Klompenmuseum Den Eik

About the museum

The Klompenmuseum Den Eik has existed since 1988. The vzw Vrienden van het Museum (Friends of the Museum) founded it as a tribute to the clog makers who supplied footwear to Laakdal and the surrounding area in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The village of Vorst in particular, where the museum was originally located, was a centre of the clog industry, with exports to the whole region.

Today the museum is housed in the buildings of the coaching inn Den Eik, which are owned by the vzw Kempens Landschap. The museum gives an overview of craft and machine clog-making. A clog workshop from 1920 and a shaping and heel machine from 1928, which are still in operation, show how a clog is made from willow wood, from tree to clog. Groups can book a guide and a demonstration by a clog maker, and in the museum you can buy clogs.

Since spring 2011 the clog experience trail has been located behind the museum, an initiative of Kempens Landschap. On this walk through the forest you borrow clogs and experience what it is like to walk in them, over different surfaces and past adventurous experience elements. The museum and the trail together take about two and a half hours.

Highlights

• Overview of craft and machine clog-making
• Clog workshop from 1920 with a shaping and heel machine from 1928 that still work
• Clog experience trail through the forest, where you walk on clogs yourself
• Guide and demonstration by a clog maker for groups
• Brasserie Den Eik with regional beer and snacks

Permanent exhibitions

• Klompenmuseum Den Eik – An overview of craft and machine clog-making, with a clog workshop from 1920 and a shaping and heel machine from 1928.
• Klompenbelevingspad – A walk through the forest behind the museum, wearing borrowed clogs, over different surfaces and past experience elements.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Vrienden van het Museum vzw

Admission & discounts

The rate of €3 applies to the museum only; those who also want to walk the clog experience trail pay the combined price for the museum and the trail. With a teacher card the museum is free for adults.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

The clog experience trail is meant for young and old: children walk through the forest on borrowed clogs, over different surfaces and past adventurous experience elements.

Getting there & parking

By car, take exit 23 Geel-West; at the roundabout take the second exit onto Grote Steenweg (N19), follow the N19 and the N19c and turn left onto Averbodesesteenweg (N212); the museum is on the left after about 1.2 km. Because of a street name change, the address is also Grensstraat 45, along the road Averbode-Herselt, behind Brasserie Den Eik.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

In the building on the street side is Brasserie Den Eik, with regional beer, snacks and information about the region and the de Merode estate; groups can reserve a meal there. In the museum you can buy clogs.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit