Waterloo Battlefield image

Waterloo Battlefield

Museum Historical landmark Historical place museum Cultural landmark

One of the Best Places To Visits in Braine-l'Alleud


Address

Rte du Lion 1815, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium

Website

www.waterloo1815.be

Contact

+32 2 385 19 12

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (4.2K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Monday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (41) great (15) battle (12) history (11) panorama (11) visit (10) interactive (10) Napoleon (10) hill (9) battlefield (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Vikrant K. 1 year ago on Google
    I was very excited to visit this place and heard a lot about it. But when i reached there, it was just a small hill with some kind of animal on the top. There was one museum which closed. We couldn't go on top as it was a public holiday. We saw timings on the board which mentioned 10AM. I am sure we were there 10-15 mins past 10am. For me it is strange to see that such tourist attraction was closed on public holidays. My common sense says that people will go out and visit such places on holidays than on working days.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christian P. 5 months ago on Google • 261 reviews
    So much history here. The museum is great with easy to use interactive tours via your phone. I recommend you bring ear plugs for the on phone guided tour.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christina O. 1 year ago on Google
    I very good museum!! I highly recommend going here, even if you know nothing about Warerloo (like me). I ended up learning a lot. The museum is very interactive and fun. My friends stressed that they don't like going to museums, but they all said that this was a very fun museum and they enjoyed it. There are so many different sections like the lion's mound, a movie theater, interactive quizzes, a panorama of the battlefield. There's something for everyone here! It is worth your time and money, no doubt.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gavin M. 2 years ago on Google
    Phenomenal modern museum that covers the battle itself in great detail, but also the main personalities, causes and ultimate effects of this last desperate roll of the dice by Napoleon. Well designed interactive elements help to keep kids (large and small) entertained. Good wheelchair or pushchair access throughout.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dagmar 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful and extensive museum about the battle of Waterloo in 1815. We were ' just stopping by ' on our way home, but didn't have enough time (3 hours) for the museum, panorama, mound with lion and surrounding grounds. That package cost 18 euro for an adult, there's also one without museum for 15 Euro or one for 22 euro also including the temporary exhibition. The museum includes a free audio tour (with your smartphone, bring earphones if you want). Everything is explained: from the cause, to whose who, weaponry, clothing, etc. It's interactive, also including a 4D movie (glasses are provided). Free parking.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jonathan O. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing piece of history and a great place to visit for both enthusiasts and general interest. The path through the museum, into the panoramic and the Lions Mound are very clearly marked and allow you to really understand what you are seeing. The reenactors were also very enthusiastic and did a great job with the cannon demonstration.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Reshma 2 years ago on Google
    A well maintained museum. You will learn a lot about the war and the history from there. The explanation is nice. There is a 4D show as well, which could be improved, but still very informative. The highlight is sculpture on the hill. Visiting these kinds of museums lets reflect on why wars shouldnt be repeated.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 serena n. 9 months ago on Google
    Fantastic Experience! Came here 7/5/23 10:00-14:50 with the €21 ticket for students (no entrance to the Wellington Museum and the farm where the general slept before the Battle) €3,5 365a Bus from Bruxelles Porte de Hal. At the ticket office you are provided with a map of the area, carrage ride timetable and the daily schedule for the different activities they offer (cannon shooting, first aid in a battlefield, platoon...). The whole visit was great, the audioguide (that you download on your cellphone, good thing I carry headphones) was detailed and interesting. The displays working, and full of images and fun facts. The timelines on the wall help you understand the sequence of events on both sides. Only things I feel were missing were more details about all the Marshalls that served under Napoleon (which I was looking forward after having seen a docuseries on YouTube), especially my sister's favourite Oudinout aka "colinder man". After 2:25h, at 12:30 I got on the 10min horse carriage ride to the Hougoumont Farm. There one of the workers gave a tour of the area, unfortunately only in French, so I couldn't participate. Although a lot of action happened around this Farm and the importance it had in defeating Napoleon, there wasn't that much information (on the app), so you can easily visit it in 40min. Walk back to the Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo. Very impressive! It goes in great detail of what was happening in that day, and a MUST is using the guide to understand what all the details are representing. Don't glance at it quickly, but take your time to study it (it took me 40min). Loved it :-) Then up I went to the Lion Mound which is more for the view you see, but on a rainy day, you had slippery stairs and not too much to see except dark clouds and green fields. Afterwards I went to see the field activities, where I got to try the different (more for kids size) uniforms and hold an original bayonette (heavy!). And that was my experience, really recommended :-)
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eleftheria S. 1 year ago on Google
    The museum is a really nice experience! There are interactive activities and information which make it more enjoyable for visitors regardless of the age! There is a coffee place in front as well where you can enjoy your breakfast or lunch!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kristin K. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice museum. Make sure to bring your own headphones so you can listen to the guided your on your phone. The app wasn't working when we were there but it would have been a great addition to our experience.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Drago 1 year ago on Google
    Good museum. Many different interpretations of the Battle of Waterloo and the different Coalition Wars. The painted panorama is also very impressive. However, the price is way to high for the experience. A 1€ discount for students is ridiculous.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Guido B. 2 months ago on Google • 884 reviews New
    Geschichte kann man hier hautnah erleben. Das Gelände besteht aus vier Teilen. Das unter der Erde errichtete Museum mit modernen Präsentationen zur berühmten Schlacht sowie einer Sonderausstellung zu 50 Jahre ABBA und ihrem gleichnamigen Song Waterloo, der 1974 zum Gewinn des ESC geführt hat. Hier hat mir ganz besonders die 4d Animation der Schlacht gefallen, die mit 3d Brille angeschaut wird. Die Akteure kommen einem dabei sehr nahe. Im sogenannten Panorama wird die Schlacht in 360 Grad dargestellt, davor befinden sich Requisiten wie tote Soldaten und Pferde, Kanonen usw. Wirklich sehr beeindruckend. Dieses Gebäude ist schon fast 100 Jahre alt, aber nach wie vor faszinierend. Draussen auf dem Schlachtfeld befindet sich der Butte de Lion, einem künstlich aufgeschüttetem Hügel mit 40 m Höhe, auf dessen Spitze ein 28 Tonnen schwerer Löwe aus Gusseisen thront. Hinauf kommt man über eine Treppe mit ca. 250 Stufen, wofür man eine gewisse Fitness benötigt. Das sogenannte Biwak des Kaisers ist das Hauptquartier von Napoleon mit den Fahnen von Frankreich, Grossbritannien und Preussen. Draussen steht eine interessante Skulptur von Napoleon und ein Preussen Adler. Ich kann jedem unbedingt empfehlen, dieses Memorial zu besuchen. Auch der gut sortierte Souvenierladen mit Literatur und Andenken ist hervorzuheben.

