Kruiermuseum
Village museum in the Old Town Hall of Balen about everyday life in a Kempen village during the interwar period (1920-1939).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Kruiermuseum is the public museum of Erfgoed Balen vzw, an association that has been collecting, preserving and making Balen's local heritage accessible since 1977. The museum is housed in the Oud Gemeentehuis (Old Town Hall) on Vaartstraat, the building where residents used to go for administrative matters such as births, military service, marriages and deaths.
The furnished rooms focus on the daily life of a Balenaar during the interwar period (1920-1939). Visitors pass through the village's key stages of life and meeting places: a living room, a grocery shop, a classroom and a village inn. A large part of the museum objects from the Erfgoed Balen collection is permanently on display here.
The museum's name refers to the residents' nickname. Balen is known as the Kruiergemeente, and its people have long been called Kruiers or Kerkenkruiers. There are several explanations for the origin. Probably, when the church was built, the first stone of which was laid in 1444, a great deal of sand had to be moved, and Saint Andrew, the patron saint of porters (kruiers), was chosen as their patron. What began as a mocking nickname is today a nickname the residents are proud of.
Highlights
- Authentic former town hall of Balen as the setting
- Furnished living room, grocery shop, classroom and village inn from the interwar period
- The story behind the nickname Kruiers van de Balenaars
- Welcome and explanation by volunteers of Erfgoed Balen
- Free admission for individual visitors
Permanent exhibition
- Dorpsleven in Balen tijdens het interbellum – In the authentic former town hall you can see how the people of Balen lived between 1920 and 1939, with, among other things, a living room, a grocery shop, a classroom and a village inn.
- Operated by
- Erfgoed Balen vzw
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Individual visitors enter free. School groups and classes visit completely free. A small fee is charged for a guide accompanying groups outside a school context.
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
You can round off your visit with a drink in the Erfgoedcafé.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Heritage volunteers welcome and guide you on site. Groups can come with a guide; schools and classes visit the museum free of charge. |
