National Museum of Playing Cards, Playing card museum in Turnhout, Belgium.
The National Museum of Playing Cards displays over 400 years of card production history through permanent collections, rare items, and interactive demonstrations. The exhibition traces development from early hand-printed decks to modern manufacturing methods, showing the craftsmanship techniques still in use today.
Turnhout became a major card production center in the 19th century, leading to the museum's establishment in 1965. The town developed through local businesses into one of Europe's most important card-making hubs.
The exhibits show how playing cards mirror social changes, from royal portraits that shifted during political turmoil to their use in education. You can observe how these designs reveal what people thought and valued across different eras.
Visitors should allow time to watch the printing machines in action and participate in workshops offered regularly. The interactive areas help you understand traditional craftsmanship and explore different card styles across the displays.
The museum houses one of the first fully metallic printing presses and demonstrates historical card-making techniques regularly. This machine dates from an era when most printers still relied on wood and other materials.
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