The Design Museum in Brussels is a space dedicated to design that explores its impact on society and our daily lives. Created after the acquisition of the Plasticarium collection by the Atomium, at the Design Museum Brussels, you can see an impressive collection of plastic objects from the 1950s to the present day.
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What to see at the Brussels Design Museum
The heart of the Design Museum Brussels is undoubtedly The Plastic Design Collection, which grew from Atomium’s acquisition of the private Plasticarium collection. Here, you can discover many iconic pieces that have made European design history. Next to the plastic objects, there is the ‘Belgisch Design Belge’, dedicated to Belgian design and its history. In addition, the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions on contemporary design and how it affects everyday life.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO BRUSSELS
Make the most of your trip to Brussels by purchasing the Brussels City Card online. With access to the city’s top museums and free public transport, it’s the smartest way to explore the city and save money.
To stay connected in Brussels, purchase an Airalo eSim online for phone and data coverage during your trip to Belgium.
The permanent collection of Belgian design
The ‘Belgisch Design Belge’ hosts pieces from the design collection of the King Baudouin Foundation and dialogues with the plastic objects. The type and function of the objects intertwine to invite visitors to reflect on our relationship with design and its everyday use.
Among the most iconic pieces from the 1950s are a floor lamp by Marcel-Louis Baugniet, Renaat Braum’s chair designed for a showroom in Antwerp and Alfred Hendrickx’s armchair that stood in the atrium of Brussels National Airport in 1958 for Expo 58. From the 1970s, however, the pouffe chair by G-C. Van Rijk is a classic representative of the period. While Nathalie Dewez’s Inner Light lamp from 2017 represents contemporary Belgian design.
The Plastic Design Collection: the permanent collection of plastic objects
The Plastic Design Collection is the most exciting part of the Brussels Design Museum, as well as the heart of it. This area has around 2,000 plastic objects: everyday objects, futuristic-shaped sofas, 1970s furniture and incredible one-off pieces.
Many plastic objects in the Design Museum Brussels are an impressive collection of everyday objects, such as Tupperware. They were revolutionary in the way they preserved food and in the selling way through home demonstrative parties. Simple and ordinary objects became part of the daily lives of millions of people and icons of an era thanks to a design aimed at practicality.
The original core of the Plastic Design Collection is the Plasticarium collection built in the 1980s by the Brussels-based collector Philippe Decelle, starting with a Joe Colombo chair found in the rubbish bin. Today, the collection includes objects signed by leading design masters such as Verner Panton and Eero Aarnio, juxtaposed with contemporary creations by Philippe Starck, Charles Kaisin and many others, and loans from international or private collections and donations.
The Reserve: the repository of design objects
The Reserve is the area of the Brussels Design Museum designed as an extension of the permanent exhibition. Like the Vitra Design Museum’s Vitra Schaudepot, the storage rooms are visible to visitors while adhering to strict conservation regulations. This way, you can see the rest of the collection behind tidy glass on the warehouse shelves.
Temporary exhibitions
The Brussels Design Museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions about design innovations like projects of European companies such as Škoda and the furniture manufacturer TON, clothes for non-conform bodies, and creations with 3D printers.
Practical information for visiting the Design Museum Brussels
The Brussels Design Museum is a must-see museum, not only for design enthusiasts but for everyone. Even if the design is not among your main interests, I am sure the Plasticarium exhibition will satisfy you.
There are some unique pieces, but also many Kartell furniture items you will have seen in furniture magazines. They, and the futuristically shaped plastic furniture designed in the 1970s, are fascinating.
Moreover, entry to the Design Museum Brussels is included in the ticket for the Atomium, located a short distance away. If you have already planned to visit the Atomium, you can also see the Design Museum without spending any more.
How much the tickets for the Brussels Design Museum cost
The entrance ticket for the Design Museum Brussels costs €10 and includes access to the Plasticarium’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. I assure you it is worth the expense because the exhibition is truly incredible.
To save money if you visit the Atomium (read my blog post about the Atomium in Brussels for more information) on the same day, you don’t have to buy a separate ticket for the Design Museum. The Atomium ticket includes both attractions (but not vice versa).
How to get to the Brussels Design Museum
The Design Museum Brussels is opposite the Palais Heysel, 150 metres from the Atomium, in the northern part of Brussels. Although it is pretty far from the centre, it is conveniently accessible by metro and several bus lines (Heysel stop). For the best route to get there, check on Google Maps which public transport to take from where you are.
Design Museum Brussels
Trade Mart Brussels, Belgiëplein 1
1020 Brussel
Where to stay in Brussels
Brussels offers a variety of accommodation options. If you’re looking for a hotel in the city centre, I recommend the Pillows City Hotel Brussels Centre. It is just 100 metres from Brussels Central Station and a 5-minute walk from Grand Place and the Manneken Pis Statue. For a charming and authentic experience, you can stay at the Happy Guesthouse in a typical townhouse with an Art Nouveau façade. They serve a delicious homemade breakfast made with Belgian products. In the European Quarter, Ambiorix Residence is a great option. They offer rooms with private bathrooms, a shared kitchen, and a lounge area.
On your trip to Brussels, you can comfortably sleep in the city’s central area even if you plan to visit the Atomium and the Design Museum. The area has excellent public transport. Let me know in the comments if you already know the Design Museum and if this article has enticed you to visit it.