Visiting Tervuren and Brussels
The ICOM Documentation 2026 conference will take place at the AfricaMuseum in Tervuren, just outside Brussels. The setting combines a major museum, a historic park, woodland landscapes and public transport links to the Belgian capital.
Tervuren and the AfricaMuseum
Tervuren is a green and historic municipality to the east of Brussels. It is best known internationally as the home of the AfricaMuseum, also known as the Royal Museum for Central Africa.
The museum’s origins are closely connected to the Brussels International Exposition of 1897 and the colonial exhibition organised in Tervuren under King Leopold II.
Today, the AfricaMuseum is a major institution for research, collections, public engagement and critical reflection on Africa, Belgium’s colonial history and contemporary global connections.
Its setting makes it especially relevant for a conference concerned with documentation, historical legacies, provenance, classification, interpretation and future museum practice.
The museum is situated beside Tervuren Park, one of the gateways to the Sonian Forest. This setting allows the conference to combine formal sessions with informal encounters, walks and reflective moments around the museum site.
Getting there
Tervuren is easily reached from Brussels. One of the most memorable routes is by tram 44, which connects Brussels with Tervuren and passes through green surroundings. Practical public transport advice should be checked and updated closer to November 2026.
The AfricaMuseum’s current regular opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10:00-17:00, and weekends, 10:00-18:00, with closure on Mondays and selected public holidays.
These hours should be checked again closer to the conference when planning public visits or side events.
Brussels: culture, architecture and museums
Brussels is a compact but richly layered capital, known for its historic centre, international institutions, museums, Art Nouveau architecture, comics culture, gastronomy and multilingual character.
Suggested cultural visits for conference participants include:
- Grand-Place, the historic central square of Brussels
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, including the Magritte Museum
- Bozar, the Centre for Fine Arts
- BELvue Museum, for Belgian history and democracy
- Art & History Museum, Cinquantenaire
- Train World
- Belgian Comic Strip CenterHouse of European History
- Parlamentarium
- Contemporary art spaces around the canal and city centre
Brussels is also one of Europe’s major cities for Art Nouveau. Possible visits include major houses and interiors associated with Victor Horta and other Art Nouveau architects. Any group visits should be reserved well in advance because capacity is often limited.