Rijn- en Binnenvaartmuseum

About the museum

In the 1970s many inland vessels disappeared quickly, due to scrapping subsidies and difficult years in the inland shipping world. Three bargemen decided to save several types of vessel. In 1976 the vzw Museum Rijn- en Binnenvaart was founded to preserve the maritime inland navigation heritage in all its aspects. The first purchase was the steel spits Mon Désir from 1913 (spits: a type of barge).

With the help of many volunteers, about six vessels were acquired, including the wooden waal Céphée (a type of barge). Three of them were fitted out as a floating museum: the towing spits Mon Désir (1913), the motorised spits Liomar (1959) and the motor kastje Angèle (1923). The museum operates without subsidies and relies on the commitment of dozens of volunteers, mostly former bargemen.

The vessels preserve the historical, social and cultural heritage of the family and economic life of the inland bargeman, against a background of industrial archaeology. In the three holds you see photos, ship models, plans, ship equipment and paintings, and the three living quarters are intact and show family life of that time. The vessels lie on the Droogdokken site in the north of the Antwerp Scheldt quays, where MPM guides also give tours.

Highlights

• Three museum vessels: Mon Désir, Liomar and Angèle
• Intact living quarters of bargemen
• Ship models, plans, photos and paintings in the holds
• Free admission on the first Saturday of each month
• At the Droogdokken site, with tours by MPM

Permanent exhibition

• Museumschepen Mon Désir, Liomar en Angèle – Three inland vessels with intact living quarters and holds full of objects about the life of the bargeman.

Founded

1976

Operated by

vzw Rijn- en Binnenvaartmuseum

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free during opening hours.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The vessels lie on the Droogdokken site, Droogdokkenweg 4, in the north of the Antwerp Scheldt quays.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit