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Museum · Mons, Hainaut
Maison Van Gogh
The house in Cuesmes where Vincent van Gogh lived from 1879 to 1880, in the Borinage, when he turned from preaching to painting. The route starts in the garden and ends with a sound installation about the mining region.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Maison Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh arrived in the Borinage, the coal basin around Mons, in December 1878 as a lay preacher. He lived among the miners in poverty and, in Cuesmes, stayed with a miner's family from August 1879 to October 1880. It was there that he decided to become an artist and began drawing miners, the women who collected coal and the region's landscapes.
The house, also called the maison du Marais, was turned into a memorial and given a new museography. The visit starts in the garden, passes through a renovated pavilion and the small house, with objects and reproductions from the period, and ends with a sound installation that places the painter's work in the context of the Borinage miners' lives.
The house does not hold original paintings. Its value is historical: it is one of the rare places where one can see the environment in which Van Gogh lived before he started painting. In his letters to his brother Theo, written in the Borinage, he describes this turning point.
Cuesmes is a few kilometres south of Mons centre, among the spoil heaps of the mines that shape the Borinage landscape.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Best time
Open Tuesday to Sunday, preferably in the morning or early afternoon, as the last entry is early. The house is small and fills up with groups; there are usually fewer visitors on weekdays. Check opening times before you go.
How to get there
It is located on rue du Pavillon in Cuesmes, about 4 km from Mons centre. There are TEC buses between Mons station and Cuesmes; by taxi or car it's about 10 minutes.
Tip
Read some of Van Gogh's letters written in the Borinage beforehand: they help to understand the visit. Combine the house with Grand-Hornu to the west for a day dedicated to the Borinage.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Maison Van Gogh
Are there original Van Gogh paintings in the house?
No. The house is a memorial, with reproductions, period objects and a scenography about the time he lived there. Temporary Van Gogh exhibitions in Mons take place at the BAM at certain times.
How long did Van Gogh live in the Borinage?
About two years, from December 1878 to October 1880. In Cuesmes he stayed from August 1879 to October 1880.
What days is it open?
From Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays. Check before you go, as there may be occasional closures.
Can you walk there from the center of Mons?
It's about 4 km, almost an hour's walk through residential neighborhoods. The bus or a taxi are more practical.