News
The forgotten war in Korea, 70 years ago - On 22 April 2021 Defence and the War Heritage Institute commemorate the first attack involving Belgian troops in Korea. That day we honour the volunteers for Korea (pictures from Padre Vander Goten’s photo collection).
Discovering the Military Museum is not only wandering through various galleries in order to analyse successive wars. It is of course much more, but do you actually know that? Visiting the Royal Military Museum also is admiring the Historic Gallery!
The gallery contains an exceptional array of uniforms and weapons illustrating the Belgian army in the 19th century, an era in which the industrial revolution produced new and modern destructive gear. All over the world, from Mexico to Rome, from Portugal to the Congo, from Guatemala to the USA, in Cairo, in Peking and in South Africa wars of a new kind were bein...
Each year Belgium remembers its veterans. The day selected to honour and commemorate our Belgian veterans is 7 April, in remembrance of 7 April 1994, when 10 Belgian servicemen were murdered in Kigali (Rwanda).
The first national Veterans’ Day was celebrated in 1998. On April 7 all those who participated in a risky mission abroad since 1960 are honoured.
On 7 April 2021 the War Heritage Institute honours the veterans during the National Commemoration Day.
© Malek Azoug
Visit Bastogne Barracks, the War Heritage Institute's Second World War interpretation centre. Be sure to also see the Esplanade du Mardasson, where the open air exhibition "Our Common Heritage" and its subject "Life, War, Peace in the Greater Region" seamlessly fits the Bastogne Barracks theme.
The Royal Military Museum (RMM), since 2017 one of the War Heritage Institute (WHI) sites, learnt through the media that a complaint had been filed with regard to a uniform put on display at the RMM.
The piece concerned is a uniform attributed to SS General Hermann Fegelein, Adolf Hitler’s brother-in-law who was executed in 1945. The item was purchased in good faith through auctioneer Hermann Historica in Munich in May 2012. According to the procedures in force at that time the acquisition was made with the authorization of the Head of Collection (now passed) and of the Director-General (now retired). The item...
The Battle of Namur: a quite intense name for the five days of combat in August 1914. When attacking Liège the Germans were very surprised by the Belgian resistance. They needed a few “Grosse Bertha” guns to turn the tide in their favour. The Germans would not make the same mistake twice.
In Namur, they used heavy artillery and by 20 August 1914 the forts were reduced to silence. Light artillery was deployed against the forts in between the fortified positions and after a few days of heavy bombing the assault was launched. The Belgian troops only had one option: abandon the positions and retreat in the dir...
Twelve museum cases focusing on Belgian-German relations in the 20th century are the result of a joint operation between students of the universities of Paderborn and of Louvain-la-Neuve, and will be presented in Belgium shortly. They will go on tour after the launching ceremony you will be able to follow on line on this page on Monday 22 March at 10:30 a.m.
They will make a stopover at the Royal Museum of Mariemont (4-16 May 2021) and at the Royal Military Museum (16-27 November 2021). Be sure to save the dates!
Video : Click here !
School bubbles (primary and secondary) are allowed to visit:
- as a class bubble;
- with or without a guide;
- without mixing with other bubbles.
For extracurricular groups (under 13 years old):
- the bubble is limited to 10 children + accompanying adults;
-
Easter holidays: 10 children* are allowed in each bubble.
Information and booking: click here!
⚠️ Group events and guided tours for adults are still suspended for the time being.
⚠️ * Updated: March 26
- Exhibition/workshop at the Royal Museum of Mariemont: from May 4 till 16, 2021
- Exhibition/workshop at the Royal Military Museum: from November 16 till 27, 2021 Under the patronage of the German Embassy in Brussels and the Belgian Embassy in Berlin.
In mid-November 2021 the War Heritage Institute/Royal Military Museum will welcome eleven museum cases realized by students in French language and culture of the university of Paderborn, in joint operation with UCL History students. The museum of the Belgian Armed Forces in Soest, a city in the vicinity of Paderborn, joined the project as a special witness...
When the First World War breaks out Maria Lammens sees her four sons leave for the front. Unfortunately, the four brothers from Laarne will meet with cruel fates.
Camiel dies on 21 October 1914 during the Yser battle, Pierre-Albert loses his life on 10 December 1914 in Calais, Jan-Baptiste dies on 15 May 1916 and Emile… Emile is removed from the front through a telegram by Charles de Broqueville, the Belgian Minister of War. He is put to work in the artillery training centre at Eu. After the armistice he re-joins his original unit and is demobilized on 4 September 1919.
If you wish to honour the Paelinck br...