The Wittockiana is the museum of book arts and bookbinding in Brussels. It boasts a collection of about 3,000 unique books. All of these works provide silent testimonies about bookbinders, artists, authors and different materials used to make books. The museum illustrates trends in book arts and bookbinding over five centuries, from the Renaissance in the 16th century to contemporary times. The museum is named after its founder, Belgian bibliophile Michel Wittock. During his lifetime, he assembled an impressive collection of books, manuscripts and autographs. In 1983, he commissioned a Brutalist-style building in Brussels to protect these treasures, which he proudly showed to fellow bibliophiles.
The Wittockiana was officially recognised as a museum for the general public in 2010. It does not display a permanent exhibition, but organises several temporary exhibitions every year. The museum’s programme tackles various aspects of book arts as well as diverse time periods and artistic movements. The permanent collection can be discovered through guided tours with the museum staff.