History buffs will enjoy this (cheap!) museum, home to the famous Erasmus scholar. Learn more about European history at this beautiful Gothic house and enjoy its different monthly activities.
We don’t need to remind you who Erasmus of Rotterdam was, right? Dutch philosopher, Christian scholar, he is considered by many to be one of the greatest scholars of the Northern Renaissance. The younger Europeans today might know him because of the Erasmus programme, a student-exchange program which has allowed millions of European students to go live in another country for a few months, named this way to remember the extensive travels of Erasmus in the 1500s.
It is during one of his travels, specifically from May to October 1521, that Erasmus decided to visit his friend Canon Wychman in Brussels and live here for a few months. Although only officially turned into a museum in 1932 (and classified as an “historic building” in 1937), this 16th-century building is home to over 5 centuries of European history. It’s a must-see if you’re a fan of the Renaissance and the European Enlightenment!
- The different rooms of the house will immerse you in different times in history: you can visit the room where Erasmus stayed and enjoy the beautiful paintings of Albrecht Dürer and Holbein; there’s also a Renaissance-themed room with beautiful Gothic sculptures, a room with frescoes, and a reading room with a lot of early prints of books owned by Erasmus and other humanists.
- Every month, the Erasmus House also organizes many interesting cultural activities for people of all ages, including music concerts with students from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, quest games for kids and Latin courses. Wanna see what’s up right now? Check out their website!
- The beautiful gardens at the back of the house will be another highlight of your visit. The first is the medicine garden, with over 100 medicinal plant species which were said to be used to cure Erasmus, a well-known hypochondriac. The philosophical garden, instead, is great to relax and reflect on the world: you can admire the cartographic flowerbeds with the plants and flowers encountered by Erasmus on his many journeys, and enjoy the works of many contemporary artists.
- And don’t leave before checking out the beguinage, one of the oldest and smallest ones in Brussels, set up back in 1252!
Tips and Tricks
- You must book your tickets in advance to visit the Erasmus house. Get your tickets for the Erasmus House with the Brussels Card: with 24, 48, or 72 hours of discounts!
- Visitors with reduced mobility should give prior notice to the museum, so that access ramps can be put in place.
- English and French booklets available during your visit.
- It might be a little hard to locate the house, as there are no signs outside, so just walk through the brick archway and you’ll see it.
Getting There
- By Car: on-street parking available nearby the house
- By Metro: take line 5, destination Érasme, stop Saint-Guidon
- By Tram: you can take tram 81 and get off at Saint-Guidon
- By Bus: you can take bus 46 or 49 and get off at Saint-Guidon (also Maison d’Erasme on bus 49)
Tu to Su, 10:00 to 18:00 (Erasmus House); Tu to Su, 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 (Beguinage). Open on public holidays (including Monday).
All seasons
1,25€ (valid for Erasmus House and Beguinage)
Open; national COVID guidelines apply