Brussels Bruxelles - Amsterdam Bruges and Brussels - page 391

this simple question, 'What does that mean'? It does not mean anything,
because mystery means nothing either, it is unknowable.”
J See Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium Tour on
page 418.
s Musical Instruments Museum (Musée des Instruments
de Musique) —One of Europe's best music museums (nick-
named “MIM”) is housed in one of Brussels' most impressive Art
Nouveau buildings, the newly renovated
Old English department store. Inside,
you'll be given a pair of headphones and
set free to wander several levels: folk
instruments from around the world on
the ground f loor, a history of Western
musical instruments on the f irst, and
an entire f loor devoted to strings and
pianos on the second. Part of the Royal
Museum of Art and History (described
later in this chapter), this museum has
more than 1,500 instruments—from Egyptian harps, to medieval
lutes, to groundbreaking harpsichords, to the Brussels-built saxo-
phone. As you approach an instrument, you hear it playing on your
headphones (which actually work...most of the time). The museum
is skimpy on English information—except for a laminated sheet
in each section that simply identifies instruments—but the music
you'll hear is an international language (€5, Tue-Fri 9:30-17:00,
Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00, closed Mon, last entry 45 min before clos-
ing, Rue Montagne de la Cour 2, just downhill and toward Grand
Place from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, tel. [phone],
www.mim.fgov.be). The sixth f loor has a restaurant, a terrace,
and a great view of Brussels (€10-15 plats du jour , same hours as
museum, pick up free access pass at museum entrance).
ss BeLvue Museum —his brilliant museum, which fills two
palatial floors, offers far and away the best look in town at Belgian
history. The exhibit, with lots of real
historical artifacts, illustrates the
short sweep of this nation's story, from
its 1830 inception to today: kings,
its bloody reign in the Congo, Art
Nouveau, and world wars. The rooms
proceed in chronological order, and
outside in the hallway, displays on the
monarchy provide a chance to get to
know the generally much-loved royal
family with intimate family photos.
To make the most of your visit, fol-
low along with the wonderful and