Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium

Museum Major Brussels museum with extensive natural history collections

The Museum of Natural Sciences in Brussels houses Belgium’s large natural history collections, a celebrated dinosaur gallery with Iguanodon fossils, and research exhibits-popular with families and anyone interested in palaeontology and biodiversity.

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Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium in Brussels is the country’s national natural history museum and part of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. It is internationally known for its dinosaur displays and palaeontological collections.

  • Research institution: The museum is part of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and serves both public exhibitions and active scientific research programs in palaeontology and biodiversity.

What to See #

  • Gallery of Dinosaurs: The Gallery of Dinosaurs displays the mounted Bernissart Iguanodon skeletons recovered from a coal mine in 1878 and is the museum's most famous attraction.
Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium
Vautierstraat / Rue Vautier 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
50.8365, 4.3766

How to Get to Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium #

The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Museum of Natural Sciences) is in Brussels’ Leopold Park area. Take Brussels metro lines 1 or 5 to Maelbeek/Maalbeek station and walk about 5-10 minutes through Parc Léopold to the museum.

From central Brussels it’s a short drive or taxi ride (a few kilometres); parking and drop-off are available nearby but public transport plus a short walk is usually easiest.

Tips for Visiting Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium #

  • Go early to visit the Dinosaur Hall (the museum's most-visited gallery) before it becomes crowded; an early slot makes it easier to view the large displays and the mounted specimens without queues.
  • Start on the upper floors where the major paleontology displays are located, then work down to temporary exhibitions and smaller specialist rooms - many visitors arrive and concentrate on the ground floor displays only.
  • Check the museum's schedule on arrival for any guided talks or temporary-show timetables and slot those into your visit; special presentations fill up and can change the flow of visitors through the main galleries.

Best Time to Visit Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium #

For the Museum of Natural Sciences, aim for weekday mornings in shoulder seasons to avoid the heaviest crowds and school groups.

Peak season
Jun-Aug (and school holidays) · 15-25°C (outside)
Busiest time with increased family and tourist visits - expect longer lines for popular exhibits like the dinosaur halls.
Shoulder seasons
Mar-May, Sep-Nov · 7-16°C (outside)
Weekdays in spring and autumn are the best compromise: good weather and noticeably smaller crowds than summer.
Low season
Dec-Feb · 0-7°C (outside)
Generally quieter on weekdays outside school holidays; weekends and Christmas/New Year periods are busier.

Weather & Climate near Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium #

Climate

Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (814 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 46 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustSeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
39°
Warmest Month
-14°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
93%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

69 mm
Rainfall
4.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.4h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
89%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

54 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.9h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (70 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
10°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

70 mm
Rainfall
4.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.4
UV Index
Low
11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

60 Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
14°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

55 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
13.6h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
18°
77%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

69 mm
Rainfall
3.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.1
UV Index
High
15.3h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
12° 21°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

77 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.4
UV Index
High
16.2h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (70 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

78 Very Good

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
14° 23°
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

70 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.3
UV Index
High
15.7h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
14° 23°
77%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

64 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.1
UV Index
High
14.3h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
11° 19°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

64 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
12.5h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
15°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

68 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.3
UV Index
Low
10.6h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. The wettest month with 78 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.

52 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
10°
91%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

78 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.8h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

42 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
94%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

76 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.0
UV Index
Low
7.9h daylight

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