The flax industry and its history
The Texture Museum recounts the history of the linen and cloth industry in the Kortrijk region, which has been famous for its textile industry for centuries.
The flax industry was the main economic activity in southern West Flanders in the mid-19th century. In the 1960s, when the sector entered a deep crisis, Bert Dewilde, at the time adviser in charge of the Kortrijk cultural service, decided to collect tools to prevent this regional know-how from falling into oblivion. He then created a museum. He subsequently received large numbers of donations that allowed him to expand the collection. Today, the city-centre museum comprises three exhibition rooms, housed in an authentic linen warehouse dating from 1912. At that time, the building was used by the Linen Thread Company and is one of the main remnants of the linen industry. It has since been renovated into a modern museum and contains a bistro, offices and a workshop in addition to its exhibition rooms.
Visitors will have the opportunity to discover the valuable collections of linen and textiles, both old and new, which tell the story of the extraordinary development in the region of this industry, whose expertise is now recognised around the world. The museum has already been visited by several heads of state.
Will you be its next distinguished visitor? Visit the Museum website for more information on prices and opening days!