Belgisch Museum voor Radiologie

The Belgian Museum of Radiology occupies part of the Queen Astrid Military Hospital in the Neder-Over-Heembeek district of Brussels. Rather than a conventional gallery, the collection lines the corridors and waiting rooms of the hospital's radiology department, so visitors walk through a genuinely working medical environment while exploring the exhibits.

How did the museum come about?

The story begins in November 1990, when professor and radiologist René Van Tiggelen put together a commemorative exhibition to mark the hundredth anniversary of the discovery of X-rays. What started as a one-off tribute grew into a permanent collection that now draws visitors from well beyond Belgium. Since 1997 the museum has effectively spanned two sites, after its neuroradiology holdings were transferred to the Museum of Psychiatry in Ghent.

What is on display?

The core collection holds around 1,700 objects tied to the history and equipment of radiology, backed by a library of roughly 3,250 books and a poster collection of about 160 items. The displays trace the evolution of medical imaging from the earliest X-ray apparatus through the development of ultrasound and CT scanning to modern diagnostic techniques. The museum does not limit itself strictly to medicine, either — several sections connect radiology to paleontology, art, philately and ballistics, illustrating how X-rays found uses far beyond the hospital ward.

A scene with Wilhelm Röntgen

One of the museum's memorable set pieces recreates the moment professor Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen showed his wife an X-ray of her own hand, referencing the night of 22 December 1895 when one of the first X-ray images in history was produced. The equipment displayed in this section resembles what was used during that landmark experiment.

What is a visit like?

Because the museum sits inside an active military hospital, its exhibits are woven into the halls and waiting areas of the radiology department, making them visible to patients and visitors passing through on ordinary business. A large portion of the collection can be viewed free of charge, though a guided tour gives access to the fuller historical context and stories behind the equipment on show.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? Inside the Queen Astrid Military Hospital in the Neder-Over-Heembeek district, in the northern part of Brussels.

When was the museum founded? In November 1990, to mark the centenary of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen's discovery of X-rays.

Is admission free? Much of the exhibition can be visited free of charge, with guided tours offering a more complete experience.

Does the collection cover anything beyond medical equipment? Yes — alongside radiological apparatus, the museum holds books and posters, and links radiology to fields such as paleontology, art, philately and ballistics.