Musée du Souvenir 40-45
Private museum set in the former cowsheds of a family farm in Malèves, on the Second World War in the region, with dioramas and mannequins.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Musée du Souvenir 40-45 is a private museum located in Malèves, a village in the municipality of Perwez. It was born from the passion of a collector, Benjamin Heylen, who has been interested in the Second World War since childhood and eventually gathered so many objects that he fitted out his grandfather's former cowshed to display them. The whole family became involved in the project, which is the fruit of more than twenty years of research and collecting.
The museum has an educational purpose. Several thousand authentic objects (uniforms, weapons, equipment, documents, photographs, military vehicles) and nearly a hundred mannequins staged in life-size dioramas trace the invasion of May 1940, the Occupation, the Resistance and the liberation of Walloon Brabant and of Belgium by the Allied armies in 1944. The visit covers the role of Belgian, French, British and American soldiers, as well as the daily life of civilians.
The museum opens to schools in the area and has adopted several graves of American soldiers in the cemeteries of Neuville-en-Condroz and Henri-Chapelle. The association also organises the Field Depot, a reconstruction of an Allied military camp of the Second World War near the museum.
Highlights
- Several thousand authentic objects
- Nearly a hundred mannequins in life-size dioramas
- Invasion of 1940, Occupation, Resistance and liberation of 1944
- Guided tour by the owner
- Housed in the former cowsheds of a family farm
Permanent exhibition
- Seconde Guerre mondiale dans la région de Perwez – Authentic objects, uniforms, documents, vehicles and dioramas on the invasion of 1940, the Occupation, the Resistance and the liberation of 1944.
- Operated by
- ASBL Musée du Souvenir 40-45
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €5Children's rate for ages 6 to 12. |
| Groups (11+ people) | €6 per personGroup rate from 11 people (“more than 10 people”). |
| Annual support card | €15Supporter membership card of the ASBL; it entitles the holder to free entry to the museum, with no time limit. |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum presents itself as accessible to all ages and opens to schools in the region; children's rate for ages 6 to 12.
Getting there & parking
The museum is at Rue d'Orbais 2, in the heart of the village of Malèves, in the municipality of Perwez.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Toilets on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The visit is guided by the owner of the museum; it is available in French, Dutch and English. |
