Gevangenismuseum Merksplas
Museum in the Landloperskapel of Merksplas-Kolonie on punishment, the prison system and the life of vagrants, open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Gevangenismuseum is housed in the Landloperskapel on the grounds of Merksplas-Kolonie. It is run by the vzw Gevangenismuseum, an association of around sixty volunteers who tell the story of the enforcement of punishment through the centuries. The story of the vagrants in Merksplas and Wortel is an essential part of it.
The museum has two storylines. “Punishments and crimes through the centuries” shows the origin and development of the Belgian prison system, with attention to the care of vagrants and to the evolution of human rights in prisons. “Life as it was” is about the vagabonds in the former vagrant colonies of the Northern Kempen, the place where poverty was still a crime.
The collection includes, among other things, an extensive library on prisons, criminal law and justice, cell furniture, everyday objects, archive material, leisure items and tools with which prisoners learned a new trade.
Highlights
- Two storylines: punishment and crime through the centuries, and the life of the vagrants
- Museum in the Landloperskapel of Merksplas-Kolonie
- Cell furniture, archive material and tools from the prison
- Testimony from a (former) prison guard and a film about the last groups of vagrants
- Educational packages and inleefkoffers (hands-on suitcases) for schools
Permanent exhibitions
- Straffen en misdrijven door de eeuwen heen – The origin and development of the Belgian prison system, with attention to the care of vagrants and to human rights in prisons.
- Het leven zoals het was – The life of the vagabonds in the former vagrant colonies of the Northern Kempen.
- Operated by
- Gevangenismuseum vzw
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Children under 12 are free when accompanied by their parents. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €8 per personFrom 10 people, €8 per person, drink included. For groups of up to 10 people there is a flat fee of €80, drink included. No further discounts. |
| Museum guide (per session of about 1 hour, per subgroup of 20 people) | €60 |
| Testimony from a (former) prison guard (per session of about 1 hour, per subgroup of 20 people) | €60 |
| Coffee with Klosjaars Kramiekske (per person) | €5 |
| Guided visit to the grounds (group of up to 24 people) | €60 |
Individual visit: €8 per person, including a free drink; no further discounts. You can pay in cash or with Payconiq; for foreign bank cards the museum uses SumUp.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- 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 entrance to the museum has a few steps. For safety reasons the museum is therefore not accessible to wheelchair users.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
|---|
For schools (fifth and sixth grades) there are educational packages, inleefkoffers and an educational walk on the grounds.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the Landloperskapel, Kapelstraat 9. The Bezoekerscentrum 5-7 in the Grote Hoeve (Kapelstraat 10) is the starting point of the guided walks on the vagrants’ grounds.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
A free drink is included in the admission price. Groups can order coffee with a Klosjaars Kramiekske.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A group visit with a guide takes about 1.5 hours, or about 2.5 hours with film. Groups can combine the visit with the testimony of a prison guard, a film about the last vagrants of Wortel-Kolonie, a coffee table and a guided walk on the vagrants’ grounds. Book via the booking form on the website. |
