History

1976

The municipality of Grimbergen purchases the Liermolen mill and Tommenmolen mill – two water mills on the Maalbeek;

1978 

Restoration of the water mills;

Purchase by the municipality of Grimbergen of the Guldendal; 

1980 

The municipal authorities ask Johan David to establish a new museum and form a collection for it; 

1982

The MOT is established, run by the non-profit organisation Heemschut vzw, with Johan David as curator and only one member of staff; 

The water mills are fitted out as an exhibition space; 

The Guldendal becomes the MOT’s administrative headquarters; 

1983 

The MOT is granted a Special Mention at the EMYA European Museum of the Year Award; 

1988

Opening of the Woodworking exhibition; 

1990

Director Johan David receives the V.I.A.T. Award; 

1996

The MOT goes online! Launch of the website www.mot.be; 

1999

The MOT is accredited and listed at regional level by the Flemisch Government; 

2000 

Launch of tools database ID-DOC on our website; 

2003 

The Save the bread ovens! project goes online; 

2005 

First multi-day internship Build your own bread oven; 

2006 

Opening of the exhibition Strong women, clean clothes; 

2008 

First summer programme Zomeren in het MOT; 

The Directory of Belgian Trade Catalogues project goes online; 

2009 

Launch of the Forgemarks in Belgium project; 

First workshops for adults; 

Opening of the exhibition The blacksmith, master of iron and fire; 

2010 

Launch of the What about the water well? project; 

2013 

Retirement of founder and curator Johan David, followed by Steven De Waele;

2015

Opening of the Carts and Wagons open depot; 

Move of the museum collection to a new depot; 

2016 

Launch of the renewed website; 

Restoration of the bakeoven at the Tommenmolen; 

Restoration of the water wheel and milling parts at the Liermolen; 

2017 

First internship of Timber framing and wattle and daub;

Built of the timber-framed Bee hall, a shelter for bees at the Liermolen; 

Extension of the museum library; 

2018 

Book presentation Bouwen om te bakken, together with the province of Flemish Brabant; 

Filming of the documentary How to build a bread oven?; 

2019 

Opening of the exhibition MOT & GO. The DIY store for motors and power transmission; 

Restoration of the bakeoven at the Liermolen; 

Construction of the Winnowing barn, a half-timbered building for winnowing grain at the Liermolen; 

Experimental drilling of a wooden pump, while filming;

2020 

The MOT celebrates its 40th birthday;

Opening of the exhibition Scaffolding and stone;

The new exhibition wins the Tourism Award by the province of Flemish Brabant in the category ‘heritage’;

Webpage Pump goes online;

First edition of the Stone engraving workshop;

2021

First edition of the forging internship;

New escape room 'Looking for black gold'; 

Construction of a new well sweep for the waterwell; 

Construction of a half-timbered life-size nativity scene with a straw roof; 

Webpage Half-timber work goes online;

2022

Restoration of the bakehouse at the Liermolen; 

Construction of a new playground at the Liermolen; 

Film recordings for the webpage Half-timber work;

Construction of a new half-timbered workshop at the Guldendal;

Approval of restoration fund for "heritage and tourism" project Liermolen; 

Approval of restoration fund for urgent conservation works Prinsenkasteel; 

2023 

Publication of half-timbering films online and on the YouTube channel; 

Completion of the 'Vakwerkplaats' (half-timbered workshop) during the Wattle and Daub Days and solemn opening;

Preparatory research for the restorations of Prinsenkasteel and Liermolen; 

First Stage fish skin tanning and processing;