Stoomketelmuseum

Stoomketelmuseum in Zottegem is a small but distinctive industrial heritage museum built around two historic Lancashire-type steam boilers dating from 1909. It occupies part of the former factory complex of the Sanitary Underwear Company, founded by Joseph Schockaert on what is now Gustaaf Schockaertstraat. The factory operated until 1992, and after its closure the boiler house and machinery survived as a rare record of early industrial energy production.

What boilers are on display here?

At the heart of the exhibition stand two Lancashire steam boilers that once operated at ten atmospheres of pressure. They supplied the factory with electricity, heating and process steam needed to run the textile machinery. For decades they served as the technical showpiece of the plant, and today they are protected as industrial heritage monuments.

How was the museum interior designed?

To let visitors examine the boilers up close, the upper section of each boiler was cut open and lowered. This makes it possible to walk across the top of the boiler and inspect the thickness of the steel plating, the water level, the flame tube and the sturdy rivets holding the structure together. It is an unusual chance to see, from the inside, the technology that once powered local industry.

What does a visit help you understand?

The museum explains how steam technology works and how it evolved over time. The exhibition sheds light on daily factory operations and the central role the boilers played in production, from heating the workshop halls to driving the machines.

When was the museum founded and what is its history?

The Stoomketelmuseum opened its doors on 5 July 2015, becoming part of the historic factory complex known as de Sanitary. Establishing the museum was a way of preserving a unique piece of Zottegem's industrial heritage after the factory ceased operations.

Is the museum currently open to visitors?

Regular opening hours used to run from Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm. In 2016, however, cracks and fractures were discovered in the building housing the boilers, caused by changes in groundwater levels. The protected building was structurally braced pending repairs, but the museum has remained closed to the public ever since.

Frequently asked questions

What can you see at the Stoomketelmuseum? Two historic Lancashire-type steam boilers from 1909, with a specially lowered upper section visitors can walk across, plus an exhibition explaining how steam technology works.

Where exactly is the museum located? Within the former Sanitary Underwear Company factory complex in Zottegem, on what is now Gustaaf Schockaertstraat.

Is the museum currently open? Since 2016 the museum has been closed due to cracks in the building caused by shifting groundwater levels — it's worth checking current status with local authorities before planning a visit.

Where did the boilers come from? The boilers date from 1909 and originally powered a sanitary underwear factory, supplying it with electricity, heat and process steam.