Nonke Buusjke

About the museum

Nonke Buusjke is an open-air museum on the edge of the Schinveldse Bossen near Schinveld, also known locally as the village museum. It goes back to the tailor Thei Berkers, who over many years built up a collection of South Limburg half-timbered houses and workshops from the early 20th century using traditional materials, moving several buildings from Schinveld to the site. He died in 2001. His philosophy of life was a return to simplicity in a consumer society that he felt had become overheated.

At its center is a fully restored half-timbered farmyard, surrounded by outbuildings such as a bakehouse, a syrup boiling house, a carpentry, a weaving mill, a clog maker's workshop and a shoemaker's shop. All the buildings are furnished with authentic furniture and everyday objects of Limburg rural life. A residential house from Kerkstraat/Heidestraat in Schinveld was demolished in 1976, when it turned out to be almost 300 years old, and rebuilt here in 1977. The Thei Berkershoes, a half-timbered house, was built in 2009–2012 and officially opened in April 2012.

The site is run by volunteers. On Sundays there is coffee, vlaai (a Limburg fruit tart) from the Sjansen oven and guided tours; the village shop also sells wine and regional beers. Beekeepers show their bees, there are hiking routes through the Schinveldse Bossen, workshops, and weddings at the official wedding venue of the municipality of Beekdaelen.

Highlights

• Restored half-timbered farmyard at the heart of the village museum
• Workshops such as bakehouse, syrup boiling house, weaving mill, clog maker's and shoemaker's shop
• Authentically furnished buildings from around 1900
• Beekeepers with their bees behind the vegetable garden
• Village shop with coffee, vlaai from the Sjansen oven and regional beers
• Location on the edge of the Schinveldse Bossen with hiking routes

Permanent exhibitions

• Museumsdorf um 1900 – The half-timbered farmyard, bakehouse, syrup boiling house, weaving mill, carpentry, clog maker's and shoemaker's shop give an insight into life and work in the Limburg countryside.
• Imker und Bienen – Beehives stand behind the vegetable garden, where beekeepers work regularly; protective suits are available.

Admission & discounts

Prices apply to Sunday opening. Vouchers at €2 each for vlaai, coffee, tea and soft drinks are available in the village shop.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• 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 village square is suitable for rollators and wheelchairs, and there are sanitary facilities with an accessible toilet. Because of the authentic construction, the buildings themselves are not accessible to people with disabilities.

Kids & families

Admission only from age 7.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the forest and can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by car; from Schinveld, cars may only drive in if you are a local resident. Postal address: Eindstraat 89, 6451 AC Schinveld.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The village shop sells coffee, tea, soft drinks, vlaai from the Sjansen oven, wine and regional beers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 60 guests.

Official wedding venue of the municipality of Beekdaelen (on the village square, under the former Karresjob, in the orchard, or in bad weather in the Thei Berkershoes for up to 60 people). Workshops, meetings and trainings are possible; rental inquiries to reserveringen@nonkebuusjke.nl.

Plan your visit