Museum of flax and river Lys
TEXTURE tells the story of the flax and linen industry. A story about strong roots, about craftsmanship and entrepreneurship, about daring innovations and constantly re-inventing oneself. In three rooms, in an authentic flax depot (1912) on the banks of the River Leie, you can learn about the revolutionary development created by the flax industry in this region. The past will surprise you, while the stories of the present, will amaze and inspire you. For centuries, Flanders has been famous for its textiles. Linen has figured prominently in this history. Luxury products like lace and damask were extremely popular among the nobility and bourgeoisie; ordinary people wore the basic cloth that was mass-woven here. A new industry sprung up along the banks of the Leie and went on to conquer the world: flax processing. ‘Courtrai flax’ soon became renowned as the best flax obtainable and was eagerly sought internationally.
