The Visitors Observatory carries out research on the users and visitors of the 10 institutions known as the “Federal Scientific Institutions” (FSIs).
Among the general public, these 10 Federal Scientific Institutions are primarily known through the most prominent museums and visitor centres such as the Museum of Art & History (Cinquantenaire Museum), the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Musical Instrument Museum, the Planetarium of the Belgian Royal Observatory and the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren.
What is perhaps less well known is that – within their respective domains – these 10 FSIs also house several of the country’s most specialised and respected scientific research institutions.
The research carried out by the Observatory is intended to enable these institutions to monitor and improve the quality of their service to the public.
The Visitors Observatory was founded in 2003 by ministerial decree and is one of the few organisations active in Belgium that is specialised in audience research.
These 10 FSIs (and their respective subdivisions) are:
