Visit to Atomium Brussels Belgium with Family
Looking for places to visit in Brussels with your family? Go add the Atomium in your list of things to do in Brussels Belgium. This is the next best thing your kids will enjoy after seeing the comic strips in walls of Brussels. If time permits add Mini Europe too which is located just beside this.
Atomium was at a distance of 8 km in Brussels where we stayed yet we left early to beat the queues. Time your visit to Atomium and Mini Europe well as it can get quite crowded and queues for tickets tend to get longer.
For residents of Brussels it is like what Eiffel Tower is for Parisians.
What does Atomium represent?
Atomium is giant iron crystal! It represents the atomic structure of iron crystal magnified 165 billion times! It is one unit cell of pure iron, as kept under room temperature and under atmospheric pressure. The 102m tall structure has nine spheres, each 18m in diameter and connected to each other through tubes.
I read somewhere that from a particular angle it resembles a cube with a sphere in the center. There are 12 edges of the cube. All 8 spheres in the vertices of the cube are connected to 3 other spheres with tubes 3m in diameter. All 8 spheres are connected to central sphere.
The tubes have escalators and/or ladders. An elevator takes you to the topmost sphere. Another access is through a staircase to one of the lower spheres.
And when viewed from another specific angle it seems like a hexagon with spheres in 6 corners and one in center.
I tried viewing it tilting my head this way, that way but couldn’t get that figure. May be you can try when you are there. If you are more creative and enthusiastic of clicking Atomium visit during twilight hours. With rising sun or setting sun as backdrop you will get mind blowing pictures.
Crystal of Iron Atomium Brussels
Who made Crystal of Iron Atomium in Brussels?
This was one question my kids wanted to know first. Just in to their basic levels of science, it was beyond their imagination that an atom when magnified looks like this.
The Atomium was built in 1958 for the Brussels World’s Fair. It was designed by André Waterkeyn. Wonder what inspired him! Was Chemistry his favorite subject? May be or may not be, but he surely has got many kids interested in the subject with such a stunning creation.
If every country were to make such structures of all elements in periodic table this world will surely get more students interested in Chemistry.
In 1950s the faith and progress in scientific processes was at its peak. The intention was to honor the metals industry and celebrate the atomic age. Keeping up with the trend, a structure depicting atom, the fundamental unit of an element was chosen.
The ticket counter at Atomium Brussels was just beginning to get crowded, lucky for us we didn’t have to wait for long. Those few minutes we would have looked up several times thinking “we had to get to the top of this revolutionary structure.”
Seeing Atomium in pictures and seeing in real is such a contrast!
Mini Europe Brussels
The lift took us straight to topmost sphere. Great views all around from there.
The Mini Europe theme park (pic above) was clearly visible. The park has miniature versions of more than 300 famous buildings of European Union including Leaning Tower of Pisa, Eiffel Tower and more.
Since we had already seen them in real the Mini Europe theme park didn’t hold any attraction for my kids. They are built in a scale of 1: 25. It might give you the feel of Gulliver among Lilliputian buildings! We skipped this and preferred to spend more time inside Atomium.
What to see inside Atomium?
From the top most sphere we could visit other spheres using steep escalators. One of the spheres has permanent exhibition about the world’s fair 1958 and the Atomium building. Of the 9 spheres 3 spheres cannot be visited, rest are all inter connected and you can move between them using escalators.
The huge tubes have escalators inside them. There are levels within the spheres where we used staircases. Such an unique idea and so exciting for the kids! So unimaginable from its exteriors!
Lots of photo opportunities inside Atomium. They have designed the Atomium interiors so creatively. Each museum inside Atomium is filled with lot of exhibits. If one were to go through all of them even 2 hours wouldn’t suffice to tour the Atomium interiors.
A glance outside gives the feel how high above we were. Here is the view of the road leading to Atomium, our car parked somewhere in that row of parked cars and that is my reflection.
Atomium Restaurant
Restaurant and Museums of Atomium Brussels
Yes, finally we were inside one of the mystic spheres! We got to see upturned hemispheres as roof inside like the ones you see under church domes.
The top most one has a restaurant. One can sit here in Atomium restaurant leisurely having a snack or drink while enjoying the panoramic view around. One can choose just to take pictures too and not get in to the restaurant which I felt is slightly overpriced, justifiably so because of the location.
Washroom facilities are in this uppermost sphere. The 3 spheres connected to this uppermost spheres are unused.
Pictures taken, you can move to the next sphere.
Here is a view of staircase through one of the tubes.
Temporary Exhibits in Atomium
The theme of display in third and central spheres of Atomium keeps changing. Whatever is the trend then, or locally and internationally popular they get exhibited. Eighteen meters in diameter, it is a huge hollow space. They have used the space well to display exhibits.
There are levels within the spheres. One can use steps/escalator to get to the different levels having the exhibits. The staircase is modeled on structure of atoms and bonds. One interesting statistics here is that the escalators installed in oblique tubes of Atomium are among the longest in Europe. The biggest is 35 m long.
