Museum dedicated to Belgian comic art (bande dessinée) in a Victor Horta-designed Art Nouveau building. Tintin, Smurfs, Lucky Luke, and the history of Franco-Belgian comics. Belgium's contribution to visual storytelling taken seriously.
Location
Grand-Place / Ilot Sacré, Brussels
Map
Insider Intel
Start with the permanent exhibition on the history of Franco-Belgian comics. The Tintin section is comprehensive — original drawings, story development, Hergé's ligne claire technique explained. The rotating exhibitions showcase contemporary Belgian comic artists. The building (Waucquez warehouse, 1906) is classic Horta — glass roof, iron structure, organic decoration.
Weekday morning for the best light through the glass roof and fewer children. School groups visit frequently — avoid 10am–2pm on weekdays during school term. Sunday morning is quiet.
Belgium is one of the two great comic producing nations (along with France). The ligne claire style pioneered by Hergé (Tintin) influenced global comics. Brussels has comic strip murals painted on buildings throughout the city (50+ walls) — the museum has a map. The museum takes comics seriously as art form, not just children's entertainment. The bookshop has French and Flemish editions. Near Gare du Nord metro. Combine with a comic strip mural walk.