Leopold’s Legacy

The Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels, and the adjacent Parc du Cinquantenaire, represent a site of both cultural prestige and colonial controversy. Closely intertwined with the history of Belgian colonialism in the Congo and with the figure of Leopold II, the museum’s collections and architecture embody dissonant heritage. This chapter investigates past and present efforts to address this legacy, including decolonisation initiatives and institutional responses. It also considers the role of tourists in interpreting, ignoring, or challenging the site’s colonial past. Can contested heritage be ethically integrated into public cultural institutions?