Hergé Museum — Attraction in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve

A must if you are a Francophone and a Tintin fan!

On our way back from Dinant to Amsterdam this proved to be a great stop, we allowed google maps to lead us to the back entrance adjoining a school, but found free parking so it was all good.

On a Sunday morning there were no crowds, so that was a bit of a relief. Inside the musuem the front desk is right next to the entrance, the people at the desk sell the tickets - a nominal price of 12 euros per head, there is a discount for students and teachers, which I am not aware of.

Important - Do carry your headphones with you, the audio guide - which is an app downloaded from the App store, activates on your phone - so it is recommended to have your bluetooth headphones, so you can enjoy the entire experience. (best not to listen in on speaker to not inconvenience the other guests)

Included in the admission fee is a locker facility to keep your valuables, and adjoining the lockers are the clean and tidy rest room facilities.

Inside the museum you get a window into the world of Herge (RG), while we know him for Tintin - this museum introduces to the brilliance and hard work that went into creating and perfecting the belgian detective. You see the artist start off with sincerity making a living with some bit of ad work, drawing book covers and what not, till he discovers his talent and then there is no stopping for decades!

Knowing French is quite useful, while English translations are available everywhere, one needs to be mindful of the fact that Herge wrote the comics in French - so all displays are in French.

Towards the end there is a gift shop, largely catering primarily to the French speaking audience, you will find few copies in English as well. I went in planning to spend a bit to build my Tintin collection from scratch, but unlike Amazon wherein the full series can be bought, and unlike many common book stores in Amsterdam, the museum did not have all editions in English. They did have posters, keychains, figurines, puzzles and what not - but nothing that would engage the serious Tintin fan.

The museum is 5 stars, the gift shop is what takes the 2 stars out of it.

Definitely worth a visit, plan...

A Must-Visit for Tintin Fans, but a Disappointing Experience at the Shop

The Tintin Museum is truly an incredible place—especially for children and lifelong fans of Tintin. The architectural design of the space is remarkable, with smooth transitions between displays that make the journey through Hergé’s world feel immersive and magical. Every corner tells a story, and it’s easy to lose yourself in the adventures.

The museum shop offers a wonderful collection of souvenirs—books, games, figures, and collectibles that any Tintin fan would treasure. However, our experience at the shop was sadly disappointing due to the behavior of one of the sales staff.

Despite purchasing a number of items, including a Tintin game and various gifts & souvenirs , the sales lady showed little warmth or flexibility, especially toward our children. When they politely asked to choose a different bag for their items, she refused—not just to accommodate the request, but even to allow us to pick from what was available. It felt unnecessarily rigid and out of step with the emotional atmosphere of the museum.

For kids, visiting a place like this isn’t just about buying things—it’s about creating lasting memories. The way staff interact with visitors, especially young fans, plays a big role in that. We didn’t expect anything extravagant, just a bit of kindness and understanding.

We still recommend the museum for the amazing exhibits and the joy it brings to Tintin lovers. But we sincerely hope the museum takes steps to ensure that the retail experience reflects the warmth and wonder that Tintin...

This is my 2nd visit to Brussels and I had made the trip specifically to visit the Herge museum. We stayed near Brussels-Midi and it took us around an hour by train to go there. Since it was a Sunday, we bought the family ticket for my sister and myself - it cost us 12 euros for a round trip. The stop is Louvain-La-Neuve-Univ. You get out of the two track railway station and walk right up, go straight through a square, and you can actually see the museum in the distance.

Right at the entrance you can see Tintin and Captain Haddock on the glass door, and you go from zero to a happy place immediately. The staff is very helpful. The entrance fee of 12 euros included a free audio guide. Photography is not allowed. But there is an interactive photo room/machine where you can click these awesome pictures with Tintin and the rest of his crew. :)

Make it a point to go through all the rooms - they are arranged chronologically starting with Herge's birth and family - the way his art matured, and the final few rooms dedicated to Tintin exclusively. There is one particular chandelier-like structure made with all the 220 (??) characters that appeared in Tintin. And then there is this round room which is filled with all the Tintin titles from top to bottom - you have to experience it to believe it!!

The museum is wheelchair accessible and the day I visited, I actually saw a mother daughter duo of 76-94 enjoying the tour just as much as the rest of us did. Age is...