Suske en Wiske Museum

About the museum

The Suske en Wiske Museum in Kalmthout is dedicated to the comic series Suske en Wiske and to its creator Willy Vandersteen. Vandersteen wanted a museum of his own, but died in 1990 before it came about. His villa in Kalmthout, where he lived and worked, was sold afterwards. In the 1990s his pupil and successor Paul Geerts and a children's provincial council from Antwerp proposed a museum; the two ideas were combined, and the Province of Antwerp bought the villa and had it converted.

The museum opened on 29 November 1997 as an interactive children's museum. It closed temporarily in 2011 for renovation and reopened in 2012 with a broader offer. After another thorough renovation in 2018–2019 it was given the name Suske en Wiske Museum in July 2019. Because culture has no longer been a provincial responsibility since 2018, the province stopped running the museum at the end of 2024 and a private operator took it over.

Today the Striptoer is the centrepiece: a self-guided route through nine rooms in which visitors compose their own comic story. You can also visit Studio Vandersteen, the reconstructed workroom of the cartoonist in its original location, with a changing Toffe Tentoonstelling. In the villa garden there are treasure hunts and a playground, and there is a café with a comic library and a comic shop.

Highlights

• Striptoer: interactive route through nine rooms, with a time machine
• Studio Vandersteen, the workroom of Willy Vandersteen
• Titeltocht treasure hunt in the villa garden and an adventurous playground
• Avonturenkast with games about other Vandersteen series
• Bar Lambik with comic library and comic shop

Permanent exhibitions

• Striptoer – An interactive route through nine rooms in which you create your own character, look for speech balloons and travel back in time with the time machine.
• Studio Vandersteen – The reconstructed workroom of Willy Vandersteen shows his workplace and the sources of inspiration for his comics.

Founded

1997

Admission & discounts

The price for the Striptoer (€17 from 8 years old) includes a visit to Studio Vandersteen and the comic treasure hunt in the garden. Museumpas holders enter free (sometimes not for Studio Vandersteen during special events). With the Lerarenkaart (teacher card), the EDC card or the membership card of the Fameuze Fanclub you get a discount on the Striptoer. The café, garden and shop are freely accessible. Birthday parties cost from €18.50 per person.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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 easily accessible for wheelchair users, especially the Striptoer, the villa garden, the workshops and the café. Studio Vandersteen can only be reached via a narrow staircase. A wheelchair is available on request and there are adapted toilets.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

The Striptoer is intended for families with children of different ages; toddlers can join in with a family, but the tour is most fun for children who can read on their own. In the garden there is a Titeltocht and a playground, in the café the Avonturenkast with games and craft assignments, and during the school holidays thematic workshops and treasure hunts. There is a baby changing table.

Getting there & parking

Cycle junction node 72 of the cycle node network is in front of the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Bar Lambik (café with terrace) serves drinks and small snacks such as soup from a packet, crisps, sweets and ice cream. No lunch dishes or hot meals are served. In the comic shop you can buy souvenirs, comics and clothing.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The website lists options for hiring a room, business events and parties; children's birthday parties are possible.

Plan your visit