House of European History reaches one million visitors

A new milestone for the House of European History in Brussels – the museum located in the European district has reached one million visits since opening in 2017! A university student from Portugal became the museum’s one millionth visitor on 12th November. Raquel Correia (20) was part of a visitors’ group organised by the European Federation of Police Unions.

The House of European History was opened in the former Eastman Building in 2017 and has grown to become part of the Belgian cultural landscape, with free exhibitions open seven days a week, learning activities and regular events. The permanent exhibition displays the history of the continent and main events that have united and divided Europeans through time, with a focus on modern European History.

Raquel, the millionth person to enter the museum, was part of a visitors’ group organised by the European Federation of Police Unions. Welcoming Correia, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola noted that the landmark visit comes at a significant moment for European democracy.

“It is important now more than ever before that we continue to learn lessons from the past and to write our own history together. With war returning to European soil and with geopolitical tensions on the rise globally, we must keep talking about our continent’s democratic traditions and our shared European values of freedom, democracy and rule of law,” President Metsola said.

Ms. Correia, a European studies student who had come to the European Parliament campus from Porto in Portugal, said she was honoured to be the museum’s one millionth visitor. As shared by her, the visit was an opportunity to “understand the history and legacy of the European Union. I already believe in Europe as a whole – the museum’s permanent exhibition made me feel more connected to other Europeans.”

President Metsola concluded by noting that the House of European History “shows us how the peoples of Europe have managed to look beyond what divided them and embrace what unites them. It helps us to understand who we are, how far we have come – and what our shared future could be.”

To learn more about the museum and its initiatives, visit the website of the House of European History or check other relevant activities in the European Quarter in Brussels.

Source & photo: House of European History / BeCulture