Museum van de waterwinning

About the museum

The first traces of water extraction at Cabour date back to the First World War, when the Belgian army installed a simple drinking-water supply here for its troops. Six years after the end of the war, on 24 December 1924, the municipalities of Adinkerke, De Panne, Nieuwpoort, Oostduinkerke and Veurne founded the intercommunal IWVA, today’s Aquaduin. They took over the existing extraction and expanded it to supply the region with drinking water.

Later Cabour received a pumping station that was modern for its time, with open-air sprinklers and automatic filter pressure. The core buildings of this first installation have been preserved and form a remarkable industrial-archaeological ensemble. Until 1947 the Cabour dunes remained the only extraction site. Because of rising demand, the Sint-André extraction in Oostduinkerke came into use in 1947, followed in 1966 by De Westhoek in De Panne.

The museum opened in 1992 on the occasion of 1,000 years of Adinkerke. It is an initiative of retired staff of Aquaduin, in cooperation with the board of directors. In an old workshop on the estate they built an exhibition on the history of water extraction at Cabour.

Highlights

• Exhibition on the history of drinking water extraction on the coast
• Historical tools and documents
• Core buildings of the first water extraction installation
• Free admission and free parking
• Located in the Cabour dune area

Permanent exhibition

• Geschiedenis van de waterwinning in Cabour – In an old workshop, historical tools, documents and the preserved core buildings show how drinking water extraction on the coast began.

Founded

1992

Operated by

Aquaduin (voorheen IWVA)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• 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

According to the Aquaduin website, the museum is wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Address for navigation: Moeresteenweg 141, De Panne (Adinkerke).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit