Musee des Instruments de Musique

This museum of musical instruments was very interesting. It is housed in the Old English Building, which used to be a department store. The self guided tour is excellent, as you input a number to the audio guide and then hear the sound of the instrument you are looking at in the display being played. The collection is extensive, and it was interesting to see how many countries, for example, used bag pipes or some version of pipes and a bag. I knew there would be a large range of stringed instruments, but again, the diversity of shape and sound was very interesting. There was a whole floor dedicated to keyboards, as they claim that the only instrument that definitely has its origins in Europe is the keyboard.

The architecture of the building was also lovely, as it was once a department store, it had a lovely central lift that was fully operational. We caught the lift to the top floor where there is a restaurant and terrace that affords you wonderful views across Brussels.Read more