Buitenplaats Kasteel Wijlre

About the museum

Buitenplaats Kasteel Wijlre is the life's work of the collector couple Jo and Marlies Eyck, who combined contemporary art, architecture and landscape here into a total work of art. In 1981 they acquired the dilapidated castle dating from 1652 and restored it together with the coach house and castle garden. In 2001 the Hedge House was built to plans by the architect Wiel Arets, a minimalist art pavilion with an exhibition space, orangery, orchid house and glass chicken coop that blends discreetly into the garden.

Since the late 1960s the Eycks had collected modern and contemporary art, including works by Ad Dekkers, Peter Struycken, Jan Schoonhoven and Richard Long; art and nature were at the centre of their collection. In 2012 the Bonnefantenmuseum, with the support of the Province of Limburg, bought most of the collection. In the same year the foundation buitenplaats Kasteel Wijlre, set up on the initiative of the Eycks and a second couple of benefactors, took over the exhibitions as well as educational and cultural projects; in 2017 the couple donated the estate to the Elisabeth Strouven Fonds, which maintains it.

Today the house shows changing exhibitions in the Hedge House and the coach house, an insight into the collectors' daily life on the ground floor of the castle, and, in the garden of about three hectares, permanent works of art such as the "Gebroken Cirkel" by Ad Dekkers and the bronze tree by Giuseppe Penone. The garden received the European Garden Award in 2014.

Highlights

• Castle garden of about three hectares, winner of the European Garden Award 2014
• Hedge House by Wiel Arets with exhibition space, orangery and orchid house
• Permanent artworks in the garden, including Ad Dekkers and Giuseppe Penone
• Ground floor of the castle from 1652 with an insight into the collectors' lives
• Garden routes by artists (butterfly, scent and Greyometer routes)

Permanent exhibitions

• Garten und feste Kunstwerke – On the grounds of about three hectares stand permanent works such as the "Gebroken Cirkel" by Ad Dekkers and a bronze tree by Giuseppe Penone in the woods.
• Schloss: Interieur und Sammlung Eyck – The ground floor of the castle from 1652 shows how art and daily life were interwoven for the collector couple Eyck.

Operated by

Stichting buitenplaats Kasteel Wijlre

Director

Xander Karskens

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Residents of the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem on the first Sunday of every month during the opening season

Museumkaart and ICOM card are valid; Rembrandtpas and VriendenLoterij VIP card are not accepted. The garden, too, is accessible only with a valid ticket. Tickets online or at the desk; the ticket or Museumkaart is scanned at the entrance.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• 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 garden and the ground floor of the coach house are accessible by wheelchair or walker, although the garden paths are mostly gravel. The exhibition space in the Hedge House and the upper floor of the coach house are accessible only by stairs; there is no lift. Dogs are welcome outdoors, but not in the exhibition rooms.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

For every exhibition there is a free children's route (ages 6 and up) with a bag full of materials; also a Discover Art route and a bird-watching bag. Educational programmes are available for primary and secondary schools.

Getting there & parking

Satnav address of the visitor entrance: Kerkpad / In de Beemden 1, 6321 PX Wijlre. About a 20-minute drive from Maastricht, Heerlen and Aachen.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Coat check
• Lockers: not available

"De Binnenplaats" in the courtyard of the coach house serves coffee with vlaai and drinks (card payment only). Picnic baskets for the garden are available to order (admission not included). Public cloakroom, no lockers; no dedicated nursing room, but breastfeeding behind the scenes is possible if needed.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies: not available

Receptions, meetings and training sessions in the art pavilion, the coach house or at picnics in the garden, offer on request. Weddings and wedding photos are not possible.

Plan your visit