Spoelberchmuseum

About the museum

The Spoelberch Museum displays the art collection that Burgrave Charles Victor de Spoelberch de Lovenjoul left to the Leuven university when he died in 1907. He had no children, and he gave the university money, the family estate in Lovenjoel and his collection. With that money the Spoelberchinstituut on the Krakenstraat was built in 1912.

During the Second World War the collection was kept in the University Library. In May 1940 that building largely burned down, and many items were damaged; most were later restored. After the university was split, most of the collection was put into storage. Halfway through the 1990s it returned to the Heilige Geestcollege, where a new museum was set up.

The museum is housed in the former refectory in the south wing of the college. The Heilige Geestcollege was founded in 1445 as the university's first college and has been a protected monument since 2009. The highlight of the collection is a 17th-century writing cabinet from the Antwerp workshop of Hendrik van Soest. There are also old family portraits, still lifes, religious scenes, Oriental and European porcelain, and 18th-century table silver on display.

Highlights

• 17th-century writing cabinet (scribaan) from the Antwerp workshop of Hendrik van Soest
• Gallery of family portraits of the De Spoelberch family
• Oriental and European porcelain from the 18th and 19th centuries
• 18th-century table silver
• Museum in the former refectory of the Heilige Geestcollege

Permanent exhibition

• Kunstcollectie van Charles Victor de Spoelberch de Lovenjoul – Family portraits, still lifes, religious scenes, Oriental and European porcelain, table silver and a 17th-century writing cabinet.

Operated by

KU Leuven

Admission & discounts

The museum can only be visited on a guided tour. For individual visitors the tour costs €15 per person; if you buy 4 tickets, you get a fifth free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

This location is not wheelchair accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the former refectory of the Heilige Geestcollege, Naamsestraat 40, in the centre of Leuven.

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