Housed within the Centre for Fine Arts - BOZAR, the Film Museum holds a collection of around forty highly inventive machines that tell the story of the birth of the ‘7th art’. Its reserve collections constitute one of the most comprehensive archives in the world. Every day, its two small but cosy cinemas project five classic films, from the silent movies, accompanied by the piano as they were in the old days, to some of today’s cult films.

Brussels’ vast stock of collections has recently been given yet another boost with the opening of the Clockarium, which has no fewer than 1000 china mantelpiece ornaments from the Art Deco period on display. From the most stylised to the kitschiest, these clocks and their symmetrical adornments cover the full range of astounding creativity. Especially when you consider that the exhibited pieces represent only a third of the collection held by their original owner!

Erasmus House: dream or reality? One of the most famous writers and philosophers of the Renaissance period made his home in the shadow of the church of Anderlecht in 1521. Painstakingly restored to its original state, his home and museum is much more than a mine of precious documents, works of art and period decor. The aura of the house, nestled in its charming garden, is an invitation to travel back in time.

The van Buuren Museum also exudes an incomparable atmosphere. Built in 1929 as the private residence of a Dutch banker, its landscaped garden enjoyed the undivided attention of his wife. David and Alice van Buuren also assembled a personal collection of paintings by the most renowned artists such as Bruegel, Van Gogh, Wouters, Signac and Permeke among others. The refinement of the rooms, materials and light makes this one of the most enjoyable visits in the capital.

Formerly the artist’s studio, the Constantin Meunier Museum faithfully reflects the expression and power of this prolific 19th-century designer. All aspects of the conditions of working class life, its joy and suffering are conveyed through sculptures, paintings, watercolours and drawings in a talented and respectful tribute.

The Ixelles Museum of Fine Arts is famous for its unique collection of original posters by Toulouse-Lautrec. Its pleasant exhibition areas also provide a complete overview of the art of the 19th and 20th century, with special emphasis on impressionism and fauvism. Surrealism, geometrical abstraction and expressionism complete the journey through to Pop Art and contemporary works.

Another former studio of particular interest, the Antoine Wiertz Museum is worth a visit as much for the building that houses the collection as for the collection itself. The artist’s monumental paintings transcend his mystical and allegorical inspirations, while his preparatory drawings reveal his romantic and sometimes visionary impulses. You can almost imagine the artist still at work, especially in such a majestic place.

Situated to the north of Brussels, the house in which René Magritte lived and worked for nearly 25 years is now a meeting place for enthusiasts of surrealism. An atmosphere laden with symbols, a collection of hundreds of personal objects (including the famous pipe that isn’t one) and original works make this little place a haven of peace.