Journey into the future: the Atomium in Brussels

At first glance, you might think you’ve landed on a science fiction set. But the nine shiny spheres that seem to rise effortlessly into the Brussels sky are not props, but one of Belgium’s landmarks: the Atomium.

For us, the Atomium was one of the main reasons for coming to Brussels, and so we were curious to see if the structure was as impressive in reality as it is in pictures. And what can I say? It exceeded our expectations!

A look into the past (and the future)

Built for the World’s Fair Expo 58, the Atomium was originally intended to stand for only six months. Fortunately, a different decision was made – and that’s a blessing for all visitors to Brussels! Today, it is a lasting symbol of innovation and progress. The structure was designed by engineer André Waterkeyn and architects André and Jean Polak. They chose this structure as a symbol for the atomic age and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Originally, it was planned that the structure should be 134 meters high. However, the height had to be reduced due to flight safety regulations, and so the Atomium has a considerable height of 102 meters.

What is depicted is an atomic model standing on one corner. It consists of 9 atoms arranged in a regular cubic form. It is a 165-billion-fold magnification of the crystalline elementary cell of iron. The construction weighs about 2400 tons.

We stood in front of the Atomium and were simply silent. I had not expected this size, this brilliance. The large spheres, with their 18-meter diameter, shone in the sun like giant, perfectly polished marbles. They are connected by tubes that have a diameter of 3.3 meters. I found it spectacular!

What you can expect

The Atomium can also be visited from the inside. Fortunately, it was quite empty, as we had not bought tickets in advance. I think that during the holiday season this is advisable and we were just really lucky. You enter the Atomium through the entrance building. The escalator drew us into the lowest sphere of the Atomium.

The lowest three spheres are now used as exhibition and event spaces. They are connected to each other by the large tubes, which contain escalators – this ride through the brightly lit tubes is an experience in itself. Each of the spheres has several floors that you can visit.

The top sphere with the restaurant can also be visited. You can reach it by means of a lift from the entrance area. And this lift is not just any lift: it is one of the fastest in Europe and catapulted us to the top in seconds, where we experienced an unforgettable panoramic view!

What is there to see?

I was particularly enthusiastic about the exhibition area. Here you can learn everything about the construction of the Atomium – from the first sketches to the gigantic implementation. The theme of the World’s Fair Expo 58 is also brought to life with interesting display boards and exhibits. It is fascinating to see how visionary the minds of that time were!

Some of the areas in the spheres are designed with sound and light effects. Here you can feel the energy and spirit of Expo 58 in a very special way. But the absolute highlight is certainly the view that you can enjoy from some areas. Not only the view of the neighboring sphere, but also the view of the entire surroundings is impressive. Brussels lies at my feet. On a clear day, you can see far beyond the city limits – a moment that you simply have to capture!

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Visitor Information

Address

Pl. de l’Atomium 1,
1020 Bruxelles, Belgien

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