Museums of the Far East 🇧🇪

Located in the Mutsaard district of Laeken near the Royal Palace of Laeken, the Museums of the Far East is a unique complex created by King Leopold II and architect Alexandre Marcel. Part of Brussels' Royal Museums of Art and History, this complex features three distinct structures dedicated to Oriental art: the Chinese Pavilion, the nearly 50-meter-tall Japanese Tower, and the Museum of Japanese Art housed in a former carriage house. You will find that these striking historic monuments are surrounded by Chinese and replica Japanese gardens.

However, you should note that the museum buildings have been closed to the public since 2013 due to structural weaknesses, and the Belgian government decided not to reopen them. Though you cannot tour the interiors, these early 20th-century architectural treasures—designated as protected historic monuments in 2019—remain a remarkable sight from the outside. Historically, the collections showcased Chinese export porcelain and chinoiserie inside the Pavilion, export porcelain in the Japanese Tower, and impressive Japanese artifacts like samurai armour, netsuke, decorative sword hilts, and woodblock prints.

Fortunately, you can still admire select items from these collections on public display at the Art & History Museum in Brussels' Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark.

What to see at Museums of the Far East

• The nearly 50-meter-tall Japanese Tower pagoda designed by Alexandre Marcel
• The historic Chinese Pavilion surrounded by a traditional Chinese garden
• The Museum of Japanese Art housed in the complex's former carriage house
• Protected early 20th-century historic monuments near the Royal Palace of Laeken

Visiting tips

Head to the Art & History Museum at Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark to view select items from the Far East collection on public display while the Laeken complex remains closed.

How long: Under 1 hour · Best time: Daylight hours

How to get there & what’s nearby

Museums of the Far East is easy to reach on Brussels’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula and Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Brussels travel guide.