Turninum

Turninum — now operating under the name VolXmuseum — is a local history museum in Deurne, a district of Antwerp in Belgium. It occupies a cluster of old village houses and a historic wagon smithy at Koraalplaats 2, right in the old core of the district known as Deurne-Dorp.

Where does the name Turninum come from?

The museum takes its name directly from the district's own past: Turninum is the oldest recorded name of Deurne. Choosing that name for the museum was a deliberate way of tying the institution to the deep continuity of settlement in the area. Although the venue has since rebranded as VolXmuseum, the earlier name — Volksmuseum Turninum — still appears widely and remains familiar to people in the region.

What does the museum focus on?

Turninum is dedicated to the everyday life of ordinary residents of Deurne during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Rather than showcasing major historical events or fine art, it recreates the homes and workplaces of average people from that era. The collection includes a worker's dwelling from the interwar period, a blacksmith's workshop, an old village tavern, a diamond-cutting workshop, and a painter's studio. Together these spaces paint a picture of the trades and craftspeople who shaped this part of Antwerp over the decades.

Is there anything beyond the historic interiors?

Yes — the museum also holds an archaeology section. This part of the collection is linked to the holdings of the Boekenberg Natural History Museum, extending the historical scope of Turninum from the everyday life of a century ago back to the earliest traces of settlement in the area.

Where exactly is it located?

Turninum sits in Deurne, the second-largest district of the municipality of Antwerp, home to more than 85,000 residents. The precise address is Koraalplaats 2, within Deurne-Dorp, the historic center that formed the original nucleus of the district long before it grew into the densely populated area it is today.

Frequently asked questions

Are Turninum and VolXmuseum the same place? Yes. VolXmuseum is simply the new name for the former Volksmuseum Turninum — same building, same address, same focus, just rebranded.

Which period does the exhibition cover? Mainly the 19th century and the first half of the 20th, with particular attention to the interwar years, although the archaeology section reaches much further back.

Why is the museum called Turninum? Because that is the oldest documented name of Deurne itself — the choice was meant to underline the district's long historical continuity.

What crafts are represented in the museum? Blacksmithing, diamond cutting, and decorative painting, alongside reconstructions of a typical worker's home and a village tavern.