The Bruxella 1238 Archaeological Museum, located under the Brussels Stock Exchange, has been officially re-opened following extensive renovations.
The refurbished layout now provides the public with views of the ruins of a former medieval monastery.
The renovation work focused on improving the museum's accessibility and displays. This included removing the previous glass structures, adding round skylights that allow passersby to marvel at the ruins from the street, and building a new entrance to the Stock Exchange building.
The updated interactive exhibit also features a comprehensive timeline of the site’s history, medieval artefacts and enhanced historical information.
Bruxella 1238 hosts the foundations of a section of a 13th-century Franciscan convent, including the tomb of Jean 1, Duke of Brabant, who inspired the legend of Gambrinus — the legendary King of Beer.
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The Royal Archaeological Society of Brussels led the refurbishment project, which was financed by urban.brussels, an administrative body that supports the sustainable territorial development of the capital region. The project also enjoyed the support of archaeologists from urban.brussels and the Royal Museums of Art and History.
The museum’s reopening is part of a broader revitalisation of the Stock Exchange building, including the Belgian Beer World, which opened in September last and celebrates Belgium’s rich beer heritage.
“We are immensely proud to have renovated this iconic building and to have made it accessible to the general public," Brussels Mayor Philippe Close said. "The Stock Exchange marks a new phase in its transformation into a new, multifunctional space open to all.”
The museum will be open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm from Tuesdays to Sundays, for an entry fee of €5. It will also be accessible to persons with a ticket for the Belgian Beer World.
