Porte de Hal
Porte de Hal
4
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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- Hallepoort • 2 min walk
- Munthof • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
285 reviews
Excellent
83
Very good
141
Average
53
Poor
6
Terrible
3
Harry
Bristol, UK49 contributions
Jul 2022
Porte de Hal is a great museum, and there was quite a lot of information I learnt about the historic creation of Brussels. The rooftop also provided some great views (see photos). But, given everything else there is to do in Brussels, I wouldn't recommend you prioritise this, but visit if you have time.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JRMADA
United States3,332 contributions
Jun 2022
We spent about 2 hours going through the exhibit here and it is well worth it. This is a medieval museum with lots of artifacts and weapons on display. The structure is impressive and fun to go through. A must when in Brussels.
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mmm
Pensacola, FL8 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
One floor was empty. Nice exhibits and audio guide. Staff seemed irritated by our presence and ignored us until we tried to enter with backpack. Then they stopped chatting and engaged us, after standing there with tix for a while.
Written December 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leonhkny
Hong Kong, China21,283 contributions
Jun 2023
This is the original city tower of Brussels. Along with the surrounding park, Porte de Hal offers a fairy tale-style view. More interested tourists may get in to see the medieval face of the Belgian capital.
Written June 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tbolton123
St. Neots, UK221 contributions
Jun 2015
Visited today. It's one of the last remaining medieval gatehouses of the city wall. Each level reveals a large exhibition space show casing different aspects of Brussels past. Main highlight is the spiral staircase taking you forever upwards to the top. Brilliant views from the top (outside) and the roof space breathtaking for its internal architecture. Ps. Don't forget the sub-level for swords and bows and arrows and very clean toilets!!!
Written June 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Doubutsu
Newark, DE62 contributions
May 2011 • Solo
Although it resembles a small castle, this 14th century building is in fact the last of seven gates in the medieval city walls that protected Brussels. It was used as a prison afterward. Note that the wide road that rings modern Brussels was built where the wall once stood. Porte de Hal (aka Hallepoort in Flemish or Halle Gate in English) has been beautifully restored and is about a 10 minute walk from Brussels Midi Station. (There is also a metro station nearby with the same name.) The appearence was originally much more austere until a 19th century restoration/upgrade.
The self guided tour begins in the basement with a selection of medieval weapons and armor. Text is in French and Flemish only. I believe there was an English audioguide available for an extra fee. Upper floors have other artifacts and there was a temporary art exhibit as well. Photography is permitted only without flash. One thing I liked was the stone spiral stairwell on the street side of the building- each floor has a unique statue of a figure in armor. Be sure to visit the top floor, which opens onto ramparts with a panoramic view of the city. Notable are ports presumably designed to drop boiling liquids on besiegers, covered with plexiglass to prevent mischief. You can also access the interior of the roof with its intricate heavy timber framework.
The self guided tour begins in the basement with a selection of medieval weapons and armor. Text is in French and Flemish only. I believe there was an English audioguide available for an extra fee. Upper floors have other artifacts and there was a temporary art exhibit as well. Photography is permitted only without flash. One thing I liked was the stone spiral stairwell on the street side of the building- each floor has a unique statue of a figure in armor. Be sure to visit the top floor, which opens onto ramparts with a panoramic view of the city. Notable are ports presumably designed to drop boiling liquids on besiegers, covered with plexiglass to prevent mischief. You can also access the interior of the roof with its intricate heavy timber framework.
Written August 14, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marco B
London, UK365 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
The Halle Gate was my first port of call on our recent long weekend in Brussels/Antwerp.This is an absolutely, amazing tourist attraction and I would have to rate as one of the best things I have seen in my long weekend to Belgium.The Halle Gate looks like a Fairy Tale castle.Spread over several floors and at the top a 360 degree fantastic panoramic view of Brussels.The basement has medieval weaponry on display and is also where the toilet facilities are located.
The next floor is great with full suits of armour for both knights and horses,fantastic carvings,,a glass see through floor viewing section and the architecture of the building itself with all its fine arches.
The staircase is breathtaking,spiral steps,surrounding the central shaft with windows looking out on to it,with intricate statues on each floor of the shaft.One of the finest staircases I've ever seen.
The next floor has a St George and the Dragon statue,pictures,a variety of posts with vircular emblems at the top,etc.
The floor above this is dedicated to doll houses,it is nicely done,but not really my cup of tea and seems a little out of place with the rest of the medieval museum/building.
Then you have the 360 degree panoramic view from atop of the battlements.Full boards that explain all the landmarks that you can see.The battlements surround the central tower where you get to view the amazing,wooden trussed celings.
All in all an amazing fairy tale attraction that is well worth the 7 Euros entry fee.
The only thing that is missing is English as an option on the information boards,but i will not let that detract from awarding this superb attraction 5 stars.
The next floor is great with full suits of armour for both knights and horses,fantastic carvings,,a glass see through floor viewing section and the architecture of the building itself with all its fine arches.
The staircase is breathtaking,spiral steps,surrounding the central shaft with windows looking out on to it,with intricate statues on each floor of the shaft.One of the finest staircases I've ever seen.
The next floor has a St George and the Dragon statue,pictures,a variety of posts with vircular emblems at the top,etc.
The floor above this is dedicated to doll houses,it is nicely done,but not really my cup of tea and seems a little out of place with the rest of the medieval museum/building.
Then you have the 360 degree panoramic view from atop of the battlements.Full boards that explain all the landmarks that you can see.The battlements surround the central tower where you get to view the amazing,wooden trussed celings.
All in all an amazing fairy tale attraction that is well worth the 7 Euros entry fee.
The only thing that is missing is English as an option on the information boards,but i will not let that detract from awarding this superb attraction 5 stars.
Written September 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JimmyRiddle119
Belfast, Canada30 contributions
Oct 2015 • Friends
Recommended if perhaps you have an early afternoon train from Gare Du Midi. Gives a good taste of medieval Brussels history, but no more than a taste.
Written February 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarcMich
Hasselt, Belgium880 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Unfortunately, Brussels doesn't have many remainders, as old as the Hallepoort, which is about 600 years old. It's worth visiting the museum (closed on Monday - like most musea in Brussels) inside which also gives some history on the city. From the Hallepoort you can easily walk either towards the Avenue Louise shopping area, or to the Marolles traditional neighborhood.
Written June 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gee231205x
Gillingham, UK765 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
The Porte de Hal is a gate house which remains from the original wall around the city of Brussels. it is an imposing structure close to the Gare du Midi (station). We arrived 20 minutes before closing and were informed by the man at the ticket desk (in perfect English) that we wouldn't have time to go round the museum part but could go to the observation deck for free, which was very kind. We took a very small lift up the inside of the tower, it is slightly claustrophobic so be warned. The lift opened out into a room full of disney figurines in plastic boxes which as we were unable to read the signs beside them was slightly confusing. There was a chance to see a couple of the inside rooms and then take a walk around the top part of the tower to take in the 360 view available. Worth a visit in good weather and the park just beneath the tower was nice for soaking up the sunshine. There are some signs to to one side of the tower, near the pond which may have once been a moat which tells you a little bit about its history in English.
Written April 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the wheelchair accessibility like? I use a manual wheelchair.
Written June 2, 2019
Is there parking nearby or just street parking?
Written September 17, 2018
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