The museum is housed in a former damask weaving mill originally established in 1900.
The TextielLab provides professional equipment for artists and students to experiment with digital and mechanical weaving techniques.
Tilburg was once the core of the Dutch textile industry, earning it the nickname 'Wool City'.
The museum's collection includes historical samples ranging from traditional Dutch folk costumes to avant-garde haute couture.
The onsite machine park includes a specialized facility for laser cutting and ultrasonic welding of textiles.
The museum organizes internal residencies for international designers to create new work.
Visitors can see the production process of custom-made scarves and interior textiles in real-time.
The TextielMuseum in Tilburg is a functional heritage site housed within a historic 19th-century textile factory. It distinguishes itself by integrating a working laboratory, the TextielLab, where contemporary designers and artists develop industrial prototypes. The museum preserves operational historical machinery, including looms and knitting machines, which are regularly demonstrated to visitors. Its permanent collection highlights the history of textile production in the Tilburg region, which was formerly the center of the Dutch woolen industry. Temporary exhibitions focus on the intersection of innovation, craft, and contemporary design. The site serves as both an educational institution and a professional research facility. It is located in the Goirke district, an area historically synonymous with Tilburg's industrial development.
The expansive, light-filled hall of the TextielLab featuring the rows of modern industrial looms.
Visit the TextielLab gallery on the upper floor to see current projects in production.
Check the museum's rotating exhibition calendar online before visiting as the content changes several times a year.
Take time to watch the live demonstrations of the historical looms to understand the mechanical evolution of weaving.
Do not assume the machines are static displays; they are often in use, so stay clear of moving parts.
Closed on Mondays.
