The Gilliot factory closed its doors in 1978. Ten years later, the museum opened to showcase the remarkable tile collection of Joseph Roelants. Over time, the Gilliot & Roelants Tile Museum broadened its focus, displaying not only rescued panels from the former factory but also other internationally renowned ceramic collections.
This museum both amazes and connects: a passion for tile craftsmanship born in the industrial Scheldt region, now preserved within a medieval abbey. Which symbolizes centuries of interaction between landscape, water, economy, and culture. Here, the strength of the Rupel region becomes tangible: craftsmanship, innovation, and stories in ceramics and stone, all anchored in our shared geological and cultural history.