Antwerp
Antwerp's lost history

Explore Poldermuseum Lillo

Discover the vanished polder villages and traditional trades of Antwerp across thirty-four rooms.

HistoryLocal heritage

Discover the rich regional history of the Antwerp polders at this local heritage museum. Explore specialized historical exhibitions, view working traditional crafts like a restored nineteenth-century weaving loom, and enjoy family-friendly activities inside a historic fort setting.

Located within Lillo-Fort, this museum preserves the heritage of the Antwerp polder region through historical objects, traditional crafts, and themed exhibitions.

Poldermuseum Lillo
History and Heritage at Poldermuseum Lillo

The Poldermuseum Lillo, located in the historic Lillo-Fort in Antwerp, is dedicated to preserving the unique polder heritage of the region. The museum showcases a rich collection of historical artifacts, ancestral objects, and traditional attire. Visitors can also examine a rare, fully restored nineteenth-century weaving loom that is occasionally operated for public demonstrations.

White two-story building with green doors and blue banners hanging from the facade, bicycles parked outside, millstones displayed on the sidewalk, and people walking along the street
Poldermuseum Lillo opening hours in Antwerp

Check today’s opening status, weekly schedule, and special date changes for Poldermuseum Lillo. Use these opening hours to plan your arrival and avoid closed times in Antwerp.

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
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13:00-18:00
Poldermuseum Lillo Tickets and Admission

Standard admission to the Poldermuseum Lillo in Antwerp is paid, with individual adult tickets priced at five euros. Children up to eleven years old enjoy free entry, and discount options are available for students and organized groups. Group admission is priced at fifty euros for up to twenty people, while special rates apply for members.

General Admission
€5.00

Includes a guide booklet

Children (under 12 years)
Free

For children up to 12 years old Includes a museum search contest with a surprise at the end

Admission with Guide
€8.00

Price per person, guide included

Visitor services at Poldermuseum Lillo

Poldermuseum Lillo supports a variety of visitor experiences through both structured guided tours and self-guided exploration. Families can further engage with the exhibits through a dedicated discovery game designed for children. These practical offerings are intended to help visitors navigate the collections and historical narratives with ease.

Zoekwedstrijd voor kinderen

Available

Rondleiding met gids

Available
Extra charge

Handige gids

Available
Poldermuseum Lillo Location in Antwerp

The Poldermuseum Lillo is situated within the historic Lillo-Fort neighborhood of Antwerp on Tolhuisstraat. This unique fortress location provides an authentic backdrop for the museum, which is dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage, traditional crafts, and memories of the region's vanished polder villages. Its setting helps bring this local history to life for every visitor.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Tolhuisstraat 10-16

2040 Antwerp

Lillo-Fort, Province of Antwerp, BE

Exploring Local Heritage at Poldermuseum Lillo

Located in the historic Lillo-Fort neighborhood of Antwerp, the Poldermuseum Lillo preserves the heritage of the region's vanished polder villages. Visitors can explore thirty-four rooms filled with local history artifacts, traditional attire, and regional crafts. A central highlight of the museum is a fully restored nineteenth-century weaving loom, which is periodically demonstrated to show traditional weaving and spinning techniques. The experience is highly accessible for families and groups, offering a dedicated visitor handbook alongside interactive search quests for children.

Large wooden handloom on display in a museum room with brick flooring and framed pictures on the wall.

History of Poldermuseum Lillo

Founded in 1959 by local residents led by Pastor Eelen, the Poldermuseum Lillo was established to *preserve the regional heritage* threatened by the expansion of the Port of Antwerp. Originally housed in the village of Wilmarsdonk, the museum collection had to be relocated after the village was demolished. In 1963, the institution moved into a former biscuit bakery in Lillo-Fort. This transition successfully safeguarded the traditional crafts and memories of these vanished polder communities.

  • Established in 1959

    1959Founding

    The museum was founded in 1959 by local residents, led by Pastor Eelen of Wilmarsdonk, with the primary objective to preserve the character and history of the Antwerp Polders. This initiative began as a response to the rapid expansion of the Port of Antwerp, which threatened to cause the disappearance of several local villages and their traditions.

  • Initial museum location in Wilmarsdonk

    1959Relocation

    At its inception in 1959, the Poldermuseum was originally housed in the parish hall of Wilmarsdonk on the Wilmarsstraat. It shared this facility with the local library, serving as the initial repository for collected artifacts from the villages facing demolition due to industrial harbor expansion.

