In 1938, plans were drawn up to include the current Musical Instrument Museum in the complex formed by the buildings that surround the Place Royale. The building was therefore given a coat of white paint, which, luckily, disappeared in recent restoration work. We say “luckily” because this beautiful art nouveau building is best seen with the appearance it has now. 

This splendid construction was planned in 1899 by the architect Paul Saintenoy, who designed an elaborate wrought iron- and glass-based facade. You will also notice that it is crowned with a vaulted viewpoint and that a beautiful tower rises on one of its sides. 

What, however, will most likely attract your attention are the large gold letters at the top of its facade in which the words “Old England” are written. This is because from the year in which the building was constructed until just a short time ago, it was the site of the department stores of the same name, which are now located in the elegant Avenue Louise.

Now, however, what you will find on these premises is the previously mentioned Musical Instrument Museum, a collection initiated in the nineteenth century that has gradually been enlarged to the 6,000 objects featured in the current exhibition. You can find interesting instruments that range from medieval times to the present day. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of prototypes by the Belgian Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone.