Research

Water is vital for both people and animals, yet before the introduction of the well-known tap water, people had to resort to wells. This well water was used for a wide range of purposes: to drink, to prepare meals, to wash the dishes, to water the cattle, to clean, etc. But next to its domestic value, water was and still is a crucial component in the industry as well: just think of breweries, tanneries, ice- and lemonade factories, etc. You can also find wells in these industrial sites. Until recently, the water well was actually a very important aspect of daily life. It was only after the general distribution of modern water supplies in the second half of the twentieth century that the use of wells rapidly declined. Only a few decades ago, water well systems were still an integral part of the landscape. Unfortunately, more and more wells fell into disrepair and many of them were demolished. In many cases the well shaft remained, but the well was covered. Not only the architectural heritage...

Access The MOT is housed in historic buildings that were not originally intended as a museum. The many stairs, floors and mezzanines hinder access for visitors who are less good at getting about, and especially for wheelchair users. To help persons with specific needs, physical or mental limitations, we can make adjustments where possible. Feel free to contact us at +32 2 270 81 11 or info@mot.be.

Floors  On the ground level, the floors of timber framed buildings are made of natural stone, brick or earth. On the elevated floors, they can be made in wood. Cheaper than tiled floors are earthen floors, which were common in many farms and certainly in barns. An earthen floor is not just some made by ramming earth, it requires knowledge to install it properly.

Plan your visit The MOT, one museum, three locations:

What is what?This text can only be consulted in Dutch.

RCB: search by company nameRCB stands for the Repertorium van de Belgische Handelscatalogi (Directory of Belgian Trade Catalogues). It is an online aid to trace trade catalogues published in Belgium before c. 1950, in public collections.Click on a company name to open the corresponding file or search for the name of a city or municipality. You can quickly search using the key combination "Ctrl-F" and go through all search results with the "enter" key.