Visitors regulations (PDF) - Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

VISITOR REGULATIONS 

Welcome to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. In order to make your visit as 

pleasant as possible, may we kindly request you to take note of the visitors regulations. 

Thank you in advance, 

The Director-General 

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium 

1. The Museums of Ancient and Modern Art; 

2. The Magritte Museum; 

3. Temporary exhibitions. 

RMFAB - june 2011 

Rue du Musée | Museumstraat 9 

1000 Bruxelles | Brussel 

www.fine-arts-museum.be 1

VISITOR REGULATIONS 

Article 1: 

These regulations apply to visitors to the permanent collections and 

temporary exhibitions of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, 

regardless of any special provisions that may also apply to: 

1) individuals or groups who have received permission to use specific 

premises for meetings, receptions, lectures, concerts, performances 

or other specified gatherings; 

2) any person who does not belong to the institution, and is in the 

buildings for professional reasons. 

Article 2: 

Refusal to comply with rules below will result in immediate expulsion from 

the Museum by the police 





ACCESS TO THE MUSEUMS 

Article 3: 

Article 4: 

To be allowed to enter and visit the exhibition rooms of the Museums of 

Ancient and Modern Art and the Magritte Museum, visitors must be in 

possession of a ticket that they can purchase at the ticket counter and 

ticket machines in the entrance hall of the Museums of Ancient and Modern 

Art and at level -2 of the Magritte Museum. 

The admission price and the conditions under which certain visitors have 

free or reduced price access are posted above the ticket counter. 

Visitors should keep their tickets during the entire duration of the visit. 

They may be asked to show them at any time, and in particular at the 

entrances to each of the three Museums. 

The ticket is valid for the entire date of purchase, except for tickets to the 

Magritte Museum and temporary exhibitions that are time-limited. 

The fact that some museum rooms may be temporarily closed does not 

entitle the visitor to reimbursement of the entrance ticket. 

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are open daily from 10am, 

except on Mondays and some public holidays established by law: 1/1, 1/5, 

1/11, 11/11, 25/12. 

The Museum exhibition rooms close their doors at 17.OO. The Museum 

Shop and the Museum Café remain open until 17:30. 

On Wednesdays the Magritte Museum is open until 20.00. 

Ten minutes before closing time, visitors will be invited to leave the 

exhibition rooms. 

The opening and closing times of particular museum rooms are indicated 

and are also mentioned at the entrances to the Museums. 






Article 5: 

Wheelchairs as well as light and non-cumbersome children’s strollers are 

allowed in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium except in the 

Magritte Museum. Large prams are not allowed. The setting takes no 

responsibility for damage to third parties caused by these strollers or their 

occupants. 

Article 6: 

It is forbidden to enter the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium with: 

- large bags and/or backpacks (including for infants); 

- instruments that by their purpose or nature pose a risk to the safety of 

persons, works of art or buildings; 

- extremely heavy, bulky, inconvenient or malodorous objects; 

- works of art or antiques; 

- reproductions of works of art and casts; 

- musical instruments; 

- animals, except dogs accompanying blind or epileptic visitors or 

guide dogs in training; 

- weapons and ammunition; 

- explosive, flammable or volatile substances. 

Copyists are entitled, with written permission, to use the material necessary 

for their work, under the supervision of the exhibition rooms staff 

responsible for surveillance and for fire prevention and firefighting. No 

more material may be brought in than is necessary for one day’s work. 






Article 7: 

It is forbidden to enter the rooms of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of 

Belgium with: 

- capes or overcoats; 

- walking sticks of which the end is not protected, crutches and walking 

sticks used by elderly or disabled persons and with protective caps 

will be admitted; 

- umbrellas, unless they are foldable and can be stored in a garment or 

handbag, or if used by elderly or disabled persons and with the end 

protected by a cap; 

- laptops and notebooks; 

- book bags, shopping bags, suitcases, backpacks and other bags, 

unless smaller than 34 x 22 x 12 cm; 

- luggage and packages that are larger than the indicated sizes should 

be left at the Museum entrances; 

- large paper or opaque plastic bags; 

- food and drink; 

- folding seats, except those made available by the Museums and used 

by people with disabilities who have received permission from the 

Chief Curator or the head guard; 

- spotlights for shooting videos or photos; as well as reflectors; 

- camera tripods, subject to the provisions of Article 27; 

- dogs, except guide dogs for blind persons. 

The small backpacks that are allowed should be carried and not worn on 

the back. 





