National Cycling Museum facts for kids
| KOERS. Museum van de Wielersport | |
entrance facade
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| Established | 1998 |
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| Location | Roeselare, Belgium |
| Type | sport museum |
KOERS. Museum van de Wielersport. (which used to be called the Cycling Museum - WieMu until 2018) is a museum in the Belgian city of Roeselare. This museum tells the amazing story of bicycles and the sport of cycling. It officially opened its doors on March 27, 1998, in an old fire station at ‘Het Polenplein’.
Discovering Cycling History
How the Museum Started
The Cycling Museum first began in 1985. It was part of the older Municipal Museum of Roeselare. The city decided to create it because this area is known as the "cradle of the flandriens."
- Flandriens* are tough, strong cyclists who are great at racing in the challenging conditions of Flanders, Belgium. Many famous racing cyclists were born here.
Local Cycling Heroes
Roeselare has been home to many popular cyclists. One example is Odiel Defraeye. He was the first Belgian to win the famous Tour de France race!
Other world champions from the area include Jean-Pierre Monseré, Benoni Beheyt, Patrick Sercu, and Freddy Maertens.
From Small Exhibit to Big Museum
At first, the museum only showed a few old bicycles. It would also put on a special exhibition each summer.
In 1998, a big decision was made. The old local museum was replaced by a real Cycling Museum. It was called the National Cycling Museum.
Key People and Changes
Ferdy Callewaert was the first person in charge of the museum. He worked there until he retired in 2006.
Freddy Maertens, a former racing cyclist, worked at the museum from 2000 to 2007. He often greeted visitors.
In 2005, King Albert II even visited the museum! In 2010, the museum got a shorter name: ‘WieMu’.
A New Look and Name
After some big renovations, the museum reopened on September 8, 2018. It also got its new name: "KOERS. Museum van de Wielersport."
Today, the museum building also has the city's tourist information center. Plus, there's a cozy pub where you can relax!
What You Can See: The Collection
From Old Bikes to Racing Machines
The museum shows how bicycles have changed from 1760 until today. You can see all kinds of old and new bikes. These include bikes used for work, fun, and sports.
Initially, the museum focused on all types of bicycles. Over the years, it started to specialize more in cycle racing.
Racing Gear and Trophies
Now, the museum has many racing bicycles. You can also see cycling trophies and souvenirs. There are even old cycling clothes and pictures of famous racers.
Special Exhibits
In one of the halls, you can learn a lot about Jean-Pierre Monseré. He was a local world champion who sadly died during a race in 1971.
Another part of the museum shows an old workshop. It belonged to a bicycle maker named Hallaert. Here, you can discover how bicycles have improved over time.
Learning and Research
The museum also has a special center for cycling information. It's full of photos, old newspapers, and cycling magazines. You can find program brochures and cycling history records too.
The museum often publishes books about its exhibitions. Since 2012, it has also published a cycling history magazine called ‘Etappe’.
The Museum Building
A Former Fire Station
The 'WieMu' museum is located in an old fire station. This building was constructed between 1899 and 1902. It served as a fire station until 1962.
War and Rebuilding
During World War I, German soldiers stayed in the station. On July 21, 1917, British aircraft bombed it. After the war, the building was rebuilt.
Many Uses Over Time
The building has been used for many different things. It was a party hall, a school, and a sports center. It even housed a local history museum before becoming the cycling museum.
Today, the building is a protected monument. Parts of it have been beautifully restored.
