A new museum dedicated to Burgundian art opens in Flanders. In Mechelen

A brand-new museum dedicated to Burgundian painting opens in Mechelen, Flanders: the Hof van Busleyden Museum (this is the name of the institution) is located in the Renaissance palace that was the residence of the humanist and patron Hieronymus van Busleyden (Aarlen c. 1470 - Bordeaux, 1517): it was in this very palace that van Busleyden used to meet with his intellectual and philosopher friends, among whom Thomas More and Erasmus of Rotterdam stand out. This is, in fact, a reopening: in 1938, in fact, the Mechelen City Museum had opened its doors in the same palace, which was active until the 1990s, when major restoration work became necessary. At that time, a first phase of intervention began, while the second took place in 2015 and was recently completed.The new museum thus opened to the public on June 17, 2018.

The museum brings together works that were produced during one of the most important and splendid periods in Flanders’ history, namely between 1348 and 1482, when the Netherlands was ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy who brought great economic prosperity to the region. The dukes were enlightened rulers, lovers of art and literature, and fostered a cultural development that marked important advances in the fields of art and science (this was the period of the so-called Flemish primitives, among whom was the celebrated Jan van Eyck).

The Burgundian household had no fixed palace and tended to move between different Flemish cities. However, Mechelen was a privileged place: it is for this reason that Hof van Busleyden was chosen to house the new museum. In the halls of the palace, through masterpieces of Flemish art, visitors will be able to relive the splendor of the court’s culture and trace the history of the city, from artisans’ associations to private spaces, and even delve into figures of great historical and cultural impact linked to the court, first and foremost Margaret of Austria, one of the most important and powerful women in the Netherlands and Europe during the Renaissance. It was Margaret herself who marked the destiny of the city of Mechelen by choosing it as her residence and establishing the Supreme Court there, thus turning it into the capital of the Burgundian Netherlands. Also living at the Court of Mechelen were Charles V and Anne Boleyn, who spent a few years there before becoming the wife of Henry VIII and giving birth to Elizabeth I.

Thanks to restoration work that has doubled the exhibition area and completely renovated the interior, Hof van Busleyden is once again ready to reclaim its old role: the palace will once again become a place for meeting and conversation, a breeding ground for ideas and art. Indeed, there will also be space for contemporary art: for example, from December 15, the muiseo will host one of the world’s greatest artists, Flemish artist Berlinde de Bruyckere (Ghent, 1964), for a solo exhibition, which will also include new works. In addition, in deference to its long-standing function as a civic museum, Hof van Busleyden will also host a section called “Cities are made by the people,” in which visitors will encounter today’s Mechelen: there will also be space for companies and associations to show themselves to the public, because the museum believes that they are the ones who represent the quantity, commitment, and differences of the modern city. In fact, the museum plans several initiatives that will directly involve citizens, convinced that innovation is only possible through participation, without forgetting the history of the community.

The museum opens daily (except Wednesday, which is closed), from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Thursdays until 10 p.m. Closed on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Admission costs 11 euros, 9 euros concessions, 7 euros for the disabled, 5 euros concessions for young people aged 13 to 26, 2 euros special rate for UiT-pas and Fonds Vrijetijdsparticipatie, free for children up to 12 years old and concessionaires. Families (2 adults + up to 4 young people aged 12 to 26) get a 20% discount on each ticket. More information can be found at www.hofvanbusleyden.be.

Pictured: Hof van Busleyden

A new museum dedicated to Burgundian art opens in Flanders. In Mechelen

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