Research

What? RCB stands for the Repertorium van de Belgische Handelscatalogi (Directory of Belgian Trade Catalogues). It is an online aid to trace trade catalogues published in Belgium before c. 1950, in public collections. The RCB has search entries via title, company name, town, period, year of publication, RCB code and keyword.

The fire swatter is a hand tool that the fire brigade uses to extinguish a running fire in grass, heather, etc. by sweeping. It replaces the common twigs that were used in the past. The fire swatter consists of 10 flexible iron bands that are clamped in a fan-like holder in which a long wooden handle (approx. 200 cm) protrudes. To be distinguished from the eelspear. See also the mop. [MOT]

Prince's castle in scaffolding From ruins to construction site The Prince's castle has a long and eventful history. After the retreat of the German occupiers in 1944, who burned down the castle, it fell into disrepair. Today it is a ruin, only the keep or residential tower is still standing and you can visit it as part of the MOT. The Municipality of Grimbergen is the owner and has been carrying out urgent conservation works since 2024 to prevent further decay, but a complete reconstruction of the castle is not possible for various reasons.  And yet the MOT is going to make an attempt! As a museum, we want to turn the Prinsenkasteel into a historic construction site, where we can experiment with and learn from historical construction techniques and tools. Where possible, we rebuild parts of the castle with late medieval techniques, tools and materials. A long-term work, from which we will learn a lot.  The ruin is currently unsafe, we have to wait until after the conservation works (2024-2026) before we can really...