Streekmuseum De Reinvoart

Streekmuseum De Reinvoart is a small regional museum in Loksbergen, a village that forms part of the municipality of Halen in the western part of the Belgian province of Limburg. The museum occupies a traditional long-gabled farmhouse of the type typical for the Campine (Kempen) area, located at Hagelandstraat 1. It was founded in 1986 by local residents who wanted to preserve the everyday objects and customs of the old Hageland region before they disappeared.

What can visitors see inside?

The exhibition recreates daily life in the Hageland region around the year 1900. Visitors move through a series of rooms arranged as they would have looked more than a century ago: an old tavern where guests can taste a traditional herbal jenever, a schoolroom, a clog-maker's workshop, a dining room, and a bedroom. Alongside these reconstructed spaces, the museum displays a large collection of household items, agricultural tools, and everyday objects from the late 19th century, illustrating farm work and domestic life in this part of Limburg.

Where does the museum's name come from?

The name "Reinvoart" is an old dialect word for mugwort (common wormwood), a plant that has been used for centuries in cooking and in the preparation of herbal drinks and liqueurs. The choice of name reflects the local herbal tradition and the everyday use of plants that grew in the surrounding countryside.

What is the museum's connection to the poet August Cuppens?

The exhibition also highlights the poet August Cuppens, who served as parish priest in Loksbergen from 1899 to 1924. His presence in the museum's narrative links the history of the local community to the region's literary heritage, showing that Loksbergen was a place shaped not only by farming and craft but also by cultural life.

Who runs the museum and how can it be visited?

Streekmuseum De Reinvoart is a non-profit organisation run entirely by unpaid volunteers, who look after the collection and guide visitors through the exhibits. Because of its modest, community-driven character, visits must be arranged by appointment in advance, allowing for an unhurried, personal tour accompanied by stories about the region's history.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? At Hagelandstraat 1 in Loksbergen, a village belonging to the municipality of Halen in western Limburg.

How old is the museum? It was founded in 1986, making it a long-standing local community initiative.

What is the highlight of the exhibition? The reconstructed interiors of the old farmhouse — the tavern, schoolroom, clog-maker's workshop, dining room, and bedroom — along with the chance to taste traditional herbal jenever.

Can visitors just walk in? No — visits are by appointment only, since the museum is staffed entirely by volunteers rather than permanent paid staff.

Who would enjoy visiting this museum? Anyone interested in local history, the ethnography of the Hageland region, and traditional rural crafts and domestic life from more than a century ago.