Stadsmuseum De Hofstadt

About the museum

The Stadsmuseum De Hofstadt is the municipal museum of Diest and is located in the medieval cellars of the town hall on the Grote Markt. These rooms are the only remains of three buildings that once stood on this spot: De Hofstadt, the palace of the lords of Diest; the medieval town hall where the aldermen met; and the corner house De Oord. They were still standing into the early eighteenth century; their name lives on in that of the museum.

The collection tells the art and urban history of Diest and the past of the House of Orange-Nassau. You see furniture, paintings, sculptures, applied art and work by local craftsmen, such as the silverware of the Diest guilds. Highlights are The Annunciation (1629) by Hendrick ter Brugghen, work by Theodoor van Loon, a double portrait of René of Chalon and Anna of Lorraine, a collection of household saints in the Beguines' Room, and the armour and spurs of Philip William of Orange-Nassau. A fifteenth-century chandelier and two enclosed seventeenth-century courtyards complete the tour; these courtyards are considered among the most beautiful in Belgium.

For families there are various treasure hunts. The Nutteloze bordenroute (“Useless Plates Route”), with more than twenty humorous plates scattered through the museum, is part of the experience. The collection can also be consulted online, and the museum has its own ErfgoedApp.

Highlights

• The Annunciation (1629) by Hendrick ter Brugghen and work by Theodoor van Loon
• Armour, portrait and spurs of Philip William of Orange-Nassau
• Medieval cellars of the town hall as museum rooms
• Two enclosed courtyards from the seventeenth century
• Silverware of the Diest guilds and a collection of household saints
• Useless Plates Route with more than twenty humorous plates

Permanent exhibitions

• Vaste opstelling in de stadhuiskelders – Paintings, sculptures, applied art and heritage of local craftsmen, with work by Theodoor van Loon and Hendrick ter Brugghen, in the medieval cellars and two enclosed courtyards.
• Nutteloze bordenroute – More than twenty humorous, useless plates hang in expected and unexpected places throughout the museum.

Operated by

Stad Diest

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Families can discover the museum on their own. The treasure hunt “Diest à la carte anno 1669” with Opa Lowis (7 to 12 years) starts in the museum and runs through the town centre. The activity book with Mudie de Museummuis is intended for children from 3 to 12 years. The audio walk with archaeologist Arthur is aimed at children from 7 to 12 years.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit