At the Brussels International Exposition of 1910, a section on military history was presented to the public and met with great success. Given the enthusiasm of the population, the authorities created a military museum within the international context of extreme tension which led to the Great War. The museum was originally installed on the site of La Cambre Abbey and moved to the Cinquantenaire Park in 1923.
The building
In 1875, the Belgian architect Gédéon Bordiau made a proposal to build flats on the site of a former parade ground of the Garde Civique. The location was named Cinquantenaire in French because it was planned as an exhibition space to celebrate the half-century since Belgium's independence in 1830. Temporary structures were erected on the site for the International Exposition of 1897 as Bordiau's work had not been finished. The construction of buildings was put on hold in 1890 for lack of funds and was eventually stopped by the death of the architect in 1904. Work resumed the following year under the direction of French architectCharles Girault and was completed with a new patron, King Leopold II. The triumphal arch that had already been planned was amended and expanded to meet the wishes of the King. A fire destroyed the south wing of the building in 1946, part of the Royal Museums of Art and History. The collection pieces were saved, and the burnt wing has since been rebuilt. As for the north wing, home to the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, it was spared.
Collection
The museum's collection originally consisted of approximately 900 pieces collected by the officer Louis Leconte following the Great War. Leconte collected considerable equipment abandoned by the Germans in 1918. The collection was later heavily enriched by legacies, gifts and exchanges. Important developments include the opening of the armour section, the move of the armour collection from the northernmost hall, and the opening of the marine section. Today, the museum displays uniforms, weapons, vehicles and military equipment of all ages and all countries.
Aviation hall
The north wing, built by Gideon Bordiau, has been occupied by the aviation hall since 1972 when the Air and Space gallery was inaugurated. The collection includes various types of aircraft, both military and civilian, some dating back to the early 20th century, while the most recent additions include an F-16 Fighting Falcon and Westland Sea King.
