Museum DOMUS

About the museum

Museum DOMUS tells the story of the Teutonic Order and of Alden Biesen, for centuries one of the most important commanderies of the knightly order. The history of the site begins in 1220, when the Count of Loon and his sister, the abbess of Munsterbilzen, gave the chapel of Biesen to the Teutonic Order. The order built a settlement there with a hospice for pilgrims. In the 14th century Biesen grew into the seat of the Biesen bailiwick, the administrative centre of about a dozen commanderies in the region.

After a period of decline, the order returned in the 16th century and had a moated monastic castle built, completed in 1566. In the 17th and 18th centuries a baroque church, a gatehouse, a French garden with an orangery, a riding school and an English landscape park were added. In 1794–1797 French revolutionaries expelled the order and the estate was sold.

In 1971 a chimney fire destroyed the roof of the moated castle. The government then bought the estate and had it restored; today Alden Biesen is a cultural centre of the Flemish Community. In the ground floor of the moated castle, Museum DOMUS shows life-size silhouettes, the so-called “silent companions”, who tell, via an audio guide, about the residents and visitors of the estate. In the cellar you can listen to a radio play about a crusade to Acre, in a version for adults and one for children. The French garden is part of the visit.

Highlights

• Sixteenth-century moated castle with the stories of the Teutonic Order
• Life-size silhouettes (silent companions) with audio guide on the ground floor
• Radio play in the cellar about the crusade to Acre, also as a children's version
• French garden included in the ticket
• Museum café in the orangery

Permanent exhibitions

• Museum DOMUS: de Duitse Orde in Alden Biesen – On the ground floor of the moated castle, life-size silhouettes (silent companions) tell, via an audio guide, about the residents and visitors of the estate, from heroes and occupiers to controversial rulers.
• In Godsnaam. Kruistocht naar Akko – In the cellar, a radio play with Henric and the rat Ziggy explores the choices and motives of crusaders, in a version for adults and one for children.

Operated by

Landcommanderij Alden Biesen (Vlaamse Gemeenschap)

Admission & discounts

Free admission for holders of a museum pass, ICOM members, holders of an Experience Pass and residents of Bilzen-Hoeselt on weekdays. The ticket gives access to the French garden, the ground floor and the cellars of the moated castle. Tickets can be bought in advance online or at the desk; booking is not compulsory. On days when the museum is closed, the French garden is free to visit. A guided tour costs €90 in Dutch or €95 in French, English or German, plus €6 museum admission per person.

Accessibility

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

The moated castle is adapted for wheelchair users and the estate is largely accessible. As it is a historic site, there are small changes in level here and there. Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere; other dogs are not allowed in the buildings. The companion of a person with a disability enters free.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Children under 9 enter free. The radio play in the cellar also exists in a children's version, and for the estate there is a discovery guide for children with short stories via QR codes (Dutch, French and English, available at the tourist office). Educational activities are offered for schools.

Getting there & parking

By car, take exit 31 Bilzen-Hoeselt from the E313 (Antwerp–Liège) and follow the signs to Alden Biesen. The estate lies on the cycle route network between junctions 85 and 68; bicycle parking is available at the main car park, at brasserie 't Gasthuis and at the tourist office.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

The museum café in the orangery is only accessible to museum visitors and guided tour participants. At the entrance to the estate is the brasserie 't Gasthuis; nearby you will also find the restaurant of the Martin's Rentmeesterij hotel.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit