Campaign to protect military museum's vast collection

More than 3,500 people have signed a petition expressing concern about the future merger of Brussels' Royal Museum of the Armed Forces into a bigger new organisation later this year.

The Citizen's Movement for the Safeguard of National Heritage, which is behind the petition, wants assurances that the museum's rich collection will be protected.

It has also called for the premises that the museum will vacate, in the Parc du Cinquantenaire, to be listed.

Last November the federal government announced plans for a War Heritage Institute (WHI), which will bring together the current Royal Museum of the Armed Forces with several organisations, including National Institute for Veterans and the National Memorial Fort Breendonk.

The purpose of the WHI will be to honour war veterans and educate visitors on the conflicts that have occurred on Belgian soil as well the country’s contribution to conflicts abroad.

The new institution will be located in the Royal Military School, also in Parc du Cinquantenaire. The Museum of the Armed Forces would become part of the new construction.