Bottom Sphere for Permanent Exhibition
Very interesting exhibits here, highlighting just a couple of them. One is the “Arrow of Civil Engineering”.
An exhibition themed reinforced concrete creations was on in one of the spheres. These are used by architects for making facade patterns. Similar patterns are used for aircraft windows too.
The exhibits highlighted the economic advantage due to efficient continuous production and prefabrication. This also enhanced the aesthetic design because of creation of patterns. Playing with shapes and patterns is possible in both facade and interior. Tiles, wallpapers… there are numerous possibilities to create decorative and colorful designs, according to latest trends.
Reinforced concrete is an extremely versatile material except for the structural and technical properties, the material offers architects and designers almost unlimited possibilities in style and shape, from rigid, geometric or radical rectilinear to curved and flexible.
Atomium Children’s Ball
There was one sphere full of smaller spheres, thirty of them. A magical space designed by artist Alicia Framis. This was based on European experiment in urban education led since 1997 by various institutions based in Brussels.
“Rain molecules” is how Alicia Framis described the main feature of the installation of Children’s sphere.
Each had a little bed inside; this was the children’s sphere. These were suspended from the upper vault of the sphere; and could be brought up and down giving the effect of falling rain drops. Children can read, write, work, play and wash on the lower floor of the sphere.
“Rain molecules” by Alicia Framis in Atomium
The last escalator to ground floor was most exciting. It was dark and illuminated with colorful artificial light. It gave the effect of some sci-fi movie. Needless to say the children were most excited with this experience!
Open Timings of Atomium Brussels
Check this up before you plan visit to Atomium Brussels.
- Every day (365 / 365): from 10am until 6pm (ticket office closes at 5.30pm).
- December 24th and 31st: from 10am until 4pm (the ticket office closes at 3.15pm).
- December 25th and January 1st: from 12pm until 6pm (the ticket office closes at 5.30pm).
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I am gonna take lots of tips and cues from your blog while planning our trips in Europe. Brussels tops on Sam’s travel list. The view is amazing from Atomium 🙂
I had no idea a place like this even existed. I’ll be sure to seek it out if ever I’m in Brussels.
I did not understand what is the Atomium’s purpose. Is it just to get some nice views of the surroundings, like Eiffel Tower, for example? Thanks
So cool that you got to experience those views! Such an incredible landmark that shouldn’t be missed!
What an incredible structure! It really is an iconic landmark and one that I would love to visit – if only for the views!
The Atomium is one of the iconic landmarks of the world, so awesome that you had the chance to visit and enjoy the incredible views!
It’s seasonal, but there is also a zipline that takes you from the top of one of the spheres down to the ground. It’s fun for the adventurous!
I’ve never been to Belgium but I’m really hoping to go this summer. It looks amazing. I’ve heard it’s an amazing foodie city.
Looks like a cool place to visit. I’ve been to most major European cities but I have yet to make it to Brussels. Thanks for the timely reminder.
Nice reflection in that last one and I was fascinated by the photo no 2.
Think people would like to visit this places after your seen this photos:-)
What lovely views!
Interesting structure!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Indrani, what a view! Cool looking structure. Lovely skywatch. Have a great weekend.
Nice shots, I like the superstructure shot best as looking up is a good perspective to do.
I like your reflection in that photo. It makes an interesting picture.
Very interesting captures! ..breathtakingly beautiful views:)
Great work!!
Each post of yours has me sighing- will i ever go there..!!
Gorgeous… Brussels' is supposed to be beautiful…
Such a gorgeous sky you have this week.
My Sky Shots.
Have a great weekend.
Fascinating structure indeed! Beautifully captured!
Thank you for this interesting journey. Great reflection. Please have a good Friday.
and of course – lovely photos of yours! 🙂
Lovely atomium structure! and such a view you've got from up there! 🙂
Fascinating place and great shots of it.
What an experience it must have been to visit the inside of this beautiful structure. The views are indeed incredible, but I like the views you got of the spheres within the structure.
Stunning and unique structure and the photographs. Thanks for sharing.
breath taking!
This is really interesting…
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What an awesome place!! Your captures are superb as always, Indrani, and what a view!! Wow!! I would love to visit there! Have a wonderful weekend!
What awesome pictures!!!
Ha ha
I've posted a post on Atomium with the same title & was wondering what'd be your photo like. 🙂
Here's the link to that post. Have a look.
http://www.lemonicks.com/Travel/2012/07/17/atomium-brussels/
wow!!! this is just too amazing!!!!!
Oh my!! That is amazing
Great shots
Hugs
SueAnn
Beautiful shots.
http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
Interesting and the description make it wow!
lovely views captured!
Beautiful and amazing superstructure, nice views.
Indeed a super structure!
Indrani, I've nominated you for the 'Capture the Color' Contest.
Check it out here: Capture the Colors! All the best!!!