Museum of Deinze and the Lys Region

The Museum of Deinze and the Lys Region consists of two sections: a plastic art collection and a folkloric section which also focuses on archaeological findings and local industrial history. This makes it a unique museum with a unique collection which is definitely worth a visit.

Since the last quarter of the 19th century, the Lys Region has exerted a powerful attraction on artists. The museum offers a chronological overview of their work, allowing you to easily follow the evolution of the different movements. The collection includes works by major artists such as Emile Claus, Albert Saverys, Constant Permeke, George Minne, Gustave Van De Woestijne and Roger Raveel.

In the museum’s folkloric section you learn more about the two industries which dominated Deinze’s economic life. At the end of the 1840s, Joseph Ricard, a businessman from Lyon, founded a silk weaving mill in Deinze. This marked the beginning of an industry which would bring the city great prosperity until the rise of artificial silk in the 1920s.

At the end of the 19th century, Deinze saw the foundation of an industry which was completely new to the region: the production of prams and toys. The company Torck in particular enjoyed great popularity in Belgium and abroad thanks to their pedal cars: miniature pedal-driven cars for children. Torck manufactured high-quality toys using expensive materials such as wood and steel. However, the successful introduction of plastic, which was considerably cheaper, forced the company to close its doors in 1971.

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