Museum W
Cultural history museum in Weert's golden former town hall: Franciscan heritage, regional history and contemporary art on the questions of life.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum goes back to 1936. The Weert municipal official Pierre Linssen founded a Stedelijk Museum, which opened in the week before Christmas 1936 in an attic room of the town hall. The collection initially consisted of loans with prehistoric finds, prints, coins, items of the shooting guilds and folk culture from Weert and the former Land of Horne. Until 2020 the museum was called Gemeentemuseum Jacob van Horne; after a renovation in 2021/22 it reopened as Museum W in May 2022. The W stands for the questions Who, What, Where, Why and When.
It is housed in the city's oldest town hall on the Markt, opposite the Sint-Martinuskerk. The building dates back to 1543, and its present appearance dates from 1913. Striking is the golden façade made of TECUgold, an alloy of recycled copper and aluminium, designed by the Limburg designer Maurice Mentjens after the model of precious reliquaries. The building was nominated for the title "Museum Building of the Year" and in 2023 made it into the top 10 museums on Archilovers.
The collection has two faces, a regional and a religious one. It includes the heritage of the Dutch Franciscan Minorites, finds and art from Weert and the region, a small collection of contemporary art (including Jan Dibbets and Studio Job) and the studio archive of the Kunstwerkplaatsen Esser, a Weert goldsmith's workshop that produced mainly religious items between 1838 and 2018. The permanent exhibition leads through the rooms along central themes of life.
Highlights
- Golden TECUgold façade of the former town hall by Maurice Mentjens
- Franciscan heritage: art treasures and everyday objects of the Minorites
- Studio collection of the Weert goldsmiths Kunstwerkplaatsen Esser (1838–2018)
- Contemporary art by Jan Dibbets, Studio Job and others
- Prehistoric urns, silver, paintings and sculptures from over seven centuries
Permanent exhibition
- Collectiepresentatie – A cultural history tour along central themes of life, with objects from Franciscan heritage, regional history and contemporary art; from prehistoric urns to silver in the treasury.
- Founded
- 1936
- Operated by
- Gemeente Weert
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Students, CJP holders and groups of 10 or more people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Young people up to and including age 18 free; children under 12 only when accompanied. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Anyone who cannot move around the museum independently may bring one companion free of charge; sign language and written-language interpreters on duty are also free. |
| Students & apprentices | €6 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €6 per personGroups of 8 or more people must register at least two weeks in advance; maximum group size 15. |
| Group tour (max. 15 people, approx. 1 hour) | €50Permanent exhibition, temporary exhibition or Queer tour; flat rate per tour. |
| Combined tour (approx. 1.5 hours) | €75Flat rate per group. |
Free with Museumkaart, Vrienden van Museum W, Vereniging Rembrandt and ICOM; the VriendenLoterij card is not valid. Payment in the museum by card only.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- 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
Step-free building with lift to all floors; two loan wheelchairs, museum stools for sitting. No induction loop or other hearing support. Scooters are not allowed in the museum (use a loan wheelchair). On weekdays until 12 noon, people with walking disabilities can be dropped off at the entrance (kiss & ride only).
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
Family rally "Roggie": searching for animals in the museum. Babies and toddlers are welcome in a sling, carrier or small buggy (no frame backpack carriers); the main entrance on the Meikoel is pushchair-friendly. Children under 12 only when accompanied.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bahnhof Weert · 10-min walk
From Weert railway station and bus station about a 10-minute walk via the Stationsstraat and the Langstraat.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No car park of its own. Small car parks Korenmarkt and Molenstraat (max. 2 hours, few spaces), also Ursulinengarage (Nieuwe Markt 5, daily 7 a.m.–11 p.m.), Walburgpassage (Kromhoutstraat 16, around the clock) and Muntgarage (Oud Gasthuisplein/Hogesteenweg, around the clock). People with a disability card can park free for up to 3 hours in street disabled spaces; two disabled spaces are on the Korenmarkt.
- Accessible parking
The centre within the Singels is car-free. Bicycles: supervised parking on the Hegstraat, unsupervised racks on the Korenmarkt with two charging points for e-bikes.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
No museum café; there are restaurants and cafés around the building. Small open cloakroom and lockers free of charge, free Wi-Fi.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
The historic council chamber is available for civil wedding ceremonies; registration via the municipality of Weert.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography and filming for private use allowed; no flash, tripod or selfie stick. |
| Good to know | A free introductory tour is offered regularly; also group tours, a Queer tour on sexuality and gender diversity and the "Tablettour", a tour with a tablet. Larger backpacks, tripods, umbrellas and Nordic walking poles must be left in the cloakroom. Pets only as assistance dogs. Groups of 8 to a maximum of 15 people register in advance by email; educational programmes on weekdays 8.30–11 a.m. |
