If anyone is traveling to Belgium and the Netherlands as I have just done, I will provide the following up to date info. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is only partially open and this will be the case for some years. There is no lace to be seen there. In Brugge, Arendshuis which is actually the same museum as the Brandgwyn has no lace in it any more although there are still catalogs being sold that have lace pictured in them. Likewise the Gruuthuse Museum which sells a huge and enticing catalogue of lace does not display any. The other major museum the Groeninge doesn't have any either. Apparently all the lace is Brugge is in storage and an administrative person I spoke to does not know when or it will be shown again. (I heard a rumor that the mayor of Brugge does not value the lace heritage and this explains the disappearance of lace from the major museums.) There was a small exhibit at the Kantcentrum on War Lace. The Cinquantenaire's permanent exhibition including the Albert and Isabella coverlet has been closed for two years due to humidity problems in the building. However, there will be a new temporary exhibit of 19th and 20th century lace "The Industry of Refinement" going from May 28, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2005. The Textile museum at Vrielselhof in Oelegem is no more. It is a nature center now. Everything that was there is at the Mode Museum in Antwerp. This was also closed when we were there, but reopening with a fashion exhibit in May. I don't know whether this means they don't actually have a permanent exhibit or not. The lace room of the St. Carolus Borromeus Church in Antwerp is open 10-12:30 and 2-4 on Wednesdays only. The Bonheiden Mechelen lace museum although it has very limited hours, seems to be quite good about opening if there is a lace person who wants to visit it and contacts them ahead of time. Devon
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