CLOAKROOMS - ACCESS TO THE EXHIBITION ROOMS 

Article 8: 

Article 9: 

Article 10: 

Article 11: 

Article 12: 

Article 13: 

Cloakroom and luggage lockers are available free of charge for visitors. 

There they can leave garments, walking sticks, umbrellas and luggage, 

together with packages, handbags and objects that are larger than 

34 x 22 x 12 cm. For small or valuable items visitors are advised to use the 

free luggage lockers. 

School groups must leave their things in the group cloakrooms (boxes 

and/or lockers) at the entrance to the Museum of Ancient Art. 

For safety reasons, the museum staff may request visitors to open bags 

and packages and show the contents, at the entrance, exit or any other 

place in the Museums. 

For security reasons, visitors can be asked to open their bags or packages 

before they are accepted by the cloakroom attendant. 

The staff may refuse objects that appear to present a risk to the security 

and good order of the institution. 

The staff takes items for storage in so far as there is still space in the 

cloakroom. 

If the cloakroom is full, visitors will be invited to use another one. 

The following items may in no event be left in the cloakroom: 

1. cash; 

2. cheques and credit cards; 

3. valuable items, in particular jewellery. 

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium decline any responsibility for 

loss, theft or damage to any object left in the cloakroom. 





CLOAKROOMS - ACCESS TO THE EXHIBITION ROOMS 

Article 14: The loss of a cloakroom token will incur payment of a standard amount of 5 

euros to replace this token. 

In this case the visitor will only get back what he or she has left in custody 

against detailed description of the objects and identification. 

Article 15: 

Article 16: 

Everything left in the cloakroom it must picked up on the same day before 

the closure of the Museums. After 48 hours, uncollected objects shall be 

deemed to be lost objects. 

The objects found in the Museums will left with the security staff. If not 

claimed with a minimum period of one year and one day they will be 

donated to a charity. 

Perishable and worthless objects are destroyed daily after the closure of 

the Museums. 

Closed luggage and parcels left behind in the museum buildings outside 

of the cloakrooms or luggage lockers and which appear to present a 

security danger for the Museums, can be destroyed by the security staff 

without delay or warning. 





GENERAL CONDUCT 

Article 17: 

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium expect visitors: 

1. to preserve the calm of the museum buildings; 

2. to behave correctly, towards both museum staff and other visitors; 

3. remain at least one metre away from the artwork; 

4. that parents remain at all times close to their children. 

Article 18: 

It is forbidden to make any movement that endangers the safety of the 

works of art or the proper conduct of the visit. In particular it is forbidden: 

1. to touch the artworks or the décor; 

2. to point to artworks with certain objects (pencil, ball point, sharp 

objects, rulers, etc.); 

3. to use a magnifying glass, electric torch, etc.; 

4. to ignore barriers and other means of keeping the public at a distance; 

5. to lean against the walls or touch the walls with the feet; 

6. to lie and to sleep on the benches; 

7. to lean against the cabinets, pedestals and other exhibition furniture; 

8. to apply graffiti, inscriptions, marks or stains anywhere in the Museums; 

9. to walk around barefoot or indecent clothing; 

10. to run, push, slide or climb; 

11. to play on the escalators or in the lifts; 

12. to block the movement of visitors and to hinder movement in the 

corridors and exits, in particular by sitting on the stairs; 

13. when taking notes or making sketches, to obstruct visitors or 

endanger the safety of the artwork; 

14. to smoke; 

15. to eat or drink outside the rooms specially intended for this; 

16. to throw paper or rubbish on the floor, especially chewing gum; 

17. to use sound and audiovisual material not provided by the Royal 

Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium; 





GENERAL CONDUCT 

Article 18: 

It is forbidden to make any movement that endangers the safety of the 

works of art or the proper conduct of the visit. In particular it is forbidden: 

18. to disturb other visitors by making noise; 

19. to disturb other visitors by using a mobile phone in the rooms, 

except for listening to downloadable programs and audio guides 

from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium; 

20. to collect money at the entrance or inside the Royal Museums of 

Fine Arts of Belgium; 

21. to do business, advertise, make propaganda or otherwise solicit 

people; 

22. to activate without cause a fire alarm or use fire-fighting equipment 

(fire extinguisher, fire hoses, water column, etc ...); 

23. to displace chairs, seats or benches. 

The management of the Museums may authorize individual exceptions 

to the prohibitions in paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 above, particularly in favour of 

blind or partially sighted persons 

Article 19: 

The visitors should follow any instructions by the museum staff. 

Article 20: Any complaints by visitors can be made at the Forum information desk. 





