Klokkengieterijmuseum Heiligerlee

About the museum

The museum shows the world of bells, carillons and tower clocks in the former bell foundry of the Van Bergen family. The family opened its first foundry in Midwolda in 1795; the Heiligerlee site was added in 1862 under the name St Paulinus. At first the foundry mainly produced ringing bells for church towers across the country, mostly for Protestant congregations. In the late 1930s production shifted to carillons, and in 1942 a bell tower with a carillon was added to the building. After the Second World War the firm mainly made fire pumps, until it went bankrupt in 1980.

The museum has been housed in the restored factory building since 1987; it was renovated in 2012/2013 and given new displays. The heart of the museum is the casting pit, where hundreds of bells were cast over the years. A film from 1951 and full-size models show how casting molds were made and how the molten metal was channeled from the furnace into the molds. The museum's own bell-tuning machine for carillon bells is still working.

In the Van-Bergen-Saal hang bells from Heiligerlee and Midwolda, including two huge bells that once hung in the tower of Utrecht Cathedral, and a bell by master Geert van Wou from the 15th century. In the garden stand the old furnace and the National Monument for the Victims of Mobilization in the First World War, an electromagnetically played carillon with 49 bells. Visitors can play a demonstration carillon themselves or, during a demonstration, cast a small pewter bell.

Highlights

• Casting pit with a film from 1951 and models of the molds
• Bell by Geert van Wou from the 15th century
• Two large bells from the tower of Utrecht Cathedral
• Carillon monument in the garden with 49 bells
• Casting demonstration: cast a pewter bell yourself (on request)
• Tower clocks and carillons to try out

Permanent exhibitions

• Gießgrube – The heart of the museum: a 1951 film, models of molds and the still-working bell-tuning machine show how bells used to be made.
• Klokken (Van-Bergen-Saal) – Bells from the foundries in Heiligerlee and Midwolda, including two giant bells from the tower of Utrecht Cathedral.
• Torenuurwerken en carillons – From a demonstration carillon with a simple baton keyboard to the 49-bell carillon in the garden, plus tower clocks from various periods.

Founded

1987

Operated by

Stichting Musea Heiligerlee

Admission & discounts

Prices for 2026. The Museumkaart is not valid.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children can try the carillon, make a pewter bell at the casting demonstration and celebrate their birthday at the museum. For school classes there is a trail hunt and a teaching package.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Provincialeweg 46 in Heiligerlee; Museum Slag bij Heiligerlee is also on this road (no. 55).

Amenities & dining

The brasserie of the neighboring Museum Slag bij Heiligerlee (Provincialeweg 55) is open by arrangement.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

The casting pit is recognized by the municipality of Oldambt as a wedding venue; information is available from the municipality's Burgerzaken (civil registry) department. Couples can view the rooms beforehand.

Plan your visit