De Oude Kaasmakerij

About the museum

De Oude Kaasmakerij in Passendale is the former Sint-Jozef cheese and butter factory. When the First World War broke out, the Spruytte family fled to Normandy and ran a restaurant there; Germaine Spruytte learned to make Pont l'Evêque cheese there. In 1928 she returned to Passendale with her husband Romain Donck and soon began producing cheese. When the farm became too small, they set up a dairy and cheese company directly opposite the farmstead. In 1936 a lot of Pont l'Evêque was made there, and later also St. Paulin, with the help of a Swiss cheesemaker.

During the Second World War production stopped; in 1946 it resumed in a new building. In 1949 the company moved to the Boucque brewery in the centre of Passendale; the old factory was still used temporarily for Brie and white cheese and ceased operations for good in 1963. On 13 June 1995 the cheese factory and its equipment were protected as a monument, restoration work began on 23 April 2000, and the heritage site officially opened on 28 February 2003.

Since April 2018 the vzw De Oude Kaasmakerij has managed the site under a long lease agreement. The collection contains the local history objects of the Donck family from the Sint-Jozef factory, supplemented by the collection of the former cheese museum of Wijnendaele Castle, which came into ownership in 2005. Part of it is on display in the permanent exhibition; the rest is in storage.

Highlights

• Protected interwar cheese and butter factory
• Interactive guided tour with a cheese-making demonstration or workshop
• Donck family collection with unique pieces from the Flemish dairy industry
• Brasserie with cheese tasting and cheese shop
• Mini golf with 18 holes
• Combined ticket with the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

Permanent exhibition

• Kaasmuseum De Oude Kaasmakerij – The permanent exhibition brings the tradition of cheese-making back to life in an interactive way in an interwar cheese factory, with objects from the Donck family collection among others.

Founded

2003

Operated by

vzw De Oude Kaasmakerij

Admission & discounts

Special discounts are possible through the Fonds Vrijetijdsparticipatie. Anyone who buys a combined ticket with the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 can also visit Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

The site is wheelchair-friendly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Children aged 6 to 12 search for Père Joseph's secret cheese recipe during the museum visit, using 8 questions; a small gift awaits at the treasure chest. For families there is a cheese-making workshop, a garden with bouncy castle and a mini golf course with 18 holes.

Getting there & parking

De Oude Kaasmakerij is a stone's throw from Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Brasserie and restaurant with terrace and a view over the Flemish fields, cheese shop and spacious car park.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The multipurpose building is available for communions, weddings, family celebrations, baby showers, funeral meals, team building and company events, with catering tailored to the occasion; ample parking, garden with bouncy castle and large terrace.

Plan your visit