A day out in the Parc du Cinquantenaire, Brussels.

Barry Pickard
Oct 29
6 min read

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Author: Barry Pickard

Hi, I'm Barry, the owner of Tailor-Made Itineraries and I have been designing bespoke self-guided tours for adventurous and curious travellers since 2015. I am a history graduate with a passion for travel.

I created this blog to show, through my own adventures, how you can have an incredible travel experience as an independent traveller, giving you the information to navigate the world with confidence.

The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History

Autoworld

The Art and History Museum

The Parc du Cinquantenaire

The Pavillon Horta-Lambeaux

Conclusion

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Where can you find vintage Belgian cars, F-16 fighter jets, ancient Egyptian artifacts, and a hidden Victor Horta temple all within walking distance of each other in Brussels? The answer lies within the grand gates of Parc du Cinquantenaire, where the morning crunch of gravel under your feet mingles with the distant hum of European Union traffic, the musty scent of century-old museum halls competes with the fresh aroma of park lime trees, and the echo of your footsteps through vast exhibition spaces tells the story of Belgium's most ambitious cultural celebration.

I'm Barry Pickard, and during my years of crafting European itineraries, I've learned that some of the continent's most rewarding cultural experiences are hiding in plain sight within urban parks that tourists often overlook. When I discovered that this single park – built to commemorate Belgium's 50th anniversary of independence – houses three world-class museums, stunning 1905 triumphal architecture, and Victor Horta's lesser-known early work, I realized I'd stumbled upon one of Brussels' best-kept secrets for independent explorers.

That first glimpse of the U-shaped complex's imposing triumphal arch taught me everything about Belgian ambition – they weren't content to build just another city park but created an entire cultural district that rivals any European capital's museum quarter. From discovering Belgium's forgotten car manufacturers like Minerva and Imperia to standing beneath the wings of military aircraft on a secret rooftop terrace, every corner revealed why you could easily spend an entire day here without ever feeling like you're rushing through tourist attractions.

Triumphal Arch, Parc du Cinquantenaire, Brussels

You've found the perfect guide to maximize your time in this cultural treasure trove. Every tip in this post comes from my own full-day exploration, every hidden gem discovered through my own wandering, and every practical detail tested during hours of moving between three completely different museums. I've learned which museum offers the best panoramic views, where to find Victor Horta's surprising early neoclassical work, and how to structure your visit to make the most of this unique concentration of Belgian culture and history.

Whether you're seeking a break from Brussels' crowded tourist centre or looking to understand Belgium's rich industrial and artistic heritage, these tried-and-tested insights will show you how to experience everything from medieval Armor to Art Nouveau jewellery, from royal automobiles to ancient civilizations – all within the peaceful setting of one of Europe's most beautifully planned cultural parks.

Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these attractions appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the wonderful sights of the Parc du Cinquantenaire, or indeed, a general tour of Brussels itself.

Click For A Bespoke Itinerary Now

The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History

Our first stop was the building on the northern side, which houses The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History. This military museum opened in 1923 and its collections cover ten centuries of military history, from medieval armours to present-day armoured vehicles and airplanes, including the recent addition of a F-16 Fighting Falcon.

We took a couple of hours to walk round, but any military enthusiast could spend far longer. Our favourite part was the aviation section, where you can get up close to many iconic aircraft.

The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History, Brussels

A somewhat hidden feature of the museum is the roof terrace. It is well worth seeking this out, since you get breath-taking views of the park and European Quarter.

Autoworld

Directly across from the military museum is Autoworld – a total delight for anyone interested in automobiles. The museum is based on the Mahy Collection and has a permanent display of more than 250 vehicles. However, the entire collection actually amounts to around 1,000 vehicles.

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Autoworld displays some of the earliest cars all the way through to modern classics in the making. There are special sections on sports cars, automobiles of the Belgian Royal Family and micro / bubble cars. Interestingly, the collection also focuses on Belgian makes, such as Minerva, Germain, FN, Imperia, Fondu, Vivinus, Nagant, Belga-Rise and Miesse, all car manufacturers that we had never actually heard of.

The Art and History Museum

Around the corner from Autoworld resides The Art and History Museum. This museum consists of several parts, which include a national collection of artefacts from prehistory to the Merovingian period (751AD), and a collection of artefacts from the antiquity of the Near East, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Also on display are artefacts from non-European civilisations, such as China, Japan, Korea, pre-Columbian America and the Islamic world.

The big draw for us, however, was the Horta exhibition which was being displayed for a number of months during 2018. The museum had painstakingly recreated the interior of the Wolfers Frères jewellery shop, with is stunning mahogany display cases. During its most successful period Wolfers Frères had commissioned the Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta to design their new Brussels store in 1912. To top it all off, the exhibition has filled the display cases with beautiful Art Nouveau jewellery.

Horta Wolfers Exhibition, The Art and History Museum, Brussels

The Parc du Cinquantenaire

After checking out the museums, it was now time to breathe in the fresh air and relax in the park. We walked from the National Exhibition buildings down the full length of the park. In the north-wester corner of the park, we found the Great Mosque of Brussels. It is the oldest mosque in Brussels and is the seat of the Islamic and Cultural Centre of Belgium. Also, next door to the mosque, is the alluringly named Temple of Human Passions, which is also known as the Pavillon Horta-Lambeaux.

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The Pavillon Horta-Lambeaux

This building is a neoclassical pavilion built by Victor Horta in 1896 in the form of a Greek temple. Although classical in appearance at first sight, the building does not have a single straight line. The design by the young Horta shows his first steps along his journey to developing his famous Art Nouveau style. The pavilion was built to house Jef Lambeaux’s large marble relief called ‘Human Passions’. The temple has quite a restricted set of opening times, so unfortunately, we were unable to enter, so we will have to put it on our bucket list for our next visit!

Conclusion

As I walked the full length of the park back toward the European Quarter, I reflected on how Parc du Cinquantenaire had delivered something truly rare in European travel – a complete cultural immersion that felt both educational and relaxing, comprehensive yet unhurried. From marvelling at the engineering of early Belgian automobiles to standing on that hidden military museum rooftop taking in the panoramic views, from discovering Victor Horta's surprising neoclassical early work to exploring civilizations spanning from prehistoric Belgium to ancient Egypt, this single park had provided the depth and diversity that usually requires running between multiple districts. The genius of Belgium's 50th independence anniversary planners was creating not just monuments to their past, but a living cultural space that continues to reward curious independent travellers with discoveries that can easily fill an entire day of authentic Brussels exploration.