Speelkaartenmuseum

About the museum

In 1826, Pieter Jozef Brepols printed the first playing cards of the town in Turnhout. That was the start of a flourishing industry that put Turnhout on the map far beyond Belgium. In the early sixties, some residents came up with the idea of doing something around playing cards; a trial exhibition in the hall of the town hall was a great success. On 24 October 1969, the Minister of Culture Frans Van Mechelen, himself a native of Turnhout, opened the Nationaal Museum van de Speelkaart, which was initially run by volunteers.

In 1977 the town council took over the development of the museum. It was first housed in the Huis metten Thoren, where the Taxandriamuseum is now located, and moved in 1988 to the Druivenstraat. The main building is a former factory of the Mesmaekers printing works from 1926, a reinforced concrete frame with brick infill and one of the first buildings in industrial commercial architecture in Turnhout. Between 1998 and 2003 the museum was thoroughly renovated to a design by architect Vittorio Simoni, who also added the glass Stoomhuis for the historic steam engine.

Today the museum tells the history and use of the playing card. In the room Harten 5 you walk through the history of playing cards since the late Middle Ages, and in De Makerij you see on authentic printing presses and other graphic equipment how a playing card is made, from paper to finishing. The museum is part of Musea Turnhout, together with the Taxandriamuseum and the Begijnhofmuseum.

Highlights

• Room Harten 5 with the history of the playing card since the late Middle Ages
• De Makerij: the museum lab where you see the production process of playing cards and can try it yourself
• Authentic printing presses and a gigantic 19th-century steam engine in the Stoomhuis
• Printing demonstrations and workshops, also for children
• Museum shop with playing cards from Belgium and abroad, and Café RISO in the building

Permanent exhibitions

• Harten 5 – This room shows the history of the playing card since the late Middle Ages.
• De Makerij – A museum lab on the production of playing cards, from paper to finishing, with authentic printing presses you can look at, feel and try out yourself.

Founded

1969

Operated by

Stad Turnhout (Musea Turnhout)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Residents of Turnhout have free admission on the first Wednesday of every month. During Heritage Day and Open Monument Day, the museum is free to visit.

You buy your ticket at the counter; advance reservation is not necessary. Payment is possible in cash or by bank card, not with Payconiq. Free admission applies to, among others, holders of a Museumpas or Experience-pas, ICOM members, journalists and classes (also in adult, art and evening education and integration courses); teachers without a class group pay €6. A new Museumpas costs €64.95 (€12.95 with the UiTPAS social rate) and is for sale at reception.

Accessibility

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

The museum is fully accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with a pushchair; a lift and ramps connect the three levels. At reception you can borrow three wheelchairs and a rollator free of charge. The door at the main entrance opens outwards. Between the museum (and the toilets) and Café RISO there is a level difference; with help from staff, wheelchair users can use the lift there. There are two wheelchair-accessible toilets. Guide dogs are welcome. Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors can request a guided tour with a Vlaamse Gebarentaal (Flemish Sign Language) interpreter (€65 plus the admission price). In the museum garden there is one free parking space for holders of a parking card for people with disabilities; at reception there are museum chairs to rest on.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

In 2026 the museum was officially approved by and for children via the Museumpas. In De Makerij children and adults can try out printing for themselves. There are workshops and holiday activities, such as Lego printing, and children’s parties for children aged 6 to 12. In the wheelchair-accessible toilet at the main entrance there is a changing mat; baby food can be warmed up at reception.

Getting there & parking

Turnhout lies next to the E34 motorway. From 25 August 2026 a new traffic plan applies in Turnhout; the museum is most easily reached from the Parklaan (Ring) via Graatakker and Mermansstraat, or via the Druivenstraat. From the Grote Markt, walk via the Otterstraat and after 150 metres turn right into the Beekstraat; at its end is the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café RISO in the museum building serves breakfast, lunch, sharing dishes and drinks (Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–17:00; closed on Mondays). There is an open cloakroom and lockers that take a 50-cent coin, which you get back. The museum garden in front of the museum, with picnic benches, is also accessible outside opening hours.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit