MUST - Museum voor Textiel

About the museum

MUST - Museum voor Textiel shows how the textile industry shaped the development of Ronse. It is housed in the Hoge Mote, a former canons' house that was bought around 1400 by the Sint-Hermeskapittel (Saint Hermes Chapter). In 1866 it came into the hands of textile manufacturer J. Cambier-Robette, who installed a factory there; the west wing was fitted out as a factory in 1905, 1913 and 1926. In 1964 the city bought the building.

In 1984 the Museum voor Textiel opened in that factory wing. In 2006 it was expanded and renewed under the name Must. The Folklore Museum in the Spanjaardenkasteel (Spaniards' Castle), which opened in 1952, has also been part of Must since then. Since 2018 the Hoge Mote also houses the tourist information office and the visitor and experience centre of Ronse.

The museum follows the entire textile production process, from raw material to finished product, with among other things a raw materials section, a preparation department, a steam engine, a laboratory, the foreman's workshop and a weaving shed. In that weaving shed stand forty working looms that show the technical progress of the weaving sector between 1900 and 2000. You also learn about the living conditions of the workers and the impact of the industry on the town.

Highlights

• Weaving shed with forty working looms from the period 1900–2000
• The entire textile production process, from raw material to finished product
• Authentic Cambier-Robette factory wing with sawtooth roof, steam engine and the foreman's workshop
• Guided tour by a licensed city guide with stories about factories and workers
• For sale at the information office: textiles woven on the Must machines

Permanent exhibitions

• Weverij met veertig weefgetouwen – In the factory wing with the sawtooth roof, forty working looms show the technical progress of the weaving sector between 1900 and 2000.
• Van grondstof tot afgewerkt product – The museum follows the textile production process from raw material to finished product and also shows the life of the workers and the impact on Ronse.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Stad Ronse

Admission & discounts

Rates for the fixed guided tour (admission included). Residents of Ronse and members of KAM (Riebedebie passport) and of ICOM have free admission.

Accessibility

• Partially 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 museum is partly accessible to people with disabilities. Visits are possible only with a city guide.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Hoge Mote, which also houses the Ronse tourist information office.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

In the information office you can buy finished textile products woven on the Must machines.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit