Your European Parliament pocket guide.
Date: 2019-06-19
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Brussels region, European Parliament, information centre, learning, plan, promotion of the European idea

Your European 
Parliament pocket guide

Brussels

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THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
COME AND BE PART OF IT

Welcome  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  heart 
of  democracy  in  the  European  Union  (EU),  which 
represents  500  million  people.  The  European 
Parliament’s official seat is in Strasbourg, France, but 
much of its work is conducted in Brussels. There’s plenty 

to see and explore here, from visits of the Hemicycle to 
a  cutting-edge  visitors  centre  that  is  one  of  Brussels’ 
top  attractions.  It’s  all  designed  to  showcase  the 
European Parliament, how it works and what it does for 
EU citizens. Being aware of Europe’s broader past is also 

essential  for  understanding  the  EU  of  today,  and  the 
House of European History offers a unique insight into 
Europe’s shared history. All the activities are completely 
free of charge, and most are available in each of the EU’s 
24 official languages.

EP SPOTTER

EP Spotter is a brand new application to help you explore 
and  discover  the  European  Parliament  campus.  From 
architectural  details  to  political  background,  EP  Spotter 
uses the GPS/geolocalisation in your smartphone to guide 
you  around  the  outside  of  the  European  Parliament  and 
tell  you  a  little  more  about  the  European  Parliament,  its 
buildings, the personalities they are named after and the 
history of the area.

If you want to discover what there is to spot, download EP 
Spotter from the Apple App Store or Google Play! (Currently 
only available in English.)

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STATION EUROPE 
WELCOME CENTRE

Station Europe is the perfect place to start your visit to the 
European  Parliament  in  Brussels.  Located  in  the  original 
ticket  office  of  the  Brussels-Luxembourg  train  station, 
Station Europe can guide you through all there is to discover 
on the campus and in Brussels itself.

Friendly staff are on hand to point you in the right direction 
or  you  can  discover  the  European  Parliament  for  yourself: 
explore the campus with an augmented reality model, dive 
into  the  past  with  touchscreen  tables,  or  see  the  campus 
grow through peephole dioramas.

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ESPLANADE 
SOLIDARNOŚĆ 1980

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PARLAMENTARIUM

Honouring  the  values  and  achievements  of  the  Solidarity 
trade union founded by Polish workers in 1980, the Esplanade 
Solidarność  1980,  with  the  Agora  Simone  Veil  at  its  centre, 
defines  the  European  Parliament  campus  and  connects  its 
buildings  to  Place  du  Luxembourg,  Brussels-Luxembourg 
train station and Parc Léopold.

The Esplanade hosts more than 40 public events every year, 
run by the European institutions and other organisations. 

Experience  the  European  Parliament  as  never  before  at 
the  groundbreaking  Parlamentarium,  located  in  the  Willy 
Brandt building. Within three years of opening, this European 
Parliament visitors centre had already welcomed more than 
a million people.

Through dynamic, interactive multimedia displays and with 
the  help  of  a  personal  media  guide,  adults  and  children 
alike  can  discover  what  European  democracy  is  all  about 
in  exciting  and  refreshing  new  ways.  Get  to  the  heart  of 
the  action  at  the  European  Parliament  in  a  stunning  360° 
cinema, and see how its Members represent you. Then take a 
virtual trip through Europe using our interactive map to see 
the impact the EU has had in each of the Member States, or 
sit back in a comfortable armchair while people from around 
Europe share their stories of how the EU affects them. 

A visit to the Parlamentarium usually takes around 90 minutes, 
with shorter one-hour tours for families and school groups – 
just ask for the Luna game or the Intergalactic Talent Show. 
The facilities, including a café and gift shop, are fully accessible 
to those with special needs. 

Opening times

Monday - Friday 

Saturday - Sunday 

09:00 - 18:00

10:00 - 18:00

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4 HOUSE OF EUROPEAN HISTORY

The  House  of  European  History  offers  visitors  of  all  ages 
the  chance  to  view  the  continent’s  history  from  different 
perspectives and reflect on what these diverse stories mean 
for us today. The museum features exhibitions, events and a 
collection designed to create a reservoir of shared European 
memory.

The  current  temporary  exhibition  Interactions  uses  games 
and hands-on exhibits to show how centuries of cross-border 
exchanges have shaped European food, culture and everyday 
life. There are also tailored resources for schools and families. 
Advance booking is required for groups of 10+. Please see the 
museum website for more info.

Museum  facilities  include  a  café,  gift  shop  and  cloakroom. 
These, as well as the materials, have been designed to make 
them fully accessible to those with special needs. 

Opening times

Opening times

Monday 

Tuesday - Friday 

Saturday - Sunday 

13:00 - 18:00

09:00 - 18:00

10:00 - 18:00

Monday 

Tuesday - Friday 

Saturday - Sunday 

13:00 - 18:00

09:00 - 18:00

10:00 - 18:00

Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

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HEMICYCLE VISITS

Going on a visit of the Hemicycle is a great way to get to 
grips with the basics of the European Parliament. You’ll have 
the opportunity to soak up the parliamentary atmosphere 
and  get  a  glimpse  of  the  European  Parliament’s  vast  art 
collection, and if you visit during a plenary sitting you may 
even be able to watch one of the major debates or votes. 

Individual visitors can discover the European Parliament 
with the help of a multilingual media guide. The visit takes 
30 minutes and no advance booking is required. 

Visit times

Monday - Thursday   09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 
15:00, 16:00

Friday 

09:00, 10:00, 11:00 

Saturday - Sunday 

closed

Additional visits are offered in July and August.

