Musée de Woluwe

About the museum

In the 17th and 18th centuries the grounds of Roodebeek park belonged to the Ten Steen farm, owned by the Jesuits of Brussels until 1773; a plot was then used as a quarry and sand pit, which explains the present slopes. In 1884 the entrepreneur Émile Devos acquired part of the land and had a country house built there, which became his main residence.

Devos chose a typically Frisian style, inspired by the north of the Netherlands: whitewashed lime facades and stepped gables. Trained as a joiner, he took great care over the decoration: woodwork by Frisian cabinetmakers, tiles from the Royal Tichelaar Makkum factory, window frames with rural motifs, a carved fireplace illustrating fables by La Fontaine, and ceilings painted with flowers, insects and birds. The house was enlarged from 1893, and in 1912 he had a rotunda built for spiritualist séances, which were fashionable at the time.

The property passed to the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert in 1945 and in the 1950s became the Musée de Woluwe. Since 1980 the Centre Albert Marinus has organised exhibitions there devoted to the municipal collections, decorative arts, intangible heritage and artists. A major restoration campaign reconstructed the glass roof of the winter garden and equipped the exhibition rooms.

Highlights

• Late 19th-century Frisian-style house with original décor
• Woodwork, Makkum tiles and carved fireplace with La Fontaine's fables
• Rotunda built for spiritualist séances
• Reconstructed glass roof of the winter garden
• Location on the edge of Roodebeek park

Founded

1950

Operated by

Commune de Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (Centre Albert Marinus)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission to the exhibitions; guided group tours are paid and by reservation.

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 house is on the edge of Roodebeek park.

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