De Timmerwerf

About the museum

The building on Hoofdstraat in De Lier was erected in 1425 and was called "Leien Huis" (Slate House) because of its slate roof. In 1642 Jacob Pouwelszoon van Dijck bought the property and set up a carpentry business. From then on carpentry was carried on there without interruption; the business also built mills in the area and maintained about eight of them. In 1745 a residential house of its own was added behind the workshop, from which the carpenter could oversee the work. The last residents lived there until 1923.

In 1996 the municipality of De Lier bought the building and handed it over to the foundation De Timmerwerf. In 1997 it received the status of Rijksmonument, restoration began in 1998, and the museum opened in 2000. The large collection of historical tools could be taken over largely from the last carpenter. In addition there is specialist literature on the history of the carpentry trade and hundreds of original invoices from the 17th century onwards.

In the workshop everything looks as if the carpenter had only just left it. The house is furnished in the style of the last residents, and in the old granary a light and sound show presents the craft. The museum is run by a foundation with volunteers and around sixty sponsors from the region.

Highlights

• Carpenter's workshop with the tool holdings of the last carpenter
• 18th-century house furnished in the style of the last residents
• Light and sound show about the craft in the old granary
• Hundreds of original invoices from the 17th century onwards
• Tea garden "De Bongaard" by the water on the grounds

Permanent exhibitions

• Zimmermannswerkstatt und Werkzeugsammlung – Workshop with tools, specialist literature and old invoices from the estate of the last carpenter, plus the light and sound show in the old granary.
• Wohnhaus – 18th-century house furnished in the style of the last residents, who lived there until 1923.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Stichting De Timmerwerf

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

There are weaving courses and flax-processing demonstrations for children; children's birthday parties are possible for groups of 5 to 10 children from about 6 to 7 years of age (from €10 per child).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café

On the museum grounds is the tea garden "De Bongaard" (separate operator, own hours: Tue–Thu 9:30 am–5:00 pm, Fri–Sat 9:30 am–6:00 pm) with coffee, tea and lunch dishes right by the water.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit