Huis Arnold Vander Haeghen

About the museum

Huis Arnold Vander Haeghen is a town palace on the Veldstraat in Ghent. In 1771 the Ghent textile baron J. Clemmen bought the property, after whom it was long called Hotel Clemmen. He had the front facade enriched with Classicist and Baroque elements and an extra wing built at the back, in which a cotton printing works was set up.

In 1836 the mansion came into the hands of the Ghent family Vander Haeghen. Arnold Vander Haeghen was a passionate amateur photographer who went out into the street with his camera and recorded daily life around 1900. The family bequeathed the building to the city of Ghent, on condition that it be given a museum function. Since 1953 the house has been accessible as a museum. Since 1997 the city of Ghent's Department of Culture and Arts has also used part of the building.

The interior evokes the atmosphere of the early twentieth century, with a vestibule and dining room in Belle Époque style. The Chinese salon has original eighteenth-century silk wallpaper; about six Chinese salons have survived in Ghent, but only this one is painted on silk. The study of Nobel Prize winner Maurice Maeterlinck is the work room from his house Orlamonde in Nice, which the family gave to the city in 1973; Maeterlinck himself never lived in this house. The house is managed together with the neighbouring Hotel d'Hane Steenhuyse by Historische Huizen Gent.

Highlights

• Chinese salon with unique eighteenth-century silk wallpaper
• The study of Maurice Maeterlinck, moved from his house in Nice
• Vestibule and dining room in Belle Époque style
• Walk-in guided tour on Sundays together with Hotel d'Hane Steenhuyse

Permanent exhibitions

• Chinees salon – One of the best-preserved authentic Chinese salons in Ghent, with eighteenth-century wallpaper painted on silk.
• Kabinet Maeterlinck – Reconstruction of the work room of Nobel Prize winner Maurice Maeterlinck, from his house in Nice.
• Vestibule en eetkamer – The reception rooms on the ground floor show the atmosphere of the Belle Époque around 1900.

Founded

1953

Operated by

Stad Gent (Historische Huizen Gent)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Individual visits are free; you give a voluntary contribution. Holders of a CityCard Gent can join the walk-in guided tour free of charge after online registration.

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 house is only partly accessible to wheelchair users: the ground floor can be reached with the assistance of staff. The gardens of Hotel d'Hane Steenhuyse and Huis Arnold Vander Haeghen can be visited. Pets are not allowed, except guide dogs.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The house is in Ghent's low-emission zone. Hotel d'Hane Steenhuyse (Veldstraat 55) is across the road.

Amenities & dining

Eating, drinking and smoking are not allowed in the rooms. Lockers are available at Hotel d'Hane Steenhuyse across the road.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit