Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels (Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History) is one of the most important military-historical museums in Belgium. It is located in the Parc du Cinquantenaire / Jubelpark complex, at the address Cinquantenaire Parc 3 in Brussels.
The museum evolved from an exhibition of Belgian military history organized for the 1910 World's Fair, when officer Louis Leconte collected about nine hundred items. After World War I, the collection was significantly expanded through gifts, donations, and items left behind by German troops, and in 1923 the museum moved to the north wing of the Cinquantenaire complex.
Today, the museum covers about 40,000 square meters of exhibition space and includes several large galleries dedicated to different periods and branches of military history. The permanent collection features weapons, armor, military uniforms, flags, aircraft, armored vehicles, naval and maritime items, documents, photographs, and numerous decorations and medals. Among the better-known sections are the Aviation Hall, the Arms and Armor Gallery, the Historical Gallery, the Technical Gallery, the 1914–1918 Gallery, the Russian Gallery, the Bordiau Gallery, the Belgian Navy, and Antarctica.
Of particular interest to this gallery is the part of the museum collection related to decorations, medals, and military insignia. They bear witness to military service, bravery, wartime merits, state honors, and international relations, while also providing insight into phaleristics, militaria, heraldry, symbolism, and the political history of Belgium and other countries.
Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels for the second time. It is one of the finest European military museums, with a truly impressive collection of militaria, ranging from military uniforms, medals, and weapons, all the way to cannons, tanks, and aircraft.
Throughout history, Belgium has been the scene of numerous military conflicts. From the Napoleonic Wars, through the First World War, to the Second World War, major battles were fought on its territory. Many artifacts from these periods have been preserved and are now part of museum collections.
In this gallery, I present a selection of medals that I had the opportunity to photograph during my first visit to the museum in the summer of 2023. For anyone coming to Brussels who is interested in military history, militaria, and phaleristics, this museum is an essential place that is definitely worth visiting and experiencing live.
Author: Zlatko Viščević
Photos: Zlatko Viščević
