Charles De Coster wrote his masterpiece in 1867 with ‘La légende d’Ulenspiegel’ [the legend of Owlglass]. De Coster based his story on folk tales that were written down in 1500 already. The first prints with Ulenspiegel from Damme appeared around 1650. In Damme, the mischievous geus Tijl Uilenspiegel [Tyll Owlglass] and his friends Lamme Goedzak and Nele have been honoured for a long time. From the 17th century people even thought that Uilenspiegel was buried in the Church of Our Lady in what was actually the tomb of Jacob van Maerlant.
Reopening on 29 June 2024
The museum is currently closed due to renovations. On 29 June 2024, the renovated Uilenspiegel Museum will reopen!
We will then proudly present a renewed and expanded offer, packed with fascinating Uilenspiegel stories. Young and old will be able to visit the museum for an adventurous quest and an exciting Uilenspiegel treasure hunt. Experience the magic of Uilenspiegel and discover the treasures our museum has to offer!
The museum will put even more emphasis on stories and place them in their historical context. At the same time, we will build a bridge to the present, because every Uilenspiegel is a mirror of his time. And humour remains a universal force.
