New for lockdown light! Card offers discount for Brussels museums

Museums are the only real-life option we have for culture at the moment, so Brussels is making it easy to visit a few of them during this latest semi-lockdown with the Discovery card.

The new Brussels Card Discovery is an extension of the already existing Brussels Card. That card gives you access to most Brussels museums and other attractions for one, two or three days for a specific price. The cheapest one – the 24-hour version – is €29.

The Discovery, on the other hands, is only €19 and gives the bearer admission to three Brussels museums of their choice. It’s valid for a generous three months. So for residents of the capital who don’t need to cram a bunch of tourist activities into a day or two, it’s an excellent alternative.

Don’t dawdle

The card is being launched by the Brussels Museums association and tourist office to boost visitor numbers at a time when there are no international tourists, large groups or school visits. The first quarter of this year has seen 40% of normal visitor numbers for Brussels museums.

“In times of crisis, cultural spaces are more crucial than ever before,” said Jérôme Bruyère of Brussels Museums. “We hope that a break on the price of admission will make the museums more accessible and peak the public’s curiosity. People are really looking for cultural activities and moments to just escape from everything.”

There is a catch: the Discovery card is only €19 for the first 2,000 people who request it. After that, it goes up to €24. (Considering that most museums in Brussels cost €10-12 for adults, that’s still a very good deal.)

Ixelles Museum wants your opinion

Speaking of museums, the Ixelles Museum is looking for the public’s input as it enters year four of renovations. The museum is expanding and carrying out much-needed restoration work. As it anticipates its re-opening in 2024, it wants to know what the public would like to see in a municipal art museum.

“The museum’s closure represents a real opportunity to change the way we interact with the public, for the public to make the collection their own and to be actively involved in the life of the institution,” said the museum in a statement. “We see this as an ideal opportunity to rethink the place of the public in the museum.”

The survey’s multiple-choice questions ask about what kind of art you like, what amenities you appreciate in a museum (garden, café, etc) and what would convince you to visit once it re-opens. Although it helps to have been to the museum, it’s not a requirement in filling out the survey. It can be accessed in English, French and Dutch.

Photo: Brussels City Museum ©Jean-Paul Remy/Visit Brussels