Damiaanmuseum
Museum in the birthplace of Father Damien in Ninde (Tremelo), renovated in 2025, with a permanent exhibition on his youth and his legacy.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Damien Museum is housed in the birthplace of Jozef De Veuster, later Father Damien, in Ninde near Tremelo. The house was set up as a museum in 1952 and, as a protected open monument, forms an integral part of the museum. No restoration work had been carried out since then until a thorough renovation of about nine months took place: the roof, the technical installations and the joinery were renewed, and the stained-glass windows and the historic floor were restored.
In May 2025 the museum reopened, with extended opening hours and a new permanent exhibition on Damien's youth. For this exhibition the museum searched for the oldest authentic testimony: the memories of his niece Marie, who lived with Damien's mother. Authentic objects from his youth, such as a round fairground table belonging to his grandfather and a soup tureen, are on display.
The museum preserves, researches and presents Damien's heritage from several perspectives, and shows how Damien and his heritage still inspire people today. Among other things you can see the original coffin in which Damien was buried, a chasuble, his lectern, a mission cross and a Hawaiian deity figure. For children and families there is a treasure hunt that changes every year, and an audio guide is available in three languages.
Highlights
- Birthplace of Father Damien, a protected monument
- New permanent exhibition on Damien's youth
- Original coffin, chasuble, lectern and mission cross
- Hawaiian deity figure
- Audio guide in Dutch, French and English
- Family treasure hunt “Schatten van Vlieg”
Permanent exhibition
- Permanente expo over de jeugd van Damiaan – Damien's youth in his birthplace, based on the testimony of his niece Marie and authentic objects from the family.
- Founded
- 1952
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Discount card holders on presentation of their card: teacher's card, ICOM card, UiTPAS, student card, Herita Netwerk Open Monumenten, over-65s, European Disability Card and Iedereen Verdient Vakantie |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Children under 6 enter free; children and young people aged 6 to 18 pay €4. |
| Seniors | €5Over-65s pay the discount rate on presentation of a card. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €5Holders of the European Disability Card pay the discount rate. |
| Students & apprentices | €5A student card entitles you to the discount rate. |
| Groups | €5 per personGroup of adults with a guide: €5 per person. School class with an educational supervisor, and youth groups with a treasure hunt: €4 per person. |
| Treasure hunt for children up to 12 | €3 |
| Treasure hunt for people aged 12 and over | €5 |
| Iedereen Verdient Vakantie | €4 |
Holders of the museum pass and residents of Tremelo enter free. A museum pass can be bought on site or digitally.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The birthplace is a protected open monument. There are tactile modules in all museum areas, and a floor plan of the museum in the reception area. Toerisme voor Autisme offers a visual step-by-step guide. Certified assistance dogs are welcome; other animals are not. An accessibility guide, produced with Inter and the Flemish government, gives details on wheelchair accessibility.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
Families can follow the family treasure hunt Schatten van Vlieg, which changes every year and is available all year round (€3 for children up to 12, €5 from age 12). There is a children's version of the audio guide and tactile modules in the museum areas.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Keerbergen Leuvensebaan · 1 km
From Aarschot or Mechelen train stations take bus line 25 to the Keerbergen Leuvensebaan stop; then it is a 1 km walk. From Leuven station, bus line 36 runs to the centre of Tremelo (Hoppinpunt Vinneweg), where you can change to line 25 or take a Blue-bike for the last 2 km.
By car
Parking available
There is a car park right in front of the museum and a bicycle shelter; you can also use the car park of the nearby WZC Damiaan. Coaches drop their group off at the door and then park in the car park.
The museum lies centrally between Leuven, Mechelen, Aarschot and Heist-op-den-Berg, close to cycle node 25.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (NL, FR, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Individual visitors and families do not need to book. The audio guide comes in an adult and a children's version; a paper guide in other languages is in preparation. Groups and schools book at least three weeks in advance via the reservation form; there are programmes for schools, groups and confirmation candidates. |