The open-air Museum
BOKRIJK (Belgium)
Syntra
Tongeren: Arts & crafts courses
In 2013, the
management of Domain Bokrijk decided to once again introduce visitors of the Open-air
museum to the traditional artistic crafts and is planning on organising
training courses in this respect.
Every weekend, in
the months of July and August, the various arts & crafts at Syntra Tongeren
will promote their particular craft. To
this end, the classes: restoration of paintings, millinery, glassblowing, goldsmith,
woodcarver, etc. ... will be present every Sunday to dazzle you with their
skills and expertise.
On 21 July (Belgian
National Holiday) I had the privilige to give a demonstration at the Open-air
museum. For 13 years now I’ve been teaching a professional course in ornamental
carving – woodcarving and these demonstrations are very important in arousing
the interest of possible new recruits for my course.
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| Patrick Damiaens, Demonstration Wood Carving |
Bokrijk
The Provincial Domain Bokrijk is currently 550 hectares
in area and is situated in the midst of a vast forest and various nature reserves.
The domain is mostly known for its Open-air museum. This is, however, just one
part of a much larger recreational park. Due to its amazing scenery, many
television series and movies were shot on the domain.
The Open-air museum of Bokrijk was
officially opened on 12 April 1958. Approximately 140 authentical buildings
form the core of this heritage collection. Apart from these buildings, the
collection also consists of traditional tools and common implements from days
of yore.
In total, the collection entails 35 000
pieces of fragile heritage, baring witness of everyday life from the 17th
century up to the 1950s.
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| Domain of Bokrijk, Belgium |
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| The open-air Museum, Bokrijk |
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| Bokrijk, The old town |
Collection
The museum has a collection of approximately
35,000 objects. Most of those objects are stored in the new depot. The
others are in the historical buildings in the museum. As much as
possible, the stories, customs, techniques and interesting facts are
collected along with the collections and the houses. In that way, the
museum also collects (and studies and exhibits) intangible cultural
heritage.
The collection of the Bokrijk Open-air Museum consists
primarily of objects that illustrate daily life, primarily in a rural
context between the 17th and early 20th centuries. Due to its diversity
and wide range, it is a unique collection in Flanders, especially the
farming & food collections, as well as the living culture and (to a
lesser degree), crafts.The collection was brought together largely
through gifts. Where possible, the context information is presented as
much as possible, such as interviews with the users of the objects
donated. In principle, objects without any context information are not
accepted unless they are exceptional pieces.
The objects come from all five of the provinces of Flanders.
Website Bokrijk
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