Museum A. Vander Haeghen, Ghent

The Museum Arnold Vander Haeghen, located in the Veldstraat of Ghent, is a historical gem housed in the former Hotel Clemmen, a patrician mansion built in 1746 and designed by David 't Kindt. This 18th-century house was later expanded and embellished with classicist and baroque decorative elements in the 1770s by textile baron Josse Clemmen, who also added a rear wing for his cotton printing business. The mansion's most captivating feature is its Chinese salon, adorned with striking 18th-century Chinese silk wall coverings and murals from the 18th and 19th centuries.

In 1836, the mansion became the property of the Vander Haeghen family, who bequeathed it to the City of Ghent under the condition that it would serve as a museum. The museum opened its doors in 1953, named after Arnold Vander Haeghen, and since 1997, it has also hosted the Culture and Arts Departments of the City of Ghent.

The museum's collection includes a reconstruction of the study and library of Maurice Maeterlinck, the Belgian Nobel Prize winner in Literature, offering a glimpse into the life of this celebrated writer. Additionally, the museum showcases works by artists Charles Doudelet and Victor Stuyvaert, who were known for illustrating Maeterlinck’s works. The mansion's interiors exude the elegance of the belle époque, with colorful salons, artistic furniture, luxurious wallpapers, and captivating murals that transport visitors back in time.

Visitors can explore the ground floor's vestibule, dining room, Chinese salon, and the Maeterlinck cabinet, each room offering a rich tapestry of history and art. The Museum Arnold Vander Haeghen is a tribute to the cultural legacy of Ghent, preserving the city's artistic and architectural heritage while celebrating the contributions of notable figures in literature and the arts.