Back to the 18^th century, baby!

Enjoy a day filled with sensory activities around the charming collection of art from the 18^th century.

For 0 to 3-year-olds

Under mum’s hoop skirts. 18^th-century babies must have had a lot of fun under mummy’s skirts! Mums: don’t worry, we won’t be putting you in a corset. Crawl around and under the hoop construction with your baby and decorate it with pretty fabrics, bows and ribbons. Peekaboo!
Tulip mania. Building and stuffing… with flowers! How about making a colourful flower arrangement in a giant tulip vase, which looks a bit like a box of blocks!
Ah, I laugh to see myself zo beautiful in this mirror! Babies love to have fun with mirrors. And it gets even better when you are allowed to paint onto the mirror! Decorate your mirror portrait with a nice wig or perhaps some lipstick, or rosy cheeks. Slightly messy, but so very nice!
In the boudoir. Comb your hair, now put a little powder on your nose and finish with an elegant beauty mark on your cheek. There: all set for a night out! Shall your baby be you beautician, would you rather prefer it to practise on one of the cuddly toys?
In the music room. The large double bass makes a sound that vibrates in your tummy, especially if you get to lie on it! Then grasp the strings of the harp and finally shake your rattle like there’s no tomorrow! Bet that’s how Mozart started out as well.
For big brother & sister and the handy toddler

Paper flowers. During the 18^th century, flowers were wildly popular: people even invented vases in new and special shapes to keep them in! Walls, dresses, crockery and furniture were decorated with tulips, peonies and roses. Help decorate the museum with the most beautiful flowers in crepe paper!
Airplanes and hot-air balloons. The 18^th century is a time of inventors and clever scientists, both women and men such as the Montgolfier brothers who invented the hot-air balloon! Now it’s your turn: experiment with cleverly folded paper, air and some rubber bands and test your creations by letting them whirl off the mezzanine.
For everybody

Musical walk through the 18^th century, with Gaëlle and Kristina. Enthusiastic historian and artist Gaëlle Claeys and dyed-in-the-wool musician Kristina De Troyer together form a duo of top musicians passionate about 18^th-century music. Follow the sounds of their baroque flutes during a playful visit through the renovated halls of 18^th-century art. Hear the porcelain birds sing and the clocks tick. Roll, crawl and dance with your baby during this join-in walk for the littlest ones and their parents.
Takes about 25 to 30 min

At 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00

Mini concerts from the balcony. Look up and let the velvet sounds cascade down on you. Gaëlle and Kristina sound their traversos at 14:00 and at 16:00 in the museum shop.
Rest, catch up, play and read in the play café. Together with ABC - Art Basics for Children
Pop-up bar by Gédéon

Tips

Don’t be put off by the stairs to the main entrance: we provide a buggy shuttle!
We provide buggy parking inside and a place to change your little one.
In the play café, there is free drinking water and a microwave.
For the painting activity, we make paint based on yoghurt and food colouring. This may stain, bring spare clothes if necessary.

Practical

You either choose to participate from 10:30 to 13:00, or from 14:00 to 16:30. Within that hourly block, you can participate in all activities and do not need to register. The museum opens its doors at 10:00 and closes at 17:00. You have time to arrive and explore at your own pace.