Museum44

About the museum

Museum44 tells the story of the round-ups of 1 and 11 August 1944 in the Hageland village of Meensel-Kiezegem. After the attack on the collaborator Gaston Merckx on 30 July 1944, reprisals followed. During the second round-up, some 350 members of, among others, the Flemish SS and the Field Gendarmerie surrounded the village, and 81 residents were arrested.

At the end of August 1944 the prisoners were deported to Germany via the prisons of Leuven and Sint-Gillis. 71 villagers ended up in the Neuengamme concentration camp near Hamburg. Only eight of them returned. The village was left behind with widows, fatherless children and grieving families.

The museum is run by the non-profit association vzw Meensel-Kiezegem '44. The visitor route runs through six rooms: the history of the village and the Second World War, the round-ups with an animated film, life in Neuengamme, the victims and their relatives, the aftermath and commemoration, and a theme room in the form of a barracks. In addition there is the docudrama Meensel-Kiezegem '44 and monuments in the village.

Highlights

• Six thematic rooms on the round-ups of 1944
• Animated film about the attack and the reprisals
• Theme room in the form of a concentration camp barracks
• Docudrama Meensel-Kiezegem '44 (45 minutes)
• Monuments and victims' stories in the village

Permanent exhibition

• Museum44 Meensel-Kiezegem – Route through six rooms on the village, the round-ups of 1 and 11 August 1944, the Neuengamme camp, the victims and the commemoration, with an animated film and a barracks room.

Operated by

Meensel-Kiezegem '44 vzw

Admission & discounts

With the Museumpass, admission is free. Adults aged 19 to 65 pay €8.50.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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 museum says it makes the necessary provisions for people with reduced mobility and refers to Toegankelijk Vlaanderen for details. A companion of a person with a disability enters free.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

There is no specific family offer. For schools (third stage of primary education), an educational programme with a scavenger hunt in the museum is available.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available

Eating and drinking are not allowed in the museum; there are enough places to eat and drink nearby.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit