military History)

The Royal Army Museum, officially the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, is located in the Parc du Cinquantenaire at Parc du Cinquantenaire 3 in Brussels. It is one of Europe's major military museums and has free entry to its permanent collection. The collection fills large halls of the park's colonnaded buildings and is organised by theme and period, tracing the military history of Belgium and Europe. Visitors see armour and weapons from the medieval and early modern periods, uniforms, medals and artefacts from the Napoleonic wars, extensive displays on the two world wars including tanks, vehicles and artillery, and an Air and Space hall with historic aircraft arranged beneath a vast iron-and-glass roof. The aviation hall is often a highlight, with fighters, bombers and helicopters displayed at close range and a platform for viewing from above. A full visit takes around two hours, though enthusiasts may spend half a day. Weekday afternoons are generally quiet, whereas weekends and school holidays bring more families. Photography is usually permitted for personal use. The museum is a six-minute walk from Merode or Schuman metro stations. Opening days and hours can change, and certain sections have been closed for renovation, so visitors should check the museum's website before travelling. Since the museum shares the park with Autoworld and the Cinquantenaire Museum, it is easy to combine a visit with a walk around the triumphal arch and the lawns. A café and shop are available, and the large halls are comfortable in poor weather.