In pottery museum Raeren (Belgium), you can feel the adventure, excitement and drama that has taken place beneath your feet. Stoneware has been fired in this border region near Aachen (Germany) and Vaals (the Netherlands), for 500 years, This stoneware pottery, “Rheinisch Steinzeug” was the first stoneware developed in Europe.
In the 16th century, this village grew into one of the largest stoneware centers in Europe. Raerens stoneware can be found all over the world. In museums and in private collections of ceramics connoisseurs.
Sometimes new finds surface. Literally from shipwrecks such as the “Vergulde Draeck” off the west coast of Australia. But mostly through excavations in Raeren itself.
If you want to feel the history of European stoneware down to your spine, you should visit the Raeren pottery museum. Even if it’s only once in your life… but more often is also allowed!
Historic ceramics in a medieval castle
This summer I went in search of my pottery roots again: Raeren, the cradle of European Stoneware Ceramics!
There are more places in this Lower Rhine region that can lay claim to this: Hohr-Grenzhausen in the Westerwald, Frechen or Siegburg. But Raeren has a beautiful museum in a historic castle.
We had already visited the museum once before in 2003. Then we stood in front of a closed door, which after a phone call fortunately was unlocked after a few minutes of waiting. And it had been worth the wait.
The museum houses a beautiful collection of Raerens stoneware. There is also an interesting exhibition of contemporary ceramics on the top floor.
European Cultural Heritage: Pottery Museum Raeren
The Pottery Museum Rareren was opened in 1963 and stands in a beautiful spot surrounded by a moat… which was dry this summer due to a renovation.
Don’t worry: I can show you another picture from 2003, with the moat in all its glory (sorry made with an analog camera, that was perfectly normal at the time 🙂 ).
The heyday of Raerens Stoneware is in the years 1530 to 1625. At that time, an estimated 600,000 pots, jars and cups were produced per year. But when firing at a very high temperature, a lot of things could go wrong. And so it did! An estimated 30% did not meet the “export requirements”.
These misfires were sold locally or thrown away behind the workplace. To the sorrow of the potter, but to the great happiness of the archaeologists.
They have carried out intensive excavations in Raeren soil from the 2nd half of the last century. Together with several donations from collectors, the museum now has an impressive collection of Raerens Stoneware.
A collection that is so important that it has been part of the European Cultural Heritage since 2007.
Pottery museum Raeren in image and sound
The museum’s collection looks well cared for and is logically arranged. What I especially appreciate is that they pay attention to the historical interpretation of all works. The museum is full of explanations in image and sound. But if you want, you can also get text and explanations via your phone with the help of a museum app.
You can also find a lot of information on the website of the Pottery Museum Raeren. But the best thing I found was the “museum shop” where I could find many books that are no longer available online.
I am also very impressed with all the scientific research that the director of the museum Ralph Mennicken has done. His museum publications are easy to read and very worthwhile.
Most of it is in German, but the museum guide “Out of the life of een Raeren Potter ” is (also) in Dutch (Uit het leven van de Raerense Pottenbakkers), English and French!
Stoneware ceramists on pilgrimage
Appropriately the museum is housed in a castle from the 14th century; it therefore dates from the same century as (the oldest) stoneware in the museum’s collection.
This collection includes pilgrim horns and bottles. The Raeren potters sold these to the pilgrims who went on pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Aachen.
For the modern stoneware potter, the pilgrimage churches have of course long been outdated. But the Raeren soil where the first European stoneware is fired is an excellent substitute.
… oh yes before I forget, in the museum you can’t get coffee, but across the street is an excellent restaurant. The modern potter-pilgrim does not have to suffer…
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