Carol listens intently to the audio about this Bruegel painting.

Discovering the Old Masters Museum in Brussels: A Journey Through Flemish Genius

Tucked within the vast Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Old Masters Museum (Musée Oldmasters / Museum voor Oude Kunst) is a cultural jewel in Brussels that offers an extraordinary glimpse into the soul of Flemish and European art history.

Founded in 1801 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the museum holds one of Europe’s most important collections of 15th- to 18th-century art — spanning early Flemish Primitives to Baroque brilliance and beyond. Walking its halls is like flipping through the richly illustrated pages of art history, with each room revealing masterworks by artists who helped shape the artistic identity of Europe.

Highlights from the Collection

As you wander through the museum, you’ll encounter iconic works by:

• Rogier van der Weyden – A pioneer of early Netherlandish painting, known for his emotional realism and devotional intensity.
• Hans Memling – A master of serenity and symmetry, famous for altarpieces and portraits.
• Peter Paul Rubens – The undisputed king of the Flemish Baroque, whose monumental canvases explode with energy and movement.
• Anthony van Dyck – Renowned for his refined portraits of European nobility.
• Hieronymus Bosch – Whose surreal, symbol-laden visions remain as mesmerizing and mysterious as ever.
• Pieter Bruegel the Elder – A master storyteller and social commentator whose works blend the sacred, the satirical, and the bizarre.

A Closer Look: The Fall of the Rebel Angels by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

NOTE: CLICK FOR A LARGER VIEW

One of the museum’s most arresting paintings — and the one that stopped us in our tracks — is “The Fall of the Rebel Angels” (1562) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

This densely packed, fantastical canvas shows a dramatic celestial battle: the Archangel Michael and his angelic hosts cast the rebel angels — now twisted into grotesque creatures — out of Heaven. The imagery is both epic and unsettling, filled with hybrid beasts, surreal forms, and Bruegel’s trademark eye for strange, allegorical detail.

As you stand before the painting, you can’t help but be pulled into the chaos. It’s as if you’ve stepped into a 16th-century fever dream — one that mixes religious narrative with Bruegel’s darkly imaginative visual language.

Even more remarkable is how the painting mirrors human folly and ambition, reflecting not just theological themes but Bruegel’s deep understanding of the world around him. His work often teeters between the absurd and the sublime — and this piece may be his finest balancing act.

Travel Tip: We opted for the museum’s audio guide, and it significantly enriched the experience — especially for pieces like this. While we often hire local guides for deeper context, the audio tour here was thoughtfully curated and full of fascinating details. If you’re not going with a guide, we highly recommend picking one up at the entrance.

Why the Old Masters Museum in Brussels Belongs on Your Itinerary

Whether you’re a seasoned art aficionado or a curious traveler, the Old Masters Museum offers something profound — a chance to connect with history not just through dates and facts, but through brushstrokes and vision.

We left inspired, humbled, and — as you can see from Carol’s reaction — a little awestruck.

If you’re visiting Brussels, don’t miss this opportunity to stand face-to-face with the timeless masters who helped define an age.

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This article was written with the aid of Perplexity AI, or ChatGPT. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an independent affiliate of Cadence and a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40

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