The MUMASK collections invite you to discover the fascinating world of rituals, folklore and festivals through hundreds of masks, costumes and accessories, not forgetting the people who use them and the reasons why.
With a view to being as comprehensive as possible, these collections also have the unique feature of including and analysing carnivals in the same way as other masked practices. Belgian carnivals and folklore, and the Binche Carnival, therefore have a natural place in the museum.
This focus on masked practices is also reflected in the composition of the collections. Acquisitions began ten years before the museum was actually created, thanks to funding from the municipal administration. The work of Samuel Glotz and the passionate curators who followed him has resulted in the collection of no fewer than 30,000 items, or 13,000 inventory numbers, all of which are preserved in the museum.
