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KBR museum

Belgium has been hiding a treasure for 600 years

Six centuries ago, Brussels belonged to the rich and powerful Dukes of Burgundy. Skilled politicians and cultured patrons, they established a stirring treasure, a unique and fascinating collection of manuscripts: the Library of the Dukes of Burgundy.

These masterpieces, which have survived the ravages of time and history, have been looked after by KBR and can now be admired at the KBR museum. Explore Europe’s medieval cultural past and then admire the magnificent illuminated manuscripts from the ducal library.

Although manuscripts form the heart of the museum, the KBR museum is much more than just looking at books. There is also a lot to experience!

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Museum experience

Watch manuscript characters dance on the ceiling or let them whisper stories in your ear. Do you prefer to get hands-on with history? Design your own miniature, test your copying skills or date a manuscript.

You also get to touch and listen: feel the materials from which a manuscript was made and hear polyphonic music from the 15th century.

In addition to the KBR museum, there is a lot to discover at KBR: the courtyard garden, the concert hall,… Find out what KBR has to offer you during a day trip.

A museum for everyone

Everybody is different, and so is every museum visit. Choose which course you want to follow in the museum:

  • In-depth tour: Savour the knowledge from Dukes’ library. We offer in-depth information on all the documents on display. Take the time to explore each piece in detail.
  • Discovery tour: Everything you need to know, in a nutshell. The explanations are shorter, but equally historically correct.
  • Children’s tour: Child-friendly explanations – secretly also fun for adults.

Are you visiting the museum with children? Be sure to read the page about the children’s tour and discover how there is something for every age.

A page is turned every 6 months

Did you know that a manuscript is too fragile to be on display all the time? In order to protect them, we change the exhibits 2 times a year. Since 22 November, you can admire a completely new selection of manuscripts and miniatures. Take a look at the agenda to discover the activities.

To the agenda

Dive into the Middle Ages

Would you like to prepare your visit? Get to know the KBR museum by reading a series of fascinating facts that will take you back to the time of the Burgundian Dukes. Discover why you shouldn’t trust rabbits and that history books sometimes dare to lie.

Discover the facts

Museum blog

Curious about the do’s-and-don’ts according to the curators of the KBR museum? Learn all about the manuscripts from the KBR museum and discover the stories behind the most extraordinary miniatures.

Read the blog

Practical information

Opening hours

  • Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 10 am – 5 pm
  • Closed on 1 January, Easter and Easter Monday, 1 May, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, 21 July, 15 August, 1 November, 11 November, 25 December

Tickets and prices

To validate free or concessions tickets which you bought online, you must show your discount certificate at the KBR information desk before you visit the KBR museum.

  • Standard ticket: 11 EUR
  • Reduced tickets: 8 EUR
    • 65+, students, groups of min. 15 people, Davidsfonds, Cultuursmakers
  • Free:
    • <18 years, visitors with a disability (+ 1 accompanying adult), Lerarenkaart, Carte PROF, jobseekers, ICOM card, PASS musées, Belspo card, Brussels Card, valid press card
  • PASS musées: 59 EUR
    • The PASS musées gives you one year’s access to the KBR museum and 180 other museums in Belgium (only available at the ticket desk).

Buy tickets

Location & accessibility

KBR – Mont des Arts 28, 1000 Brussels.

  • Both the building and the museum are accessible for visitors with disabilities. Holders of a disabled parking permit can find parking spaces in front of the building, at Boulevard de l’Empereur 4.
  • KBR is accessible by public transport as well as by car and bicycle.
  • Use the SNCB code on your online museum ticket to buy a Discovery Ticket and travel to Brussels-Central and back with a 50% discount.
More about accessibility

Your visit

  • We advise you to book your tickets online, but it is possible to buy tickets at the ticket desk with a payment card.
  • Choose the time slot during which you want to start your visit and visit the museum at your own pace.
  • A visit to the KBR museum lasts 1 to 2 hours on average.
  • Folding chairs are available at the museum.
  • It is allowed to take pictures without a flash in the entire museum.
  • You can safely store your belongings in the lockers at the entrance hall of KBR.

Guided tours

During your guided tour of the KBR museum, you will explore Europe’s medieval cultural past and learn all about the magnificent illuminated manuscripts that form the heart of the museum. Discover the fascinating 15th century with an experienced guide!

Discover the offer

Take a virtual tour

Do you want to see a sneak peek of the KBR museum before your visit? Thanks to the 3D scanning of Virtual Brussels Museums you can walk into the KBR museum on your smartphone or computer in no time.

Start your tour

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