Museum Helmond

About the museum

Museum Helmond is the city museum of Helmond and shows local history, modern and contemporary art, and a collection on the theme "Mens en Werk" (People and Work), which connects to the city's industrial history. Formally it belongs to the municipality of Helmond and has two locations: Kasteel Helmond and the neighbouring Kunsthal Helmond.

Kasteel Helmond is the largest surviving square moated castle in the Netherlands and the only square castle in North Brabant. It was built around 1331 by the lords of Berlaer on the site of an older "Oude Huys" and was inhabited over the centuries by families such as Van Berlaer and Van Cortenbach. Although the Vlisco factory halls in the castle garden and the raised Kasteel-Traverse have changed its surroundings, it still shapes the cityscape today. The municipality bought the castle in the 1930s and converted it into a town hall, and since the early 1980s it has housed the museum. The permanent exhibition "Het kasteelverhaal" tells about 700 years of castle history; a castle garden with sculptures is freely accessible every day.

The Kunsthal in the round Boscotondo complex, designed by the Italian architect Adolfo Natalini, was built in the 1990s and shows changing photography and art exhibitions. After about a year and a half of renovation with new education and makerlab spaces, it reopened on 19 September 2026; the second construction phase continues while the building remains open, until 2028 at the earliest estimate.

Highlights

• Largest square moated castle in the Netherlands (around 1331)
• Permanent exhibition "Het kasteelverhaal" featuring the castle's residents
• Kunsthal Helmond with photography and art exhibitions (one ticket for both venues)
• Free sculpture garden and courtyard with medieval games
• Kasteelcafé and Kasteelwinkel in the castle

Permanent exhibition

• Het kasteelverhaal – About 700 years of history of Kasteel Helmond and its residents, from the Van Berlaer lords to later owner families, with projections and objects.

Operated by

Gemeente Helmond

Admission & discounts

One ticket is valid for Kasteel Helmond and Kunsthal Helmond and has no time limit. Free admission with Museumkaart, Friends card, Vereniging Rembrandt, ICOM and VriendenLoterij VIP card. The courtyard and the sculpture garden are freely accessible.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Inclusive programme "Buitengewoon Museum Helmond" with offers for blind and visually impaired visitors, people with dementia and people with disabilities; guide dogs and assistance dogs welcome. Disabled parking free of charge on the castle square with a visible parking card. At the time of research (October 2026), a stairlift from the square to the entrance temporarily replaces the broken lift.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

The castle sees itself as a family day out: a tour through the castle's history with children, medieval games in the free courtyard, children's activities and children's birthday parties in the moated castle; children up to 3 years free.

Getting there & parking

The castle is in the centre of Helmond, about 15 to 20 minutes from Eindhoven Airport. Bicycles can be parked free of charge in the Fahrradstallung Kasteel-Traverse bicycle storage. Due to construction work on the Kasteel-Traverse, traffic disruptions may occur.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Kasteelcafé with lunch, soup, apple pastry, regional Kasteelbier and Helmond beer "De Kat" as well as high tea; Kasteelwinkel with books, postcards and knight toys; museum shop in the Kunsthal.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Castle halls for weddings, meetings, events and as a film and photo location; borrel and dinner at the castle possible.

Plan your visit