Halle Gate - Museum

Museum

In 1847 the Halle Gate became part of Belgium's Musée Royal d'Armures, d'Antiquités et d'Ethnologie (Museum of Armour, Antiquity and Ethnology), now named the Royal Museums for Art and History. By 1889, the Halle Gate was too small to house most of the collection, and most was relocated to the Cinquantenaire Museum. It continued to display armour and weapons.

In 1976, the building was in a dangerous state of disrepair and was closed. Finally renovations began, and the Gate was reopened in 1991. Further restoration was stalled by lack of money, and the museum only housed temporary exhibitions.

In March 2007 a new extensive restoration was begun. The Halle Gate finally reopened on June 6, 2008. Finally the St Gilles (drawbridge) entrance was opened as the prestigious main entrance to the building. The museum includes exhibits about the history of the building, and of the city of Brussels and its defence. The collection includes the parade armor of Archduke Albert of Austria. The main parts of the museum, each on a separate floor, are:

• Armour and Armaments, in a small room off the central passage.
• the Gothic Room, above, containing the history of the fortifications of Brussels and of the Halle Gate
• the Guilds Room, showing the role of the trade guilds of the city
• a temporary exhibition space
• a walkway round the battlements, offering a panorama of the city
• the roof space for small exhibitions