  • 2/5 Augustin B. 2 years ago on Google
    Overpriced and lacking in direction. If I come to a museum/memorial dedicated to a battle I expect to understand what happened. I came out as clueless about a battle that shaped Europe as when I entered. The collection was pretty, the visuals and the digital were somewhat solid. But it lacked coherence and couldn't even tell you what a guy on YouTube in ten minutes could. And it's free on YouTube. It's not great.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Jana K. 2 years ago on Google
    I wanted to see great battlefield where Napoleon finally surrender. I did. If you want to go inside of museum the prices are quite expensive, in my opinion, and a lot of things come in packages only. So for example it was not possible to climb the lion's hill without buying a ticket to museum itself. In the end I skipped this and just took some pictures outside. I didn't have time to go to the museum and I didn't want to spend that much money just to go to that hill.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Morten T. 1 year ago on Google
    Finding this place is more difficult than You'd expect for an attraction with broad interest from all over the world. Signs and directions are pretty much absent. Once you get to the museum, it unfortunately takes quite some prior history knowledge to follow the exhibits. It's probably obviously to Belgians (and the French), but we had to Google a few times. The tour system and many of the interactive exhibits are dated and could use, not and hi update, but a rethinking with UX in mind. And oh, after paying €50-60 for the family I don't what to pay 1€ to use the binoculars at the view point of Butte de Lion. The exhibits where overall OK and the panorama good. I would recommend going, but it also a tourist trap.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joshua H. 8 months ago on Google
    Fantastic Museum and area. I would highly recommend no one skip the Hougoumont Farm - probably the best part of the whole experience. We did the entire trail, from Napoleon's Bivouac area to the Picton Memorial...
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anestis M. 11 months ago on Google
    We visited the museum, the panorama and the monument for the battle. The story is presented in a very nice way, the exhibition in the museum is amazing and the whole place puts you in the atmosphere of the battle. Impressive artwork inside the panorama.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mike H. 1 month ago on Google • 130 reviews New
    I visited this battlefield back in 1988, now it’s an impressive site for what was a history making battle. It’s an impressive monument and place to visit, really enjoyed it.

