Museum of Manuscripts and Letters

This museum hasn’t been opened long although don’t know exactly when it did open. First I’ll complain… what a terrible name for a museum! I’d have been happier with Museum of Literature or Museum of Prose. But I loved everything else!
The place really isn’t very big and of course not much to look at other than photographs and manuscripts but hey, I love that stuff! Currently there is an exhibition going on that has now been extended until Sept 21^st (2014) which is called Around the World in 80 Letters. Yes, it is Jules Verne inspired and the exhibition consists of mainly letters from famous writers, artists, explorers… who have traveled and have written about these places, not only for publication but also personal letters to friends and relatives. Antoine de Saint-​Exupery, Ernest Hemingway and Jack Kerouac were three of the many that were there and enjoyable to read. Other writers/​travelers were Jean Cocteau, Hugo Claus, Alexandre Dumas, Robert Louis Stevenson but of course many more. The premise is for the visitor to capture the spirit of these places that the writers’ visited and settled down in.
In the main part of the museum, which is upstairs (the bottom floor covers the exhibition) there are many letters, drawings, etc tracing Belgian history. Paul Delvaux and Rene Magritte are two of the painters who have written letters.
Its just so hard to give you the feel of the place. After reading all that was there anything I write here is going to be inferior.
One other thing; there is a pretty nice area as you come in which is the museum’s store. Of course there are some nice books but lots of other things too such as writing paper, fancy pens, art postcards and other interesting gifts. They also give you a small book of the exhibition to take into the museum with you to read about the different individuals. This is written in English, French and Dutch. They’re just short paragraphs on the writers but I found it interesting. You have to turn the book in before you leave but you can also buy your own copy for 2 Euros. I did. I also found this thick book in English titled Letters of History/​History Makers. It was only FIVE EUROS!!! If you don’t mind carrying it around the city with you, I recommend that you get a copy. Obviously they’re on sale so may not be available much longer. Kinda wish I bought a few now for gifts.
If you’re a reader, writer or literary fan, this is a MUST while in the capital of Europe.