This weekend, Belgium is celebrating its annual Fête de la Musique, offering hundreds of free, live concerts to tourists and locals alike across Brussels and Wallonia. At the same time, the capital’s much-loved Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) is marking its 25th anniversary in its historic building. The Brussels Times spoke to the museum's art historian Stéphane Colin to find out more.
The MIM has stood majestically at its site overlooking Mont des Arts for 25 years. But the building’s history goes back much further, says Colin, a double bass player who began making guides at the museum in 1997 and was there for its reopening in 2000. "The line between work and leisure has become a bit blurred," he admits.
Credit: KMKG-MRAH
He says the building in which the museum is now located was once the Old England department store, which opened in Brussels in 1882, initially in the 18th century building on the corner of the Place Royale. "The Old England department stores were a British luxury chain, in Brussels and Paris among others. The department store took over this old building, expanding and gradually pushing out the other institutions that were in the building."
In 1899, as they were lacking space, they bought some houses in the buildings next door and reconstructed them to create the Art Nouveau building we see today, to serve as an extension of the store and designed by architect Paul Saintenoy."
The MIM building at the top of Mont des Arts. Credit: KMKG-MRAH
Around the same time, in 1877, the Musical Instruments Museum was founded, with its collection housed in an annex of the Royal Conservatoire of Music on Rue aux Laines. The Conservatoire, meanwhile, moved into a new building designed by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar on Rue de la Régence.
The museum also acquired a large town house on the corner with Place du Petit Sablon. But as the collection grew and the conditions in which the instruments were stored needed to be improved, new premises were needed.
By 1926, the situation had become so dire that Louis Cavens threatened to reclaim the items he had gifted to the museum if the government did not take appropriate action. And so, as a temporary solution, the space on Rue aux Laines was made bigger and the Sablon building was converted into an exhibition space.
It was only in 2000, however, that the museum moved to the Old England building at Mont des Arts. The department store had closed in 1974 due to financial difficulties, Colin explains, leaving the beautiful building abandoned. The Belgian State bought the building in 1978 with the idea of housing the museum there. Restoration works began in the mid-1990s, and in 1998, the museum officially received the keys to the renovated building. The MIM finally reopened its doors on 2 May 2000, in the current building.
MIM's family trail. Credit: KMKG-MRAH
One of the richest collections in the world
Over the years, the MIM has evolved a great deal. In 1924, the museum's first curator Victor-Charles Mahillon significantly expanded the institution, growing its collection to 3,666 pieces. It now boasts over 12,000 instruments.
Credit: KMKG-MRAH
The most interesting on display? "Well, it depends on who you ask!" he laughs. But he says he recommends visitors spend time admiring the striking world instruments section. "There are great Tibetan trombones, we have very beautiful java gamelan with marionettes, we have very beautiful Chinese instruments as well, which people are used to seeing."
Credit: KMKG-MRAH
In recent years, the floor layout has changed and the audio guide system has been improved. The curators have also adapted the two lower floors to include instruments of the world and the electro-acoustic instruments, the historian adds.
The museum also now offers events throughout the year, participates in Museum Night Fever, offers lunchtime concerts on Thursdays and Sundays, and collaborates with the National Orchestra of Belgium to organise school visits. Colin says he hopes this collaboration and pedagogical approach can continue to grow in the future to introduce more children to the world of music.
MIM concert hall. Credit: KMKG-MRAH
To celebrate both its 25th anniversary and Fête de la Musique, today (22 June) the museum is opening its doors for free all day, and offering guided tours, workshops, concerts and special access to areas usually closed to the public.
Why sets this museum apart from others in Brussels? "It's a museum which teaches us about music, and of all forms of expression, I think that music is perhaps the one that touches the most people and the most deeply," Colin says.
"We also have one of the richest collections of musical instruments in the world, with a variety of instruments from all regions of the world and from all times, from prehistory to the 21st century. So it's quite exceptional to be able to see such a variety of musical instruments in one place."
