Musée Jeanne Devos

Housed in a former 18th-century rectory, this museum chronicles the life and work of Jeanne DEVOS, Flanders’ first professional female photographer. This beautiful Flemish house was once the home of the photographer and Abbé LAMPS. Both are buried in the park where they planted Flemish trees and flowers. Numerous traditional Flemish objects from the photographer’s collection are on display. The furniture, tapestries, tiles, decorations, and paintings are typical of homes of yesteryear, and the many objects left in their original places offer a glimpse into the daily lives of our ancestors. The photographic collection—comprising approximately 100,000 photographs taken between 1952 and 1979—is preserved and on display at the Wormhout Media Library’s iconographic center. You can browse through numerous photo albums featuring portraits, various ceremonies, and countless views of villages and scenes of daily life—all of which bear witness to Jeanne DEVOS’s deep attachment to Flanders and its people. You’ll discover old cameras and, above all, extremely rare stereoscopic photographs with striking three-dimensional depth. “%ABNo one ever comes here for just five minutes%BB,” Jeanne DEVOS used to say. So be sure to set aside a little time to appreciate all the charm of this house and its caretaker, who welcomes you in Flemish or French.