The Nocturnes of the Brussels museums return this year from 13 March to 24 April, a month earlier than in previous years. Every Thursday evening, a selection of museums will exceptionally open their doors from 6 PM to 10 PM.
As every year, Brussels Museums which organizes the event, has carefully considered the location of the participating museums, ensuring that each week, several of them are within walking distance of each other. Beyond the exceptional evening access to permanent collections and exhibitions, the 48 participating museums will offer exclusive experiences to visitors: guided tours, workshops, behind-the-scenes, outdoor activities over the museum walls, and—new this year—performances, concerts, and slow visits (visits in a lower-stimuli environment).
A programme full of new discoveries
The 2025 edition of Nocturnes is packed with new highlights. The Meunier Museum, the Braille Museum, and the Halle Gate—where visitors can try carrying the famous Meyboom giants—are making a return. The Coudenberg Palace joins the programme after its temporary closure, and the Jewish Museum of Belgium will exceptionally open its doors for one evening despite ongoing renovation works.
At BELvue, visitors can enjoy slow visits, while at CINEMATEK, a choir will accompany a selection of short films. Espace Allende will host a classical concert. The Charlier Museum will transform visitors into detectives for the evening, while GardeRobe MannekenPis and the Belgian Museum of Freemasonry will give the floor to experts with unique insights.
This year, the Nocturnes will also extend beyond Brussels with the participation of the Meise Botanic Garden, the FeliXart & Eco Museum, and the Wellington Museum.
A focus on inclusion
Open Museum, an initiative by Brussels Museums aimed at raising awareness of accessibility and inclusion in museums, is partnering this year with two socio-cultural associations, Arts & Culture and Architecture qui dégenre, to offer a more inclusive programme. Guided tours in Belgian French Sign Language (LSFB) will be available at La Loge, the Children’s Museum, the Coudenberg Palace and the Insitute of Natural Sciences. Maison Cauchie and Wittockiana, will offer visits highlighting women artists, focusing on the artist Lina Cauchie and the role of craftswomen on bookbinding.
Additionally, several free museums are taking part in the Nocturnes, including the Brotherhood of Parachutist Agents 1940-45, La Maison des Arts, La Loge, the three participating ULB museums, the Meunier Museum, the Maurice Carême Museum, the Braille Museum, the D’Ieteren Gallery, the Arte-fac Albert Couvreur Museum, the Museum of the National Bank of Belgium, and the AMVB.
Contest: spot the oddity
To celebrate this 25th edition, a special challenge will be organised during the Nocturnes. Every Thursday, two museums will temporarily swap one artwork, and visitors who successfully identify them will have the chance to win Museum Night Fever tickets, Museum Night Fever pouches and posters from the previous Nocturnes editions.
Participating museums
13.03: CIVA, Fraternelle des Agents Parachutistes 1940-45, La Loge, Meunier Museum (RMFAB), ULB Chemistry Experimentarium, ULB Espace Allende, ULB Museum of Medicinal Plants and Pharmacy and Wellington Museum
20.03: Braille Museum, Erasmus House & Beguinage of Anderlecht, FeliXart & Eco Museum, Maurice Carême Museum, Sewer Museum and WIELS
27.03: Art et marges, Children’s Museum, d’Ieteren Gallery, Géopolis and Halle Gate
03.04: BELvue Museum, Black Sisters Museum and Museum of Museum of Modern Religious Art (Basilica of Koekelberg), Choco Story, CINEMATEK, Coudenberg Palace, GardeRobe MannekenPis and Jewish Museum of Belgium
10.04: Charlier Museum, Clockarium, LAB·AN x van Eetvelde, La Maison des Arts, Maison Autrique, Museum of Spontaneous Art and Schaerbeek Beer Museum
17.04: Arte-fac Albert Couvreur Museum, La Centrale, La Fonderie, Meise Botanic Garden, MigratieMuseumMigration, Planetarium of Brussels and Wittockiana.
24.04: Archive and Museum for flemish Life in Brussels (AMVB), Belgian Museum of Freemasonry, Institute of Natural Sciences, Maison Cauchie, Maison Hannon, Museum of Erotics and Mythology (MEM) and Museum of the National Bank of Belgium
Plan your visit:
Thursday 13 March – 24 April 2025 – 48 Brussels museums
Museums open their doors from 18:00 till 22:00
Full programme is available on nocturnes.brussels.
Prices (for 1 museum visit)
Standard price: 7€
Reduced price – Youth (age 13-25) or European Disability Card: 4€
Children (age 0-12): free
*exception: at the Children’s Museum, a ticket (4€) is required for children (age 3-12)
Art Nouveau Pass: free in partner museums
There are social discount rates available at partner museums of Article 27 (€1,25 a ticket) and Paspartoe (€2 a ticket)
Points of sale:
Online: nocturnes.brussels
At the participating museums during the evening itself.