  • Relocation to Lillo-Fort in 1963

    1963Relocation

    Following the total demolition of the village of Wilmarsdonk in 1962, the museum collection was moved to a new site in Lillo-Fort. Since 1963, the museum has been located in this facility, which was previously a former biscuit bakery, to continue its mission of preserving regional heritage.

  • Leadership of Pastor Eelen

    Notable person

    The museum was primarily established under the initiative of Pastor Eelen of Wilmarsdonk. He was motivated by the insight provided by his brother, a chief engineer at the Ministry of Public Works, who alerted him to the massive impact that the planned expansion of the Antwerp harbor would have on the local villages and their cultural legacy.

Poldermuseum Lillo FAQs: Sunday Answers & Quick Facts

Planning a trip to the Poldermuseum Lillo in Antwerp? Keep in mind that this unique museum of vanished polder villages is a strictly Sunday-only affair, remaining closed all other days of the week! Before you head out to the Lillo-Fort neighborhood, check our quick FAQs to find the perfect Sunday visiting window.

What are the weekend opening hours for Poldermuseum Lillo?

Poldermuseum Lillo is open on Sundays from 13:00 to 18:00. The museum remains closed on Saturdays, making Sunday the only day of the weekend available for visits.

Is Poldermuseum Lillo open during weekdays?

No, Poldermuseum Lillo is closed on all weekdays from Monday through Friday. The museum only operates on Sundays.

Are there any special opening hours or seasonal closures at Poldermuseum Lillo?

Yes, Poldermuseum Lillo is closed all day for a seasonal period from November 2 through December 31. Additionally, special opening hours apply on select dates like August 9, when the museum opens early from 10:00 to 18:00.

What are the regular opening hours of Poldermuseum Lillo?

Poldermuseum Lillo is open on Sundays from 13:00 to 18:00. The museum is completely closed on all other days of the week, from Monday through Saturday.

Planning Your Visit to Poldermuseum Lillo

When planning a visit to the Poldermuseum Lillo in Antwerp, visitors can choose between different ways to explore the history of the region. The museum offers self-guided tour options, allowing guests to discover the exhibits across its rooms at their own pace. For those seeking a more detailed perspective, paid guided tours are also available to enhance the visitor experience. Families can also take advantage of child-friendly exhibits designed to engage younger visitors during their stay.

Who Should Visit Poldermuseum Lillo

The Poldermuseum Lillo in the Lillo-Fort neighborhood of Antwerp is well-suited for history enthusiasts, families, and groups interested in regional heritage and traditional crafts. Visitors looking to explore local polder history can enjoy self-guided tours with a dedicated handbook or opt for guided group tours. Younger visitors can engage directly with the exhibits through an interactive search quest that offers a small prize. The museum's focus on historical artifacts and traditional weaving crafts makes it an educational experience for those seeking to understand the vanished lifestyle of the polder region.

Visual Gallery of Poldermuseum Lillo

Images of the Poldermuseum Lillo in Antwerp offer a preview of its rich historical collection and regional heritage. Visuals showcase the museum's white exterior facade decorated with traditional millstones and an anchor display. Inside, visitors can expect to see detailed architectural models and dioramas that depict the cobblestone streets and buildings of the region's vanished polder villages.

White two-story building with green doors and blue banners hanging from the facade, bicycles parked outside, millstones displayed on the sidewalk, and people walking along the street
Large wooden handloom on display in a museum room with brick flooring and framed pictures on the wall.
White two-story building facade of Poldermuseum Lillo with banners, millstones, and an anchor displayed outside
Man and woman cutting a Belgian tricolor ribbon at an opening ceremony while a crowd of onlookers watches indoors
Colorful folk-art style illustration of a Dutch village street with a windmill, traditional white buildings, two figures in traditional costumes, and floral border decorations, with text reading 'een fijne ZOMERVAKANTIE Tot in het Poldermuseum Lillo'
Group of people cutting a red and yellow ribbon at an indoor ceremony, with a man seated in a wheelchair at the center and museum objects visible in the background.
Collage of photographs showing museum exhibits, historical artifacts, vintage black-and-white images, interior rooms, and people related to the polder village life at Poldermuseum Lillo
Map of Lillo-Fort showing the fort layout surrounded by the Schelde river with numbered buildings and a Dutch legend
A black and white group photo of six smiling people standing in a brick-walled room with a framed portrait hanging on the wall behind them.
Dutch poem by Jan Soetewey about the buried polder villages with a simple line-drawing illustration of buildings along the bottom
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