Emile Van Dorenmuseum

About the museum

The museum is housed in the Le Coin Perdu villa, which the painter Emile Van Doren (1865-1949) and his wife Cidonie Raikem had built in 1913 on the edge of Genk, overlooking the Molenvijvers. Van Doren came to Genk from Brussels around 1890; the town had been a beloved artists' village since the 1840s. He lived and worked there until his death.

In 1956 the villa and its entire contents came into the hands of the City of Genk, as his daughter Fanny had stipulated in her will; she wished for a cultural purpose for the house. In 1976 it was inaugurated as the Municipal Museum and Cultural Centre Emile Van Doren. The rooms are furnished with the painter's original furniture, and his studio can also be visited.

The museum tells the story of old Genck, where more than four hundred landscape painters found inspiration in heath, marsh and ponds between 1840 and 1940. In 2016 Genk joined euroArt, the European network of historic artists' colonies. Alongside the collection of Van Doren and the Genk School, the museum organises changing exhibitions, a residency programme for contemporary artists and walks through the landscape. The museum garden, which adjoins the Molenvijverpark, is accessible day and night.

Highlights

• Villa Le Coin Perdu with the original interior and Emile Van Doren's studio
• Landscape paintings by Van Doren and the Genk School
• The story of Genck as an artists' village, “station d’artistes”
• Museum garden at the Molenvijverpark, always freely accessible
• The walk “In de voetsporen van…” along the Molenvijver and the Heempark

Permanent exhibition

• Villa Le Coin Perdu – The home and studio of Emile Van Doren with its original furniture, paintings by Van Doren and other landscape painters of the Genk School.

Founded

1976

Operated by

Stad Genk

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free. Only guided group visits and school visits from schools outside Genk are charged (€70 per group).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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 museum is partly accessible to wheelchair users. Parking spaces for people with disabilities are located at Kozenhuisje/Toermalien (Welzijnscampus 15).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Families and groups with children aged 8 to 12 can book a tour in which the children paint a landscape on canvas themselves and take it home (maximum 10 children, €80 per group).

Getting there & parking

By car, take the E314, exit 32 (Genk-Oost), towards Genk city centre. The museum's postal address is Stadsplein 1, 3600 Genk.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

There is a museum shop with books and a painting kit. The car-free museum garden has a picnic spot.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit