Halle Gate

Halle Gate was constructed in 1381 and is considered the oldest structure of its kind in Brussels. Originally, Porte de Hal was one of the eight gates of the old city. The fortification was equipped with a drop-down grille and a drawbridge over a moat. In the 1790s, the wall was partially destroyed and then completely demolished by order of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810. Only a few isolated parts, including the Halle Gate, survived.

The French later used the watchtower as a military prison. Subsequently, it housed a grain store and a Lutheran church until 1847, when the historic building was acquired by the Royal Museum of Arms, Antiquity, and Ethnology. The ancient building underwent several major restorations in the 19th century, as well as in 1991 and 2008. On September 13, 1990, it was listed in the Heritage registers of Belgium.

Thanks to Belgian architect Hendrik Beyaert, who managed the reconstruction of the Halle Gate for the museum between 1868-1870, the facade of the building acquired its current Neo-Gothic appearance with a round tower topped by a black conical roof, pointed arch windows, and sculptures. The exhibition halls are spread over five floors and connected by a monumental spiral staircase and a modern elevator. The basement hosts an arms exhibition featuring armor and swords. The Gothic room displays suits of armor for soldiers and horses, as well as ancient maps of the old city. On the next level, there is a hall for guilds and craftsmen who produced bows, arrows, crossbows, shields, and other weapons for the defense of Brussels in the Middle Ages. The most famous exhibit is the ceremonial attire of Archduke Albert VII of Austria, the governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, dated to the 17th century.

At the very top of the defensive tower, situated at the level of the sixth floor, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of modern Brussels and its surroundings. With the help of a special virtual reality binoculars, you can see what this location looked like 450 years ago.

In addition to the main collection, the museum also hosts workshops for children and temporary exhibitions, which mostly focus on the history of the city but also reflect the current social themes of modern Brussels.