Olens Radiomuseum
Radio museum in Olen with an extensive collection of valve radios from 1920 to 1970, volunteer guides and its own repair workshop.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Olens Radiomuseum opened on 10 April 1992. Pieter Van Opstal started it together with his family and friends in his garage, with one hundred and fifty radios. In 2013 he transferred his collection to the local authority of Olen to preserve it for the future. He died in July 2023 at the age of 89.
The museum runs on volunteers. They catalogue the collection, with support from Erfgoedcel Kempens Karakter, and act as guides for visitors. After a move, the museum is now located on the Boerenkrijglaan, on the edge of the Teunenberg nature area. There is currently little space to store or display additional devices, so new donations are carefully weighed.
The collection shows the history of the radio between 1920 and 1970: portable radios from the 1920s, the German Volksempfänger from the war years, and radio cabinets that had a central place in many living rooms in the 1950s. In the Werkhuis, volunteers repair old valve radios from before 1970. Members receive the magazine De Marconist four times a year; it has been published since 1996.
Highlights
- Collection of valve radios from the period 1920 to 1970
- Portable radios from the 1920s and the Volksempfänger
- Radio cabinets from the 1950s
- Werkhuis where volunteers repair valve radios
- Treasure hunt with a treasure chest for children
Permanent exhibition
- De collectie van het Olens Radiomuseum – An extensive collection of old radios showing the development of the radio between 1920 and 1970, from portable sets to radio cabinets.
- Founded
- 1992
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €2.50 |
|---|---|
| Groups (10+ people) | –Groups of more than 10 people pay only the admission; a guide is then free of charge. |
| Guide for groups of up to 10 people (on top of admission) | €5 |
| Membership (ordinary member, per year) | €20Free access to the museum and library and four issues of De Marconist per year. |
| Membership (supporting member, per year) | €25 |
Pay for admission at the bar. Members have free access to the museum.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- 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
The museum is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There is no toilet for people with disabilities.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
- Playground / play area
Young visitors can solve tasks among the old radios and then open the treasure chest for a small surprise. Next to the building there is a terrace with a playground.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Check the websites of De Lijn and NMBS for alternative travel options.
By car
Parking available
There is ample parking close to the museum.
The museum is located on the Boerenkrijglaan, on the edge of the Teunenberg nature area, and can be reached on foot, by bike or by car.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
You can have a drink at the bar; the terrace next to the building has a playground.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guides are happy to share their knowledge. Individual visitors ask for a guide at the bar; for groups of up to 10 people a guide costs €5 on top of the admission; for groups of more than 10 people the guide is free. |
