Torenverplaatsingsmuseum Bocholt

About the museum

The Torenverplaatsingsmuseum tells how the residents of Bocholt moved their church tower in 1910. Due to strong population growth, the Sint-Laurentiuskerk had become too small and had to be enlarged. The parish priest and mayor Langens learned that two men had moved the reception hall of Damstation in Antwerp in its entirety, and asked them to organise the tower move.

Under the direction of engineer Weiss and contractor Morglia, the medieval tower, dating from 1411, was jacked loose from its foundations by two centimetres and shifted 9.4 metres. The job was completed in eight days. Since then the people of Bocholt have been nicknamed “torenkruiers” (tower-shifters). The museum lets you relive those days through photos, plans and documents, and poses questions about the roles of the mayor, the parish priest and the brewer.

The museum is housed in the Sint-Laurentiuskerk itself. The late-Gothic church from 1476 was built against the tower and burned in 1944; it was back in use in 1952. The church preserves, among other things, a sacrament tower, a large statue of Saint Christopher, a Marian retable and a collection of late-medieval wooden statues of saints.

Highlights

• The relocation of the church tower by 9.4 metres in 1910
• Photos, plans and documents about moving the tower
• Model of the moving system
• Sint-Laurentiuskerk with sacrament tower and Marian retable

Permanent exhibition

• De torenverplaatsing van 1910 – Photos, plans, documents and a model show how the Bocholt church tower was moved 9.4 metres in 1910.

Admission & discounts

A group visit with a guide is recommended to better understand the events of 1910. A guided visit costs €25 per guide (1 guide per maximum 25 people). An admission price for individual visitors has not been published.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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 located in the Sint-Laurentiuskerk; no information on wheelchair accessibility has been published.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

According to the OKV museum guide, the museum is child-friendly and suitable for pushchairs.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the centre of Bocholt, in the Sint-Laurentiuskerk on Kerkplein. The Tourism department is at Dorpsstraat 16.

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