Parlamentarium

Parlamentarium is the European Parliament's visitor centre, located within the Espace Léopold complex in Brussels, in the municipality of Ixelles (Elsene). Sitting directly on the Parliament's esplanade, it is recognised as the largest parliamentary visitor centre in Europe and ranks second in size worldwide among institutions of its kind. It offers anyone curious about the European Union an accessible way to understand how its central democratic institution actually works.

What exactly is the Parlamentarium?

The Parlamentarium is a permanent exhibition built around numerous multimedia components designed to explain the workings of the European Parliament and other EU institutions to a general audience. The centre was officially opened on 14 October 2011 by the Parliament's then-president, Jerzy Buzek, whose involvement in the inauguration is itself a notable detail in the site's history, given his prominent role as a Polish politician leading the European Parliament at the time.

Where is it located?

The centre forms part of the extensive Espace Léopold complex, which serves as the seat of the European Parliament in Brussels. The Parlamentarium sits right on the Parliament's esplanade, making it a natural starting point for visitors who want to get closer to the everyday work of MEPs and EU institutions. Its geographic coordinates place it at 50.838498, 4.376158, right in the heart of Brussels' so-called European Quarter, on the edge of the Ixelles municipality.

Why is it worth a visit?

The scale of the centre is striking in itself: the Parlamentarium is the largest visitor centre run by any parliament in Europe, and worldwide it is surpassed in size by only one other comparable institution. This reflects how much importance the European Parliament places on educating citizens and bringing its activities closer to the public. The exhibition's multimedia format allows visitors to engage interactively with the way decisions are made that affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the European Union.

Frequently asked questions

When did the Parlamentarium open? It was officially opened on 14 October 2011 by the European Parliament's then-president, Jerzy Buzek.

What are the opening hours? The Parlamentarium is open Mondays from 13:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00.

What can visitors see inside? A permanent exhibition made up of numerous multimedia components that explain, in an accessible way, how the European Parliament and other EU institutions function.

Where exactly is the Parlamentarium located? Within the Espace Léopold complex in Brussels, directly on the European Parliament's esplanade, in the Ixelles (Elsene) municipality.

Is it a large visitor centre? Yes — it is the largest parliamentary visitor centre in Europe and the second largest of its kind anywhere in the world.

For anyone wanting to understand the mechanics of the European Union up close, the Parlamentarium is an essential stop in Brussels, presenting complex institutional processes in a format built for the general public rather than specialists or officials alone.