La Fonderie: Brussels Museum of Industry and Labour
A museum devoted to Brussels’ industrial heritage, housed in a former bronze foundry in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.
At a glance
La Fonderie preserves the industrial and labour history of Brussels through collections of objects, documents, and oral testimonies. The museum operates as a non-profit organisation dedicated to understanding the economic and social dimensions of the city’s working past. Beyond exhibition galleries, it maintains a public documentation centre and offers guided tours and educational programming.
History
The museum occupies the former foundry of the Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles, which operated from 1854 to 1979. The site’s conversion into a cultural institution reflects Brussels’ transformation from an industrial centre to a post-industrial city. The building’s industrial legacy remains integral to its mission of documenting and interpreting the working lives that shaped the region.
What you see
The venue is a historic foundry building located at 27, rue Ransfort in the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean district, positioned near the Brussels–Charleroi Canal. The industrial architecture of the former manufacturing plant provides an authentic context for understanding Brussels’ bronze-working traditions and broader manufacturing heritage.
Cultural significance
La Fonderie addresses a crucial gap in Brussels’ cultural landscape by centring the narratives of industrial workers and manufacturers. It documents the city’s economic transformation and preserves voices and artefacts that might otherwise disappear. The museum contributes to public understanding of labour history and industrial heritage in the Brussels Region.
Key facts
- Country: Belgium
- City: Brussels
- Location: 27, rue Ransfort/Ransfortstraat, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
- Coordinates: 50.85277778, 4.33555556
- Former foundry: Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles (1854–1979)
- Nearest metro: Comte de Flandre/Graaf van Vlaanderen (Brussels Metro Line 5)
Practical information & getting there
La Fonderie is accessible via the Comte de Flandre/Graaf van Vlaanderen station on Line 5 of the Brussels Metro. The museum publishes a magazine, organises guided tours, and provides educational activities. A public documentation centre is available for research and consultation.
Sources & resources
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