You may be wondering why we are talking about an aquarium at Never Was. That’s because the Aquarium Museum in Liège, Belgium isn’t just any aquarium. Housed in a Victorian-era building, there is more to see here than fish.
The aquarium itself is only a small part of the museum. It’s definitely a fun part, but it’s not as good as, say, Aquatopia in Antwerp or the aquarium building at Pairi Daiza in Brussels (which is also housed in a beautiful Victorian-era building).
The Aquarium Museum in Liège also — supposedly — includes an extremely well-hidden Planetarium. Which we didn’t find. And we weren’t the only ones. I’m actually not sure it really exists or if it’s a gag on the museum map, but that aside.
What we did find were all the other bits and bobs that make visiting this museum worthwhile for those interested in (alternate) history. There are several sections dedicated to science. One is about natural history (do not expect Natural History Museum-levels of taxidermied animals), whose standout displays are elaborate wax models and several intricate glass Blaschka models. Blaschka models are usually found in medical and natural history museums in big cities like London and Paris, but Liège too holds quite a fine selection.
There is another section dedicated to more modern sciences studying plants throughout history, as well as geological finds from mostly Wallonia, the southern half of Belgium.
And then another that is the most relevant, alongside the natural history one, for us ‘punks. It’s all about early cinema, electrical developments and radio science. Meaning we get early radio transmitters, Victorian studies, cinema apparatus, gramophones, even a Tesla cage, and pretty much everything in between.
Now, this is an older museum, and it shows. It’s very much a “we’re outdated, but we’re doing our best” kinda vibe. It’s also partly a working university building, where students go to class and do research. That has its charms, but also its flaws.
For example, there is no cafetaria, just a vending machine with drinks and snacks. There is also no proper locker system, just a backroom with a few lockers. (Free to use, though, and in various sizes.) There is a water station, where you can refill your water bottle for free. And although it’s a challenge to make such an old building accessible to visitors with mobility issues, they have tried their best with reserved parking spots outside, an accessible entrance and an elevator.
The museum is currently closed for renovations. The aquarium is still open. Keep an eye on their website for updates!
