Musical Instruments Museum (MIM), Brussels

Musical Instruments Museum (MIM), Brussels (must see)

The Musical Instruments Museum started out as a place to display the musical instrument collection of two individuals: Françoise-Joseph Fétis and Raja Sourindro Mohun Tagore. The collection was further expanded under the leadership of the museum’s first curator, Victor-Charles Mahillo, who headed up the museum in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Subsequent contributions to the museum expanded the collection. Today, over 2,000 instruments are on display. The collection includes musical instruments from many countries and from different time periods, with some pieces over 500 years old. The exhibits are spread over four floors. Visitors to the museum are provided with headphones to listen to individual samples of over 200 of the instruments exhibited.

The museum was originally located adjacent to the Brussels Royal Conservatory, where its primary purpose was showing students early instruments as part of their curriculum. In 2000, the museum moved to its current location, a beautiful Art Nouveau style building that housed the former Old England department store. The store name is still visible on the upper facade of the building. The interior of the building was significantly renovated when it became a museum. The top floor of the museum features a restaurant and tea room which affords sweeping views of Brussels and is particularly popular in summer.

Why You Should Visit:
There is a great collection of instruments to see/hear, as long as you don't expect too much information on their history, context, and development.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

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Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) on Map

Sight Name: Musical Instruments Museum (MIM)
Sight Location: Brussels, Belgium (See walking tours in Brussels)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Brussels, Belgium

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