TILBURG.- The TextielMuseum in Tilburg has been named the Netherlands’ best day out of 2026, winning the national DagjeWeg.NL Award after visitors chose it from among 240 nominated attractions.
The award recognizes a museum experience that has become one of the most distinctive in the country: a lively mix of art, design, heritage, technology and hands-on discovery. At the TextielMuseum, visitors do not simply look at textiles behind glass. They can watch fabrics, artworks and experimental designs being made in real time, often just a few steps away from the machines and makers behind them.
The honor comes during a milestone year for the museum. Its TextielLab, the professional workshop at the heart of the institution, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The lab has become a place where artists, designers and textile specialists work side by side, using advanced weaving and knitting technology to explore what textiles can become.
“This award is a wonderful compliment from our visitors,” said Jochem Otten, director of the TextielMuseum. “It confirms that people experience something here that they cannot find anywhere else. You discover the history of textiles, meet today’s makers and see how new ideas and designs come into being. We are enormously proud that this combination is appreciated by so many people.”
A working museum with a living history
Part of the TextielMuseum’s appeal lies in the fact that it is not a traditional museum in the quietest sense of the word. It is a working museum, full of movement, sound and process. Historic machines, the damask weaving mill and the former laundry bring Tilburg’s textile past to life, while the TextielLab points toward the future of the medium.
That blend of old and new is central to the museum’s identity. Visitors can move from industrial heritage to contemporary design, from historical craftsmanship to high-tech experimentation, all within the same visit.
Anniversary exhibitions put the TextielLab in the spotlight
A key exhibition during the anniversary year is Mens <3 Machine – 25 Years of TextielLab, which looks at what happens when designers’ ideas meet the knowledge of textile experts and the possibilities of advanced machinery. The works on view span 25 years of the lab’s history, ranging from monumental wall hangings to three-dimensional woven pieces that seem to ripple, grow and move through space.
Another current exhibition, Red Threads – Old and New Stories in Art and Design, explores how textiles have long been used to carry stories. With nearly 40 works from the museum’s collection, the exhibition traces some 200 years of textile narratives, from myths and biblical scenes to personal and contemporary reflections on identity, culture and memory.
From October 31, 2026, the museum will add another major exhibition to its program with Hella Jongerius – Smart Hands. The exhibition invites visitors into the textile world of one of the Netherlands’ most influential designers, presenting her extensive archive and showing how she researches, tests and thinks through material.
A destination for families, design lovers and curious visitors
The TextielMuseum also places strong emphasis on family programming. Through the Thread Hunter program, children can search for hidden stories, complete playful assignments and discover the world of textiles in an accessible way.
The museum also offers guided tours, workshops, masterclasses and encounters with designers and makers, giving visitors a chance to deepen their understanding of textile art and production.
The experience continues in the TextielShop, which has previously been praised as one of the most beautiful museum shops in the Netherlands. Its selection includes throws, bags, jewelry, toys, books and textile products, some of them developed in the museum’s own TextielLab. Visitors can also end their visit at the TextielCafé, located inside the atmospheric former factory building.
Easier access by bus
During Mens <3 Machine – 25 Years of TextielLab, the museum is also easier to reach thanks to a collaboration with Arriva and Bravo. Special campaign buses are running through Brabant, and visitors can get off at a dedicated TextielMuseum stop.
A €15 combi-ticket includes return bus travel from Tilburg Central Station and admission to the museum. The ticket cannot be combined with other discount cards.
