Permekemuseum

About the museum

The Permekemuseum is housed in De Vier Winden, the house that architect Pierre Vandervoort designed in 1928 in close consultation with the modernist artist Constant Permeke. Permeke lived there with his family from 1929 until his death in 1952. In 1934 he had an additional building constructed next to the house, first as an exhibition space and later as a sculpture studio.

It was the artist’s wish that his work stay together and that his house become a museum. Ten months after his death, the family opened the estate to the public. The province of West Flanders bought the estate with all the works in 1959-1960 and in 1961 opened the Provinciaal Museum Constant Permeke. Later it became a satellite museum of Mu.ZEE and was renamed the Permekemuseum.

After a thorough renovation between 2020 and 2024, the museum reopened in 2024. The collection includes more than 200 works by Permeke: around eighty paintings, sixty sculptures and seventy drawings. In the house, a permanent presentation with artworks, everyday objects, archive, photographs and testimonies gives a picture of the artist. The painting studio, the sculpture studio and the renovated garden are part of the visit.

Highlights

• De Vier Winden house from 1928, designed in a modernist style
• Permanent presentation on the life and work of Constant Permeke
• Painting studio and sculpture studio of the artist
• Ecologically re-laid sculpture garden with three sculptures by Permeke
• Audio tour and sound walk in the visitor app

Permanent exhibitions

• Permanente presentatie in het woonhuis – In the home of Constant Permeke, artworks, everyday objects, archive, photographs, films and testimonies portray the artist.
• De tuin met beelden van Permeke – The ecologically re-laid garden with flower meadows and fruit trees, where the sculptures Niobe, Liggend grafbeeld and Marie-Lou stand.

Founded

1961

Operated by

Mu.ZEE

Admission & discounts

Free with the MuseumPASSmusées. Residents of the municipality of Jabbeke have free access to the permanent collection and the temporary exhibitions. Teachers receive a discount with a teacher card. All reduced rates can be seen online when you buy your ticket; it is best to book in advance to avoid queues at the box office, although you can also buy on the spot.

Accessibility

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

Due to the special architecture with mezzanine floors, the house is not fully accessible to wheelchairs. Via a wheelchair ramp you reach the ground floor, with three small rooms with the permanent presentation, the museum shop and the bar. The painting studio on the first floor can only be reached via a flight of 40 steps with a handrail; there is no lift. The sculpture studio in the building next to the house is on the ground floor with no steps or thresholds; the exhibitions take place there. A toilet for people with disabilities is at the back of the sculpture studio. Studio Permeke is accessible via a small staircase or via a 65 cm wide door on the outside. Visitors with a parking card for people with disabilities park on the grounds via the right-hand entrance gate. Guide dogs for the blind are admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum received a blue spot from the MuseumPASSmusées as a family-friendly venue. During school holidays there are regular family workshops, in summer creative art camps for toddlers, children and young people, and for families there is the game Permeke Clash (from 10 years). Children’s birthday parties are also possible in Studio Permeke.

Getting there & parking

From the museum, the 27 km bike route “Permeke achterna” runs through the polders between Bruges, Ostend and Zeebrugge.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

On the ground floor of the house there are a museum shop and a bar. In the house there are lockers for backpacks and other belongings (with a threshold of about 10 cm); you can also leave your things in the storage box at the sculpture studio or hand them in at reception. The garden is accessible during opening hours and inviting for a picnic.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The museum offers companies a team day and rents out a meeting room.

Plan your visit