 View of Autoworld's collection in the South Hall of theCinquantenaire complex | |
 Interactive fullscreen map | |
| Location | Parc du Cinquantenaire / Jubelpark 11, 1000City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°50′26″N4°23′34″E / 50.84056°N 4.39278°E /50.84056; 4.39278 |
| Type | Automobile museum |
| Public transit access | |
| Nearest car park | Museum grounds |
| Website | www |
Autoworld[1] is anautomobile museum inBrussels, Belgium. The museum displays a large and varied collection of over 300 vehicles, including cars and motorcycles from various eras, retracing the history of the industry from its birth in the 19th century to the modern age. It is notable for its collections of early and Belgian-produced vehicles, includingMinervas and severallimousines belonging to theBelgian royal family. In addition to its permanent collection, Autoworld regularly organises temporary exhibitions that highlight different aspects of automotive history.
The museum is housed in the South Hall of the historic complex in theParc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark, next to theArt & History Museum and theRoyal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History. This site is served byBrussels-Schuman railway station, as well as by themetro stationsSchuman andMerode on lines1 and5.
The museum was founded in 1986 through the initiative of the entrepreneurCharly De Pauw, with the support of the renowned car collector Ghislain Mahy. Mahy's passion forvintage cars began in 1944 when he purchased his first classic car, aFord T. This vehicle marked the beginning of an extensive collection that would later grow into theMahymobiles collection, featuring over a thousand vehicles. TheMahy collection formed the foundation of the Autoworld exhibition, as Mahy contributed a significant number of classic cars.[2] The first vehicles displayed at Autoworld came directly from this collection.[2] Among these early models were a1904 Minerva Type A and a 1921Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.
Originally, the collection took shape in the formerWinter Circus, a large circular building in the centre ofGhent. By the 1960s, interest in vintage vehicles grew rapidly, and Mahy began searching for a building to house Belgium's first automobile museum. Thus, in July 1970, the Provincial Automobile Museum opened inHouthalen, Belgium. However, the 1970s saw thefirst oil crisis, and in 1975, the museum began to suffer. In 1983, theprovince of Limburg decided to close the museum, but the Mahy family was authorised to take it over themselves. In 1985, the province raised the rent fivefold. The museum could not afford this increase, so the vehicles had to be relocated to another exhibition site.[3]
Autoworld was opened on 29 September 1986 at its current location in Brussels, following development plans signed in 1985 by the architect V. Van Zaelen.[4] The prominent figures behind the museum project were then-PrinceAlbert II, Minister Louis Olivier and founding member and Honourary Chairman of the Board of Directors,Herman De Croo.[2][3] At its opening, the museum contained around 200 vehicles from the Mahy collection. The remaining 750 cars are located in Mahymobiles, an automobile museum inLeuze-en-Hainaut, Belgium.[3]
Thanks to the efforts of De Pauw and Mahy, and in collaboration with various partners, Autoworld has evolved into one of Europe's most prominent car museums. Between 2011 and 2021, Autoworld experienced significant growth, tripling both visitor numbers and revenue. By 2030, the goal is to establish itself as one of the world's leading automotive museums.[5]
Autoworld is housed in the South Hall of theParc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark complex, also calledPalais Mondial. This historic building was constructed in 1880 to commemorate the 50th anniversary ofBelgian independence.[6] Designed by the architectGédéon Bordiau, the hall was originally built for the1888 World Exhibition. The structure, characterised by its impressive metal roof construction and large glass façades, served as a venue for fairs and events in the early 20th century,[4] including auto shows from 1902 to 1936.[6]
Like its northern counterpart, the building has a 48-metre-wide (157 ft)nave, under agable roof into which a longskylight with glazed sides is inserted. Equipped with a metal frame with slightly pointed arches, the 120-metre-long (390 ft) nave is flanked by 10-metre-wide (33 ft)aisles under a lean-to roof, housing amezzanine. The hall is largely pierced with metal-framed windows.[4]
Autoworld showcases vehicles from different eras, ranging from early automobiles to modernsports cars. The collection illustrates the evolution of car design and technological advancements in the industry from the end of the 19th century up to the modern age. The vehicles are arranged according to a thematic guided route that is developed, taking into account the eras and events that characterised them, with variousscenographic settings.[6] These include Minervas, a 1928Bentley, a 1930Bugatti and a 1930Cord, and severallimousines belonging to theBelgian royal family. In addition to passenger cars,motorcycles, sports cars,fire engines and 19th-centurycarriages are also on display.
The museum has developed over the years and the exhibition space is now divided into several sections. These key thematic zones include: Sport & Competition, Salon 1910, Mahy zone, Belgian zone, Workshops, Thiry zone, Royal zone, Media Room, '50s zone, Pierre D'Ieteren zone, Electric zone, Supercars zone, Belgian motorcycles, Auto Design Story, Comic book zone:Michel Vaillant, and Cars ofTintin.[7]
Autoworld is also an event venue, hosting numerous car-related events throughout the year,[6][8] such as:
Media related toAutoworld at Wikimedia Commons
