Stadsmuseum Vleeshuis

About the museum

The Stadsmuseum Vleeshuis is housed in the old meat hall (vleeshuis) on the Grote Markt of Dendermonde. The first meat hall was built in 1293. It also served as aldermen's house, courtroom and prison, because butchers were only allowed to sell their meat in such a designated building. Around 1460 it was dilapidated; Philip the Good then gave permission to demolish it and build a new building on the same spot.

In 1862 the last meat stalls disappeared and the space became a covered vegetable market. At the end of the 19th century the architect Edouard Bouwens restored the building thoroughly. In 1914 it narrowly escaped the German army, and afterwards it was restored again. It has been a protected monument since 1943. The museum has been housed there since 1895.

On the attic floor stands an almost intact skeleton of a mammoth, about 28,000 years old, assembled from bones of several animals found in 1968 during sand extraction in the Sint-Onolfspolder. There are also finds from the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Roman period, and the wooden ‘snekkenkop’ (prow) from the early Middle Ages. The first floor shows Dendermonde as a fortified town and centre of craftsmen; on the ground floor you find the history of the Ros Beiaard and the civic guilds.

Highlights

• Almost complete mammoth skeleton, about 28,000 years old, in the attic
• Archaeological finds from the Stone Age to the Roman period, including the wooden snekkenkop
• Dendermonde as a medieval fortified town and craft centre
• History of the Ros Beiaard, the ommegangen (processions) and the civic guilds
• Interactive installation on archaeology and prehistory for children
• Free admission in a protected medieval building

Permanent exhibitions

• Mammoet en archeologie – The attic houses the mammoth skeleton, about 28,000 years old, with finds from the Stone Age to the Roman period and the snekkenkop from the early Middle Ages.
• Vestingstad en ambachtscentrum – The first floor shows Dendermonde as a medieval fortified town and centre of craftsmen, with cannonballs and fine glassware.
• Ros Beiaard en schuttersgilden – On the ground floor the museum keeps relics of local guild life and the ommegangen (processions), with the rich history of the Ros Beiaard.

Operated by

Stad Dendermonde

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

All locations of the Stadsmuseum Dendermonde are free to visit. With a UiTPAS you collect points in the museum; with the UiTPAS reduced rate you get a discount on the city game ‘Wijze Willem en het wonder van Drakenmonde’, which you buy in the Vleeshuis.

Accessibility

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

The museums are housed in old buildings with stairs; there is no lift. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance and guide dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Children get to know archaeology and prehistory through the interactive installation. The city game ‘Wijze Willem en het wonder van Drakenmonde’ is on sale in the Vleeshuis.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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