Heemmuseum Het Molenijzer
Local history museum with folk culture, old crafts and the Lingerie and Underwear Museum, free to visit on Sundays in summer.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The local history museum is run by the Koninklijke Heemkring Het Molenijzer (Royal Local History Society), founded on 27 October 1966 by, among others, Jozef Weyns, founder of the Bokrijk Open-Air Museum. The name refers to the coat of arms of Putte, in which three mill irons appear. On 6 October 2016 the society received the title of royal association.
The cosy museum lies hidden among greenery and shows everyday life in the near and distant past: a living room, a bedroom, old folk games and washing equipment, and crafts such as the smithy and the clog-maker’s workshop. Since 6 August 2006 the Lingerie- en Ondergoedmuseum (Deposeum, Lingerie and Underwear Museum) has also been part of the site. At the opening it was the first museum of its kind in Flanders; the collection now numbers almost 5,000 items of lingerie and underwear from 1900 to the present.
The proceeds from the café, which is open on Sunday afternoons in the summer months, fund the running and development of the museum.
Highlights
- Living room, bedroom and old folk games
- Crafts such as the smithy and the clog-maker’s workshop
- Lingerie and Underwear Museum (Deposeum) with almost 5,000 items
- Free admission for individual visitors on Sundays
- Café with pancakes in the summer months
Permanent exhibitions
- Heemkundige collectie – Everyday life of the past with a living room and bedroom, old folk games, washing equipment and crafts such as the smithy and the clog-maker’s workshop.
- Lingerie- en Ondergoedmuseum (Deposeum) – Unique collection of almost 5,000 items of women’s, men’s and children’s underwear from 1900 to the present.
- Operated by
- Koninklijke Heemkring Het Molenijzer vzw
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups (15+ people) | €2 per personGroup visit: €2 per person, guide included. A group has at least 15 people; smaller groups are not turned away but pay for 15. |
|---|
On Sundays the museum is free of charge for individual visitors.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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
Café with pancakes, frikadellen with sour cherries, bacon and eggs, croque and ice cream, open on Sunday afternoons from June to September. There is also a café in the style of an old village café (Stammenee Het Molenijzer).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Group visits (at least 15 people) with a guide are only possible from 1 April to 31 October. The contact person for the museum is Alfons Vekemans; for the Lingerie and Underwear Museum it is Lydia Pellegrims (0495 87 48 94). |