Africa Museum

The origin of the museum dates back to the Brussels International Exposition of 1897. At King Leopold II’s behest, The ‘Colonial Section’ of the exhibition was moved to the ‘Colonial Palace’ in Tervuren. The exhibition halls were home to naturalised animals, geographic samples, commodities, Congolese ethnographic and artistic objects and art objects created in Belgium. An African village was recreated in the park and this was home to Congolese individuals during the day. Seven of these Congolese died during their time in the village.

Leopold II saw the museum as a propaganda tool for his colonial project, aimed at attracting investors and winning over the Belgian population. It was in 1898 that the temporary exhibition became the first permanent museum of the Congo. The institute has always served the dual purpose of a museum and scientific institute.