Whilst in Tilburg, we also visited the Textiel Museum which is housed in a wonderful old wool mill that dates from the late 1880's.
The building houses a fully restored steam engine that dates from 1906 which was used in a nearby blanket factory and is still in good working order today (although now powered electrically.) Originally the engine would have been used to power the blanket weaving machines in the factory by a network of shafts and cogs. It was so lovely to watch and hear it working and clicking away.
In addition to all the old machines and examples of how fabrics and blankets would have been made in the past, the museum is also working one and is still used for modern textile making. There is a 'Textiel Lab' at the back of the main building where new fabrics and ways of weaving, embroidering, printing, knitting and dyeing are still being discovered. Anyone can book in to use the machines and there are a number of technicians on hand to help. There are also a variety of courses and workshops available from their 'Textiel Academie', specialising in programmes about textiles, design, materials, techniques and history.
Some examples of modern fabrics created in the Textiel Lab...
If you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods, I definitely recommend a visit!
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