Photo:Belgian Royal Palace/Frédéric Andrieu

Museums in Brussels are honouring King Philippe’s ten years on the throne this week by offering free admission to visitors.

From Friday, 21 July (the tenth anniversary of the King’s accession to the throne) through Sunday, 23 July, several museums in the Belgian capital will have free admission.

The State Secretary for Recovery and Strategic Investment, Thomas Dermine, announced the plans for the museum on 17 July ahead of the big weekend.

He said: “With this free entry initiative, we would like to honour His Majesty the King in our way on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his reign, thank him and Her Majesty the Queen for their tireless efforts to promote the federal museums and wish everyone the chance to visit the wonderful collections that our institutions preserve, study and promote. I would like to thank the museum directors and their employees for making this action possible.”

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Royal Museums of Art and History, the Royal Museum for Central Africa and the KBR Museum are the museums visitors can visit free of charge this weekend.

Belgium’s National Day also takes place on 21 July, with special events taking place to honour King Philippe and his ten years on the throne, as well as the country on the national holiday.

King Philippe became King of the Belgians upon the abdication of his father, King Albert II, on 21 July 2013.