Brik Boom

About the museum

Brik Boom is the visitor centre on the site of the former Verstrepen brickworks in Noeveren, a protected village townscape on the Rupel. In 1993 the vzw Ecomuseum en Archief van de Boomse Baksteen (EMABB) bought part of the former Lauwers brickworks, the current site, and set up its ecomuseum there. Volunteers looked after the buildings and opened them to the public.

Because a thorough restoration was needed, the municipality of Boom bought the site in 2018 for a symbolic sum. Stichting Kempens Landschap coordinated the restoration. In 2022 Brik Boom opened, after refurbishment, in part of the former brickworks. The volunteers of EMABB keep the visitor centre open and lead the guided tours.

Here you learn about the whole process from clay to brick, and about the often hard life of working families. Central are the ring kiln from the 1920s, protected as a monument, the carpentry workshop that now serves as an information point, and the workers’ cottages, one of which is fully furnished.

Highlights

• Ring kiln from the 1920s, protected as a monument
• Carpentry workshop as an information point about the brickworks, Noeveren and the Rupel region
• Fully furnished workers’ cottage on group visits
• The whole process from clay to brick and the life of the workers
• Walk through the brickmakers’ hamlet of Noeveren

Permanent exhibition

• Bezoekerscentrum Brik Boom – Permanent display in the ring kiln on the whole production process from clay to brick and the life of working families.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Gemeente Boom, Stichting Kempens Landschap en EMABB vzw

Admission & discounts

Individual visit to the visitor centre in the ring kiln: €6 per person, at your own pace. The information point in the carpentry workshop is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: not available
• 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 information point in the carpentry workshop and the visitor centre in the ring kiln are accessible by wheelchair; a lift takes you to the halls on the first floor of the ring kiln. The inner courtyard is paved with cobblestones, so the surface is bumpy. There are no adapted parking spaces. Several audio installations are provided in the visitor centre.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Both the ring kiln and the carpentry workshop are accessible with a pushchair; a lift takes you to the halls at the top of the ring kiln.

Getting there & parking

By car, take exit 9 ‘Boom’ from the A12 and follow the brown signs towards ‘Noeveren’. Brik Boom is on the cycle route between cycle junctions 29 and 90 of the Scheldeland cycle map, and between walking junctions 329 and 186 of the Rivierenland walking map.

Amenities & dining

• Café

When the visitor centre is open, you can have a drink after your visit in the museum café in the former stables; food is not available continuously. Catering is possible for groups. Dogs are allowed in the information point, but not in the visitor centre.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 350 guests.

Available to rent: Hoffmann hall (250 people), Verstrepen hall (100), Baksteentje hall (80, in the old stables), Zolder hall (80, reachable only by stairs) and the inner courtyard (350 people). Rates are on the website, including €1,000 per day for private individuals in the Hoffmann hall.

Plan your visit