Bakkerijmuseum Veurne

About the museum

The origins of the Bakery Museum lie with Walter Plaetinck, a baker's son and passionate collector. As a travelling salesman of bakery products he came into contact with bakers who modernised their workshops and put old equipment outside. From the 1970s he kept those objects. In the 1980s the collection found a home in the Zuidgasthuishoeve in Veurne, a historic farm estate first mentioned in sources in 1314, which was first a hospice and later a tenant farm. The Bakery Museum officially opened in 1985.

The farm buildings were restored step by step and converted into museum rooms, a café, a depot and workrooms. The museum began as a volunteer project; from 1997 it became professionalised, and in 2003 it received recognition at supra-local level. Until the end of 2023 the collection, the estate and the buildings belonged to the vzw Bakkerijmuseum Walter Plaetinck Zuidgasthoeve; in 2024 they were officially transferred to the City of Veurne. Since then new infrastructure, scenography, a renewed museum narrative and a fully redesigned museum garden have been added.

The museum collection comprises about 24,000 items in thirteen thematic collections, including pastry, bread baking, sugar confectionery, chocolate processing, ice-cream making, transport, waffle baking and speculaas. There is also a knowledge centre with a library, magazines and old newspapers. Alongside technical themes, the museum highlights the social, cultural and intangible aspects of bread, cakes and craft.

Highlights

• Collection of around 24,000 items on the baking craft
• Historic Zuidgasthuishoeve dating from the Middle Ages
• Museum garden, museum café and museum shop, also free to visit without a museum ticket
• Baking workshops and craft baking demonstrations
• Knowledge centre with library and old newspapers

Permanent exhibition

• Vaste opstelling over het bakambacht en de bakcultuur – The museum route covers the baking craft and baking culture in Flanders, with playful tasks in every room, from the strength of a baker to the smells of the bakery.

Founded

1985

Operated by

Stad Veurne

Admission & discounts

The Museumpas is also available at reception. Adults aged 18 to 65 pay the standard rate.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

For the renovated museum, Toegankelijk Vlaanderen developed an accessibility guide, and Toerisme voor Autisme made a visual step-by-step plan for visitors. There are toilets for people with disabilities with a changing table at reception and along the museum. For current information on physical accessibility, you can email or call the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

In 2026 the museum has been approved for and by children. In every museum room there are games and tasks (testing a baker's strength, recognising smells, designing your own bread bag, baker's twister). During school holidays there are baking workshops for children from age 4, with apron and cap. Outside you can play on natural play features, with the free play case (April to October), and among the educational gardens and the windmill.

Getting there & parking

The museum is close to the Veurne exit (1A) of the E40-A18 motorway; at the exit turn right towards the coast and follow the roundabouts to the end of the street. The centre and the station are about 25 minutes on foot.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Museum café with terrace and museum shop with recipe books, cutters and aprons, among other things; both are also freely accessible without a museum visit. Free lockers for coats and bags.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit