Heemmuseum Heymissen
Local history museum in the Sint-Bernardusabdij (St Bernard's Abbey) of Hemiksem with crafts, a classroom and a café of yesteryear; free to visit on the first Sunday of the month.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The local history museum belongs to the Heemkring Heymissen, which took its name from an old local name for Hemiksem that is still used in the dialect. The young circle first met above the municipal library and in 1990 moved to a classroom in the school on the Delvauxstraat. In 1991 the municipal government made rooms in the eastern wing of the Sint-Bernardusabdij available. On 25 April 1992 these were ceremonially opened and the museum was set up there.
Because the space soon became too small, the circle was given extra rooms in the same wing. In 1998 it had to vacate these for the construction of service flats, and the museum moved to the northern wing of the abbey, where it was completely refurbished.
Today the museum shows on the ground floor, among other things, agricultural implements, a working printing press, a shoemaker's workshop, a carpenter's workshop, a forge and a brickworks with drying sheds. There are also themes with sewing machines, carbide lamps, a kitchen, a bedroom, a small classroom, a collection of radios and a fully furnished café. The collection grows through donations, such as flags of veterans (2014). Since 2015 the museum has been accessible by lift for less mobile visitors. According to Toerisme Rupelstreek, there is also a model of the abbey and archaeological finds on display.
Highlights
- Crafts of yesteryear: printing press, shoemaker, carpenter, forge and brickworks
- Classroom of yesteryear and a fully furnished café
- Model of the Sint-Bernardusabdij and archaeological finds
- Kitchen, bedroom, sewing machines, carbide lamps and radios
- Lift for less mobile visitors
Permanent exhibition
- Het heemmuseum Ontrent den Hover – Crafts, a small classroom, a café of yesteryear and a model of the abbey show the local history of Hemiksem.
- Founded
- 1992
- Operated by
- Heymissen vzw (Heemkring Heymissen)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups (26+ people) | €3.50 per personA guided group visit lasts 1 hour and is possible only on Thursdays with a reservation: up to and including 20 people €70, from 21 up to and including 25 people €90, from 26 people €3.50 per person. |
|---|---|
| Group visit up to and including 20 people (1 guide, 1 hour) | €70Only on Thursdays with a reservation. |
| Group visit of 21 up to and including 25 people (2 guides, 1 hour) | €90Only on Thursdays with a reservation. |
| Extra explanation on the history of the abbey, up to and including 20 people | €60Optional, 45 minutes to 1 hour, including a guide; from 21 people €80 and from 27 people €3 per person. |
Individual visitors pay no admission.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator
- 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
According to the museum website, since 2015 the museum has been accessible by lift for less mobile visitors.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Café
The cafeteria is open on the first Sunday of the month, during the museum's opening hours.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided group visits are possible on Thursdays with a reservation; you can combine them with a visit to the abbey and the Gilliot & Roelants Tegelmuseum (tile museum). |
