Modemuseum Hasselt, Fashion museum in Hasselt, Belgium

Modemuseum Hasselt is a municipal fashion museum in Hasselt, Belgium, housed since 1988 in the converted south wing of the former Grauwzustersklooster. Its collection of about 18,000 garments, shoes, bags and accessories traces Western fashion from 1750 to the present, including pieces by Worth, Chanel, Dior and Raf Simons.

The museum was founded in 1986 on an idea of alderman Wim Van Lishout, who wanted to put Hasselt on the map as a fashion city. Since 1988 it has occupied the thoroughly rebuilt south wing of the former Grauwzustersklooster, a convent of the Grey Sisters. The collection began in 1987 and grew sharply in 1989 with the acquisition of the wardrobe of Romanian costume designer Andreï Ivanaeanu.

The museum regularly showcases exhibitions that present works by famous designers like Christian Dior and Martin Margiela alongside creations by anonymous makers. Visitors can discover how Belgian talent from the Limburg region has found its place in the international fashion world.

The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, with final entry at 4 pm. The building has multiple floors connected by stairs and elevators, so visitors should plan time to move between exhibition areas.

The museum places special focus on Belgian designers from the Limburg region, featuring their work in rotating thematic exhibitions. This regional perspective connects local creativity with broader trends in the international fashion world in unexpected ways.