Our  staff  members  are  also  available  to  respond  to 
individual visitors’ questions and give a more personalised 
briefing. Briefings take place on Mondays at 10:00 and 15:00 
and are held in English or French (other languages may be 
offered if available). In July and August, additional slots are 
available. Please consult our website. 
Groups  are  equally  welcome  and  can  find  out  about  the 
European Parliament with the help of one of our engaging 
speakers. Visits may even include a discussion with a Member 
of the European Parliament. Advanced booking is required, 
please see our website for more info and opening times.

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PROTOCOL ENTRANCE

Located  in  the  Paul-Henri  Spaak  building,  which  houses 
is  where  the 
the  Hemicycle,  the  Protocol  Entrance 
European  Parliament  welcomes  VIPs  such  as  presidents, 
prime  ministers  and  even  famous  actors.  Luminaries  and 
dignitaries  regularly  visit  the  European  Parliament,  and 
this entrance gives visitors a chance to catch a glimpse of 
them on their way to or from discussions on the issues of 
the day. The location of this entrance, 60 at rue Wiertz, is 
the official address of the European Parliament, which is 
why your GPS probably directed you here!

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GETTING THERE

The European Parliament is easily accessible by bus, metro 
and train. We strongly recommend using public transport, 
given the limited parking in the area.

Closest metro stations

MAELBEEK

TRÔNE

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M 2

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➜10 min.

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Buses stopping at the European Parliament

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Rue de Pascale

Trains to Brussels-Luxembourg station

Brussels-Luxembourg  station  is  located  beneath  the 
Esplanade.

House of European History

SCHUMAN

10 min.

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PARC LÉOPOLD

Rue Vautier 

PAUL-HENRI SPAAK 

Musée Wiertz

European Economic
and Social Committee

Rue du Remorqueur

Hemicycle Visits

Rue Wiertz

Protocol Entrance

Rue Wiertz

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ALTIERO SPINELLI 

ALTIERO SPINELLI 

Rue d’Ardenne

 Atrium

B- LUXEMBOURG

Parlamentarium

MAELBEEK

5 min.

Rue de Trèves

Station Europe

WILLY BRANDT 

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It  takes  about  20  minutes  to  walk  to  the  European 
Parliament from the city centre.

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Rue d’Arlon

Rue d’Arlon

Villo!  is  Brussels’  public  bike  hire  scheme, 
which allows you  to pick up  a  bicycle at  one 
docking  station  and  drop  it  off  at  another. 
There  are  three  docking  stations  near  the 
European Parliament.

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TRÔNE 

20 min.

CITY CENTRE

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Rue d'Idalie

TRAIN STATION
B- LUXEMBOURG

JÓZSEF ANTALL 

34 38 80 95
Rue de Trèves

Rue du Parnasse

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WHO ARE THEY?

As you make your way around the European Parliament 
buildings,  you  may  notice  that  they  are  named  after 
prominent  figures  from  European  politics  and  history. 
These individuals have all made a significant contribution 
to building the European Union as we know it today: 
 Rue de la Science

KONRAD ADENAUER

PAUL-HENRI SPAAK

ALTIERO SPINELLI

the 

Konrad  Adenauer, 
first 
Chancellor  of  Germany  after  the 
Second  World  War,  made 
reconciliation  between  France  and 
Germany  possible,  paving  the  way 
for  broader  European  integration. 
Adenauer is considered to be one of 
the founding fathers of the EU. 

As Foreign Minister and Prime Minister 
of  Belgium,  Paul-Henri  Spaak  was 
instrumental  in  founding  the  Benelux 
union and in drafting the Rome treaties, 
which  laid  down  the  initial  provisions 
establishing  the  EU.  His  vision  of 
European cooperation made him one of 
the  greatest  contributors  to  the  early 
stages of the EU, and he is regarded as 
one of its founding fathers.

JÓZSEF ANTALL

WILLY BRANDT

SIMONE VEIL

the 

József  Antall  was 
first 
democratically  elected  Prime 
Minister of Hungary after the fall of 
Communism.  He  guided  Hungary 
towards  the  European  Union  and 
argued for a united Europe. 

Willy Brandt was the fourth Chancellor 
of Germany. He was awarded the Nobel 
Peace Prize for his efforts in improving 
relations  with  East  Germany,  Poland 
and  the  Soviet  Union.  Brandt  was  a 
Member  of  the  European  Parliament 
from 1979 to 1982.

Italian  politician  Altiero  Spinelli  is 
also considered a founding father of 
the EU, and was an important source 
of inspiration for its strengthening in 
the 1980s and 1990s. He served as a 
Member of the European Commission 
for 6 years, starting in 1970, and as a 
Member of the European Parliament 
for 10 years, from 1976. 

Simone  Veil  is  a  French  politician 
who  made  major  contributions  to 
women’s  rights  and  equality.  In 
1979,  she  was  the  first  elected 
President of the European Parliament 
following  the  first  direct  elections 
across the European Community.

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Troonstraat-RueduTrône

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Kunstlaan - Av. des Arts

Regentlaan - Bld. du Régent

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➜ Entrance to European Parliament campus
➜ To nearest metro stations
➜ To the European institutions
➜ To City centre

ISBN 978-92-846-2292-4 DOI 10.2861/55444

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GENERAL 
CONTACT INFORMATION

Parlement européen/Europees Parlement 
 Place du Luxembourg/Luxemburgplein, 100
1050 Bruxelles/Brussel
For visits

 visit@europarl.europa.eu
 europarl.europa.eu/visiting
 facebook.com/europeanparliament
 #visitep 

For other questions relating to the European Parliament
europarl.europa.eu/askEP 
epthinktank.eu/author/epanswers

11/12/17   12:22

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
www.europarl.europa.eu/visiting

Brussels

© European Union, 2018 - EP 

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