Search the collections of the Royal Library of Belgium
In the Footsteps of Bart Van Loo and the Burgundians
Until 18 October 2026, the master storyteller Bart Van Loo takes you on a historical walk through the heart of Burgundian Brussels and the KBR museum. As guest curator he has selected exceptional manuscripts and miniatures from KBR’s rich collections.
Visit the KBR museum
Dive into the enchanting world of ancient manuscripts, polyphonic music and illuminated miniatures. Discover the magnificent Library of the Dukes of Burgundy-Habsburg and enjoy a unique musical experience.
Opening hours
• The reading room is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The KBR museum is open every day (except Monday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Consulting the collections
With a valid reader’s card, you can consult the collections in the reading room. Documents can be reserved in advance via the online catalogue.
Studying at KBR
The study room at KBR is an oasis of calm in the middle of the city. Here, you can study, work or do research undisturbed.
Agenda
Lunchtime concert : Trio Becel
16.10.2026 @ 12:30 – 13:30
Musicians Léonore Frommlet, flute Gergely Kota, viola Alyssia Hondekijn, harp Programme Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Sonata […]
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Museum Night Fever
17.10.2026 @ 19:00 – 18.10.2026 @ 01:00
Museum Night Fever is coming back to KBR! On 17 October, the richly illuminated manuscripts of […]
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Lunchtime concert: Quatuor Taurus
13.11.2026 @ 12:30 – 13:30
Musicians Wietse Beels, violin Liesbeth Baelus, violin Vincent Hepp, viola Martijn Vink, cello Lucía Alonso Hernández, […]
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MetaBelgica: Shared Heritage, Shared Data
18.11.2026 @ 09:00 – 16:40
How can we collaborate across institutions and domains to curate heritage data? How can authority data, […]
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Script and Sound Seminar 2026: Early Music Research at KBR
26.11.2026 @ 16:00 – 18:30
The Script and Sound Seminar provides a platform for early music research at KBR – Royal […]
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News
A new collection of novelisations at KBR
KBR recently welcomed a unique collection of novelisations, donated to the library by Jan Baetens, professor emeritus of Cultural Studies at […]
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Heatwave : protect yourself from the heat
During periods of extreme heat, federal museums are stepping up to provide accessible “cool zones” for everyone.
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KBR publishes acquisition registers of the Print Room online
KBR has made its acquisition registers for the prints and drawings collection available online for the period 1933–1966. With this initiative, the Royal Library of Belgium opens up a valuable resource for researchers and the wider public.
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The first Antarctic expedition: tracing the voyage of the Belgica
125 years ago, on Monday 16 August 1897, the converted Norwegian sealer ship Belgica left the […]
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Ukiyo-e: discover the digitised collection of Japanese prints
Browse more than 750 Japanese prints online.
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Ukraine’s geopolitical history in 10 old maps
Discover 10 old maps from our cartographic collection that illustrate the geopolitical history of Ukraine.
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KBR acquires autograph manuscript by César Franck
KBR acquired the autograph manuscript of the orchestrated version of the ‘Messe for three voices in A major’ by Liège composer César Franck.
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