Heemkring De Drie Rozen - Bibliotheek

Heemkring De Drie Rozen Library is a modest but content-rich documentation center located in 's-Gravenwezel, a village that forms part of the municipality of Schilde in Antwerp province. It is one branch of a wider local heritage organisation dedicated to preserving, researching and sharing the history of the area.

What is a heemkring, and where does the name come from?

Heemkring De Drie Rozen has been active since 1965 and has operated as a registered non-profit association (vzw) since 1971. Its mission is to safeguard, document and pass on knowledge of 's-Gravenwezel's local history and traditions to future generations. The organisation's name refers to the coat of arms of the Roose de Baisy family, who owned the village around 1774: their heraldry featured three silver roses arranged around an inverted V on a red field.

Headquarters and buildings

The heemkring's headquarters stand at Kerkstraat 41-45 in Schilde, in a row of low white buildings with red shutters that have long given the surrounding area its rural character. The property, which includes three small former workers' cottages known as heemhuisjes, was handed over to the association in October 1974 by its then-owner, Baron Gillès de Pélichy. The site was later expanded: a crafts gallery opened in 1981, followed by an event hall in 1990 that is now used for meetings, lectures and temporary exhibitions.

The role of the library and archive

The library itself is housed in the Dorpshuis, or village house, which also serves as the heemkring's secretariat and as a venue for local gatherings and activities. It holds an extensive collection of source material on the history of 's-Gravenwezel — documents, photographs and publications assembled by volunteers over decades. This collection underpins the association's research work and serves both residents looking into their village's past and anyone pursuing genealogical or regional-history interests connected to Antwerp province.

Publications and exhibitions

Heemkring De Drie Rozen also maintains a steady publishing schedule: a magazine titled "De Drie Rozen" appears three times a year, while a newsletter called "Heemtijdingen" comes out monthly except in August, keeping members informed of the association's activities. Alongside the library and archive, the complex houses a museum devoted to traditional crafts and trades, open to visitors on the first Sunday of every month — the buildings are accessible from 10:30 to 18:00, with the museum exhibition itself opening at 14:00.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the library located? At Kerkstraat 41-45 in Schilde, within the Heemkring De Drie Rozen complex in the village of 's-Gravenwezel.

When can the library and museum be visited? The complex is open to the public on the first Sunday of each month; the buildings are accessible from 10:30 to 18:00, and the museum opens at 14:00.

How does the library differ from the heemkring's archive? The library and documentation collection are housed in the Dorpshuis, which also functions as the secretariat and meeting place, while the rest of the complex includes the crafts museum and the event hall.

Who can use the collection? The collection is available to residents, local history researchers, and anyone interested in genealogy or the heritage of the Schilde area.