ADDITIONAL RULES FOR GROUPS 

Article 21: 

Group visits take place under the supervision of a group leader, who 

makes sure that these regulations are complied with in full, and that order 

and discipline are maintained in the group. 

Groups shall in no event disturb other visitors. 

Each member of the group should remain in the vicinity of the group leader. 

The latter should register at the groups desk, where he or she will receive 

a badge to be worn throughout the visit. 

A group should not exceed 20 people. School groups should have at 

least one supervisor per 12 pupils (kindergarten to the 6th year of primary 

school) or one supervisor per 15 students (after the sixth year of primary 

school). 

Article 22: The curators of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and the 

staff having the permission of the Director General shall have the right to 

provide explanations in the Museums. 

Group leaders are entitled to give explanations in the Museums (with the 

exception of the Magritte Museum and temporary exhibitions) under 

the conditions laid down by Article 23, where they belong to one of the 

following categories: 

1. foreign lecturers and guides with the required qualifications; 

2. teachers accompanying their pupils; 

3. persons receiving express written permission from the 

Director-General. 





ADDITIONAL RULES FOR GROUPS 

Article 23: Only the group leaders mentioned in Article 22 may provide 

explanations in the Museums, on condition of wearing the badge. 

The other speakers should, on the day of their visit, request a temporary 

badge at the reception desk in the Museums’ forum, upon presentation 

of their professional card. 

Article 24: Questionnaires to be filled in with pen, marker or pencil are not allowed. 

Article 25: Admission to draw in the rooms of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of 

Belgium is available for art schools with the explicit authorization of 

Educateam. This authorization may be requested in writing or via e-mail 

under the heading “Admission to draw/write on A4 paper with pencil”. 

Drawing is not permitted in the Magritte Museum or in temporary 

exhibitions, except with the express permission of management. 

Article 26: The Museums’ management may change the usual access and visitor 

conditions at any time, depending on the capacity of the Royal Museums 

of Fine Arts of Belgium, and especially during temporary exhibitions. 





FILMING AND SURVEYS 

Article 27: 

Except where the indicated to the contrary, visitors are permitted to 

photograph or film works of art during opening hours in the rooms of the 

Museum of Ancient and Modern Art exhibitions that are open to 

the public. This is permitted only for private use, in no event may be 

images be disseminated. 

Photography is forbidden in the rooms where temporary exhibitions are 

being held, and in the Magritte Museum. 

Article 28: Without written permission of management, the use of 

1. flash, lamps and other lighting apparatus; 

2. tripods and microphone booms is prohibited 

Article 29: It is forbidden to photograph technical installations and equipment. 

Any image, sound or other recording which might include members 

of the Museums’ staff or of the public requires the consent both of the 

Museums’ management and of the persons involved. In the event of 

violation of these rules, the Museums disclaims any responsibility towards 

third parties. 

Article 30: Without prejudice to the provisions of the preceding article, a special set 

of regulations drawn up by management, applies to professional 

photography, film-making and the recording of radio and television 

broadcasts. 

Any opinion poll or other survey among visitors requires the prior 

permission of management. 





SAFETY OF PERSONS, WORKS OF ART AND BUILDINGS 

Article 31: 

Visitors may not do anything that jeopardizes the safety of persons 

and property. Any accident, health incident or abnormal occurrence 

should be immediately reported to a member of the security staff. 

Any doctor, nurse or first aider from the visiting public providing 

assistance is required to show his or her professional card to a member 

of the security staff, must stay with the person who has become ill or had 

an accident until evacuation, and must leave his or her name and address 

with the staff on site. 

Article 32: If fire breaks out, visitors should stay calm. The damage must be 

immediate reported verbally to a museum attendant. If the building 

needs to be be evacuated, this should take place in an orderly and 

disciplined fashion under the supervision of the security personnel and 

as instructed. The use of the lifts is prohibited in this case. In the case of 

evacuation, the cloakrooms are not accessible. 

Article 33: A lost child should be entrusted to a museum attendant, who will bring 

the child to the security service office. This office is located near the 

Forum of the Museum of Ancient Art. 

The broadcasting of search messages in the museum rooms is prohibited. 

Article 34: Artworks may only be moved by authorized persons. 

Article 35: In case of attempted theft in the Museums, emergency measures will be 

taken, including the closing of the entrances and the monitoring of exits. 

Article 36: In case of extraordinary visitor pressure, civil unrest or strike and in any 

situation that can potentially endanger the safety of persons or assets, 

the Museum’s management may at any time of the day fully or partially 

close the Museums, or change the opening hours.

Visitors regulations (PDF) - Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

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