  • 5/5 Jörg T. 7 months ago on Google • 70 reviews
    Ein unglaublich gut gemachtes Museum, das modern ist und einem die Schrecken dieser Schlacht näher bringt. Such die Hintergründe werden dargestellt, alles sogar auf Deutsch. Dazu Filme und multimediale Aufarbeitung. Nur der Eintrittspreis von 23.- Euro (2023) ist recht ambitioniert.

  • 5/5 MYO 3 weeks ago on Google • 54 reviews New
    Great historical museum. When we went there where not manny people which I think is a shame since it’s hold great historical value. Very interactive museum much information you can get from books 📚 but great to see I really live. Would suggest if you have the time to visit it. Parking was free.

  • 5/5 brett s. 1 month ago on Google • 43 reviews New
    A very large, but very well kept and very important battlefield site. Not only that, but there is a brewery on site where you can sample a few beers in an original clay chalice as they used to drink back in the day. Both hougemont and la haye saint are very well kept. It’s amazing to see nearly 200-year-old must basketball holes in the oak trees outside of the front gates of Hougemont. The history of course is 2nd to none with very good tours. The location is ideal if you are driving from Dunkirk to either Bruges or Brussels. Do stop off and stretch your legs and see the place where Napoleon met his match and suffered his final defeat.

  • 5/5 Anelis G. 2 months ago on Google • 38 reviews New
    Great place to visit, especially on a lovely sunny day. If you go up the hill, get ready as you have a handful of steps to climb.

  • 5/5 Muhammad I. 7 months ago on Google
    A greatly educative museum which is well preserved and recorded. Information about the historic event is very interactive

  • 5/5 Radoslaw K. 4 months ago on Google
    I highly recommend visiting. Charge your phone and take headphones to use audio guide. Walking along mannequins soldiers and horses is a nice experience. Many great exhibitions and multimedia presentations. Plus you can visit nearby smaller museums with buildings and actual battleground.

  • 5/5 Hans-Lothar H. 7 months ago on Google
    Very interesting and intense experience, especially since the new museum brings in all the new results of historians and reevaluated the role of each party. The myth of Wellington is definately debunked and it appears more like that the collaboration of all the United forces with a large part of German and Dutch groups who besieged Napoleon and his army in this battle. The exhibition focuses also on the sad destinies of the single soldiers, since they were the ones doing the „job“ in the end. My only critique is the overrepresentation of Napoleon in the Museums shop. I prefer not to see cute figures of him after having experienced how aggressive he was against other countries.

  • 5/5 Kenny V. 3 months ago on Google New
    Incredible museum! It kept adults and youngsters (10-15yo) interested with projections, interactive panels and a treasure hunt Absolutely recommend visiting. Do bring ear plugs if you want the audio guide on your cell phone

  • 5/5 Patrick E. 3 weeks ago on Google • 14 reviews New
    It was better than I thought it was going to be :) I drove past several times when flying from Charleroi, and even stopped by last time, but got there right before closing. This time I arrived too early. It was worth the wait, I'm a big fan of the Napoleonic Era, and the Waterloo memorial didn't disappoint. That 4D movie was a bit underwhelming, I guess they need a technology update at some point.

  • 4/5 Colin B. 1 year ago on Google
    Paid for 3 museum ticket as advised by staff that other local sites included in next level ticket were closed. Entry included the underground museum, lion mound climb and panorama. Warning - the climb to the mound is very steep. Very good restaurant on site next to the panorama building.

  • 4/5 Sadie Z. 1 year ago on Google
    Lots of steps if you want to climb the mound. But it's worth the view. Nice little memorial site to walk around and read about the history. I'd recommend seeing the film.

