Erasmus House, Brussels

Photo © Holly Hayes. View all images in our Erasmus House Photo Gallery.

Photo © Interzone00.

Photo © White House.

In the middle of an average neighborhood in Brussels stands the interesting redbrick Erasmus House, a brief home of the humanist reformer Erasmus of Rotterdam.

History

In the Middle Ages, Anderlecht was a small village of 300 inhabitants that included the Collegial Church of St. Guidon. Around the church were a number of important houses in which the canons lived.

Erasmus stayed in one of these houses in 1521; it was the home of his friend Pieter Wychman who was entrusted with teaching in the Chapter. Erasmus wrote to Guillaume Budé to say that he had followed his advice and had come to Anderlecht as he wanted to play at being a farmer.

Erasmus did not actually stay here very long, but he made a big impression: as early as the 17th century pilgrims visited the house ‘where the great Erasmus had lived’. Today the "Erasmus House" shelters both a museum and a study center with early manuscripts of Erasmus' works.

What to See

The Erasmus House has been restored to the way it looked in 1521, the year the great humanist came to Brussels for the fresh air. First editions of In Praise of Folly, and many early prints of other books by Erasmus can be inspected here, and are used by Erasmus scholars. There are some extraordinary works of art, including prints by Albrecht Dürer and oils by Holbein and Hieronymus Bosch.

A moderate by nature, Erasmus never joined the Protestant movement. Nevertheless, he was out of tune with the ecclesiastical authorities of his day, and some of the pages on view show where the censors stepped in to protect the faithful. His works were influential on other reformers, including Luther and Calvin.

Quick Facts on Erasmus House

Site Information
Names:	Erasmus House; Erasmus House, Brussels; Erasmushuis; Maison d'Erasme
City:	Brussels
Country:	Belgium
cat:	Museums; Historical Sites
Dates:	1521 (Erasmus); 1932 (museum)
Status:	museum
Visitor and Contact Information
Address:	Rue du Chapître 31, Brussels, Belgium
Coordinates:	50.836557° N, 4.307424° E (view on Google Maps)
Opening Hours:	Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays. Open all holidays except Dec 25 and Jan 1.
Cost:	€1.25 for combined ticket to Eramus Museum and the Beguinage
Transport:	Subway: Saint-Guidon Tram: 56 Bus: 47, 49.
Phone:	+ 32 (2) 521 13 83
Email:	info@erasmushouse.museum
Website:	www.erasmushouse.museum
Lodging:	View hotels near this location

Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Map of Erasmus House

Below is a location map and aerial view of Erasmus House. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.

References

Fodor's Belgium, 3rd ed.
Erasmushuis - official website
Erasmus House - opt.be

More Information

Erasmus House, Brussels - Go Historic
Photos of Erasmus House - here on Sacred Destinations

Article Info

Title:	Erasmus House, Brussels
Author:	Holly Hayes
Last updated:	09/24/2009
Permalink:	www.sacred-destinations.com/belgium/brussels-erasmus-house
Link code:	<a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/belgium/brussels-erasmus-house">Erasmus House, Brussels</a>