Museum van het Belgisch Trekpaard

Museum van het Belgisch Trekpaard is a small, intimate museum in Vollezele, a village belonging to the municipality of Galmaarden in Flemish Brabant, right in the heart of the Pajottenland region. It occupies the former town hall building of Vollezele and is entirely dedicated to the history of the Belgian draft horse — a breed that for generations was the backbone of farm work in this part of Belgium and later became famous well beyond the country's borders.

Why Vollezele?

Vollezele is regarded as the birthplace of the Belgian draft horse as a recognized breed. Legendary stallions such as Orange I and Brillant were born and bred here, and their bloodlines shaped draft-horse breeding programs around the world. The museum tells the story of these animals and of the generations of local breeders who worked with them, showing how a rural, regional tradition grew into a breed known internationally.

What is inside

The exhibition is designed as a modern, interactive experience rather than a purely static display. Alongside panels and objects tied to the region's agricultural heritage, visitors will find touchscreens and archival film material illustrating the history of the breed. An audio guide, accessible via QR codes in four languages, helps foreign visitors follow the story at their own pace. The interactive setup was clearly built with younger visitors and school groups in mind, making the subject approachable even for those with no prior connection to horse breeding.

Practical information

The museum operates seasonally, open from early March through the end of October, on Sunday afternoons. Once a month, on the first Sunday of the season, a free guided tour is offered. Groups — ranging from a handful of people to larger parties — can arrange a visit outside regular opening hours by booking in advance, which makes the museum a practical stop for school trips or horse-breeding clubs.

What to do after the visit

A stop at the museum pairs naturally with further exploration of the surrounding countryside. Nearby, a walking trail named after the stallion Brillant winds for about 3.5 kilometers past sites connected to the history of Belgian draft-horse breeding. Along the way, through the typical Pajottenland landscape of fields and meadows, it is common to spot draft horses grazing — a fitting, living complement to what visitors have just learned inside the museum.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? In Vollezele, a village in the municipality of Galmaarden, in the Pajottenland region of Flemish Brabant, housed in the former town hall.

Is the museum open year-round? No — the visiting season runs from March to the end of October, and opening hours are limited to Sunday afternoons.

Are guided tours available? Yes, a free guided tour runs once a month on the first Sunday of the season; groups can also book a visit at another time.

What else is there to do nearby? After the museum, visitors can follow the Brillant walking trail, which passes through countryside linked to the history of Belgian draft-horse breeding.

Who is this museum for? Horse and rural-heritage enthusiasts, families with children thanks to the interactive exhibits, and organized groups looking for an unusual, themed destination in the Pajottenland.