Le Thudo
1930 museum barge moored in Thuin: the life of the bargemen, the construction of barges and the Bateliers quarter, open on summer weekends.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Le Thudo is a museum barge moored in Thuin, in the Bateliers quarter on the banks of the Sambre. Thirty-eight metres long and built in 1930, it carried coal on the Belgian waterways. It recalls the weight of inland navigation in the town’s history: in 1936, Thuin counted 1,104 bargemen heads of household for fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
On board, the visit reveals the life of the bargemen through objects, tools and period photographs, the construction of barges, the wheelhouse and a living quarter preserved in its authentic state. The route continues into the Bateliers quarter, where former bargemen decorated façades and gardens with pieces salvaged from their boats: a plaque bearing the name of the boat, a hatch cover turned into a letterbox, an anchor, and more. These narrow streets, lined with small houses of rubble stone and local brick, can be explored on foot thanks to information panels; a map is available from the Thuin Tourist Office.
The museum also presents the history of the Sambre and pays tribute to a trade that deeply marked the town.
Highlights
- 38-metre barge built in 1930, once loaded with coal
- Wheelhouse and bargemen’s living quarters preserved in their authentic state
- Objects, tools and period photographs on the life of the bargemen
- Bateliers quarter with façades decorated with boat objects
Permanent exhibition
- Péniche-musée « Le Thudo » – Visit to a 1930 barge: life on board, bargemen’s objects from times past, the wheelhouse and an authentic living quarter.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
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| Reduced | €2Seniors |
| Children & teens | €1 |
| Seniors | €2 |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Group visit for 15 to 50 people by reservation; average duration 1 hour 30 minutes. |
Prices as listed by CM Tourisme: adult €3, child €1, senior €2; the Thuin Tourist Office lists €3 for the visit.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 45 min |
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Getting there & parking
The barge is moored at the quay on the Sambre, rue ’t Serstevens, in the Bateliers quarter of lower Thuin.
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| Good to know | Information and reservations from the Thuin Tourist Office (place Albert Ier 2), +32 71 59 54 54. The Bateliers quarter can be explored freely on foot with information panels. |
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