Jan Visser Museum

About the museum

The museum goes back to the collector Jan Visser, who worked as head of the engraving workshop of the Van Vlissingen textile printing works in Helmond. He saw that the old farming trades with scythe, flail and winnowing basket were disappearing, and collected discarded agricultural tools from the time before mechanisation, often by bicycle from the farmers of the area well into old age. When he died at the age of 85, he left his collection on loan to the "Vrienden van het hertenkamp", who built up a museum of their own for it.

Thanks to the support of the municipality of Helmond, the collection is housed in a building constructed in farmhouse style. It has two collection rooms and a film room; the ground floor deals with agriculture and individual crafts, the upper floor with textile processing, crafts, scales and the household. Since 1998, objects from old trades have been added, including machines and tools of the butcher, blacksmith and shoemaker, later also a forge and a bakehouse in which bread is still baked.

In a separate building on the grounds, the museum displays material from the Helmond municipal fire brigade and several works fire brigades, including a hand pump after a design by Jan van der Heijden and a horse-drawn motor fire engine by the company Adler from 1908, which still runs for demonstrations. The grounds also include a small animal park, an ornamental garden and a courtyard. The museum is run by volunteers without subsidies and has been a cultural ANBI (public benefit institution) since 2009.

Highlights

• Agricultural implements and machines from the time before mechanisation (1850–1950)
• Workshops of old trades: blacksmith, shoemaker, butcher, carpenter, coppersmith
• Fire brigade museum with a horse-drawn motor fire engine from 1908
• Bakehouse where bread is still baked, and forge
• Grounds with small animal park and ornamental garden

Permanent exhibitions

• Landwirtschaft vor der Mechanisierung – Ploughs, harrows, carts and mowing equipment of the farm from the time before mechanisation, as well as household, textile processing and bakehouse.
• Alte Handwerke – Tools and machines of the blacksmith, carpenter, coppersmith, butcher and shoemaker.
• Feuerwehrmuseum – Historical material of the Helmond fire brigade and works fire brigades, including a hand pump and a horse-drawn motor fire engine from 1908.

Admission & discounts

Supporters ("Begunstigers", 55 € per year) have free admission with one companion.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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 grounds are paved and easily accessible for wheelchair users; the main building has a disabled toilet and a stairlift to the upper floor, and the fire brigade museum is on one level. Own disabled parking space.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

School programmes for primary school classes; there is a small animal park on the grounds.

Getting there & parking

The museum lies between the nature area and the town centre and is a rest stop on the "Fietsrondje Helmond" cycling and walking route.

Amenities & dining

For cyclists and walkers on the "Fietsrondje Helmond" route, the museum is a rest stop where coffee is served; for groups there is a Brabant coffee table.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 90 guests.

The museum can be hired for meetings, class reunions, conferences, Brabant coffee tables (groups of up to 90 people) and wedding photos; exclusive use, prices and availability by arrangement.

Plan your visit