  • 5/5 Billy S. 11 months ago on Google
    Excellent museum, well worth the entrance fee. Full of detail surrounding the battle, all in several languages. The Waterloo app was awesome, added lots more information, make sure you download it!

  • 5/5 Nook S. 10 months ago on Google
    Visited Waterloo after leaving Brussels. Museum was very informative and well presented. Perfect when rainy outside. Lucky that we got to see the Lion on top after the rains had stopped. The view of the surrounding area where battle took place was worth the climb.

  • 4/5 David C. 9 months ago on Google
    Very impressive museum that has been built underground to avoid altering the space too much. We were appalled to see ‘The dinner in the sky’ operating and booming out pop music over a battlefield where so many died.

  • 5/5 John (. 2 years ago on Google
    I cannot give this place any less than five stars... although, there are two main issues I have with the venue: 1. The Lion's Mound (built five years after the Battle). Wellington was apparently horrified by it, and whilst the views from the top allow one to survey the terrain, the I found the monument unnecessary and an abomination to the blood-soaked field. 2. The enormity of Napoleon memorabilia in the gift shop, and lack of Wellington memorabilia, left me questioning whether the people in the gift shop were aware who won the Battle (and the War). Of course, it could be that Wellington items were completely sold out. The venue itself is a MUST visit if you're British, Dutch, or even a local. Cast your mind back over two centuries, and but for the Lion's Mound, the fields in front of you are largely unaltered. Very respectful. The museum itself is a respectful and educational reminder of the Battle. Highly recommended for anyone. It's about 30 minutes out by train from the centre of Brussels, and I believe there's a bus you can take that transports you to the various places of interest relating to the Battle (I went by foot). Very interesting.

  • 5/5 Zeeshan C. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing piece of history, well maintained museum, 4D movie was great and wonderful walk to the lion with beautiful scenery.

  • 5/5 C S. 1 year ago on Google
    Nicely done museum with 3D movie, panorama picture, multimedia show, horse carriage rides, canon show etc. included in the entry fee. Easy to spent more than 3hrs. Super friendly staff.

  • 5/5 Dee Y. 1 year ago on Google
    Remarkable space and history on display. The battlefield is amazing and has markers around. The buildings around. The museum is brilliantly curated with the history and even has moving pictures! The 4D show is good too and makes you a part of the battle. You need a long day. The Lion hill is excellent too and vantage point to see the landscape and relive the scenes. It's a LONG climb too. But worth it

  • 5/5 Inanimate Honest R. 1 year ago on Google
    A great museum! The tour guide was dressed like a Prussian soldier, and made the tour quite enjoyable! The climb to the top of the hill is long, but worth it, as you can see for miles around! One downside is a bunch of very small flies land all over you, they don't seem to bite, but they do seem to swarm all over.

  • 5/5 Corentin B. 1 year ago on Google
    The museum is well organised, very fun, i also recommend getting a Bruxelles waffle at the restaurant just next to the lion hill.

  • 5/5 Marek S. 2 years ago on Google
    great place for a small trip, parking right in front door, adequate price (less than 40e for 2+2 family), souvenirs shop+wc, big panorama picture, 226 steps to lion, cannon and musket fire, nice...

  • 5/5 Scott C. 2 years ago on Google
    This museum has spared no expense, it’s very well done, the 4D film was good. The amount of information here and what went on 200 odd years ago was well put together and informative

  • 5/5 Mike L. 2 years ago on Google
    Wonderful museum of the historic battle of Waterloo. Lots in the museum itself and the battlefield is preserved and viewable from the Butte du Lion. The panorama is very similar to the one at the Gettysburg battlefield.

  • 5/5 Diamant S. 2 years ago on Google
    Omg it was super fun, I also bought a book and its so fun to read about napoleon. Seper damn good!! You definitely should go!!!!!!!!!!

  • 5/5 TT B. 2 years ago on Google
    There really is not much to see on the outside other than hill with the lion statue on top. The museum had several pieces of Napoleon's wardrobe. If you like history and are close by I would go and see.


Call +32 2 385 19 12 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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