Mahymobiles

About the museum

Mahymobiles presents the collection of the Mahy family from Ghent. Ghislain Mahy, born in 1907, bought a Ford T and an FN motorcycle in 1944, and began rescuing cars from the scrapyard, often at the price of scrap metal. He restored some 250 of them with friends and volunteers. His vehicles were first stored in the former Cirque d'Hiver in Ghent; in 1970 the first car museum in Belgium opened in Houthalen, Limburg, where the collection remained until 1986. In 1978 the family created the asbl ‘Autocollection Ghislain Mahy’ to prevent the collection from being dispersed.

In 1986 a first part found a place at Autoworld, at the Cinquantenaire in Brussels. The rest, about 800 vehicles, moved in 1997 to the former ‘Ernaelsteen’ textile factory in Leuze-en-Hainaut, bought by the town. The Mahymobiles museum opened to the public on 29 September 2000.

Today the building covers 20,000 m², of which 6,000 m² in six rooms are open to the public. More than 300 vehicles are on display, from the first cars of the late 19th century to the present day; one room has been dedicated to the Fiat brand since 2025. The collection also includes old toys, miniatures, dioramas, enamel signs, illuminated signs and posters. Vehicles in storage are regularly swapped with those on display.

Highlights

• More than 300 vehicles on display, from the late 19th century to the present
• Mahy collection: one of the largest in the world, with more than 950 cars
• Room honouring the Fiat brand (since 2025)
• Old toys, miniatures, dioramas, enamel signs and jukeboxes
• Visit also designed for children, with free detective games

Permanent exhibition

• Collection permanente d'automobiles – More than 300 vehicles of all origins and periods in six rooms, with motorcycles, bicycles, children's cars, old toys, miniatures and dioramas.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Mahymobiles asbl

Admission & discounts

Payment by Bancontact/Visa card or in cash; cheques are not accepted. Holders of a discount card or voucher may come without booking.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All rooms (6,000 m²) are accessible to people with reduced mobility, who can park on the lawn just in front of the entrance. Dogs are admitted if kept on a lead.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The exhibition is for children as well as adults. Free detective games are offered to children.

Getting there & parking

By car: A8-E429 Lille–Brussels, exit 31 Leuze-en-Hainaut/Frasnes, then N60; or A16-E42 Tournai–Mons, exit 29 Péruwelz. For GPS, enter ‘rue Erna’ or ‘rue des Fabriques’.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café (hot and cold drinks, regional beers); Mahymobiles shop and ‘brocante’ (second-hand market) with antique objects and car catalogues. The building can feel cool in summer as well as in winter: bring a jumper or jacket.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Up to 150 guests.

Hire of rooms (banquets, meetings) and of the grounds on request; hosting groups from 25 people, up to 150 people; caterer possible. Photo shoots by reservation.

Plan your visit