Belgium gave the world Tintin, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke and a host of other comic heroes, and the Belgian Comic Strip Center exists to honour that extraordinary contribution to popular culture. Opened in 1989 in the heart of Brussels, it treats the comic strip as a serious art form, the so-called ninth art, and traces its history through original drawings, manuscripts, models and reconstructions. The museum occupies a building that is itself a masterpiece, the former Magasins Waucquez, a textile department store designed by Victor Horta in 1906. Saved from demolition and restored, its airy hall of iron, glass and stone, with a sweeping staircase and abundant natural light, marries one Belgian glory, Art Nouveau architecture, with another, the comic strip, under a single roof. Inside, a permanent exhibition follows the development of the medium, with particular focus on the golden age of Belgian comics and the magazines Spirou and Tintin that nurtured it. Rooms are devoted to major artists, from Herge, the creator of Tintin, to Peyo, who invented the Smurfs, often staged in a playful way that brings their imaginary worlds to life. Temporary exhibitions, a comprehensive comics library and a reading area broaden the offering, while a shop stocked with albums and merchandise draws collectors and casual fans alike. The museum welcomes around two hundred thousand visitors a year and has become a cultural ambassador for the country worldwide. Its central position, within walking distance of the main railway stations and the Grand Place, makes it easy to reach, and it forms part of a wider comic-strip trail through Brussels that includes dozens of large murals painted on city walls. For anyone who grew up with European comics, or who appreciates fine illustration and storytelling, the centre offers both nostalgia and insight, all within one of the most beautiful surviving works of Brussels Art Nouveau. The museum is open daily through most of the year, with tickets sold online or at the door and a cafe and shop on site, and a visit comfortably fills a couple of hours. Its position between the central and Congress railway stations makes it simple to reach, and it sits at the start of the city comic-mural trail, so fans can step straight from the galleries to the painted walls scattered through the surrounding streets.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Rue des Sables 20, Brussels, Belgium

Telephone: +32 2 219 19 80

Website: https://www.comicscenter.net

Opening Date: 06/10/1989