Het Waalres Museum

About the museum

The museum is housed in the former Swane linen factory on the Willibrorduslaan. The eastern part was built in 1861 as a linen factory; in 1899 it was expanded to its present form. In 1998 the Stichting Het Waalres Museum foundation acquired the building and had it restored; since 2000 the complex has been protected as a rijksmonument (listed national monument). The house is rather small and therefore feels homely.

The core of the collection is antique damask linen from the 16th to 19th centuries, with pictorial motifs such as battles, hunting scenes and biblical depictions. More than 3,000 pieces were gathered by a descendant of a Waalre linen-weaving family; the oldest dates from 1550. The museum also displays around 240 nativity scenes from all over the world, which are shown every two years around Christmas.

Another focus is the industrial heritage of the municipality of Waalre. The Brabantia collection shows household goods from the metal goods manufacturer founded in 1919 in Aalst-Waalre, such as ironing boards, bread bins and pedal bins; for the company's 90th anniversary in 2009, it handed over its complete archive. The Simplex collection comes from the toy factory Steinmeier & Co (1945–1975) and includes wooden puzzles, reading boards and educational toys, donated in 2005.

The museum also gives Waalre artists and collectors a platform for contemporary art exhibitions.

Highlights

• More than 3,000 antique damasks, the oldest from 1550
• Brabantia collection with household goods and company archive
• Simplex collection with wooden puzzles and educational toys
• Around 240 nativity scenes from around the world (every two years around Christmas)
• Swane linen factory building from 1861 as a rijksmonument

Permanent exhibitions

• Brabantia- und Simplex-Sammlung – Household goods of the metal goods maker Brabantia and wooden toys from the Steinmeier & Co factory in Aalst, on view all year round.
• Antike Damaste – More than 3,000 damask fabrics from the 16th to 19th centuries with figurative motifs.

Operated by

Stichting Het Waalres Museum

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

Navigation address: Willibrorduslaan 4, 5581 GE Waalre.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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