green cloth halls

The Ypres Museum is fully committed to sustainability. That is why the eco-team was set up in 2022, consisting of Sien Demasure, Annick Vandenbilcke, Els Deroo, Sibylle Cauwelier, Jacqueline Lievens-van Bruinisse and Wim Bollaert. This diverse team brings together a mix of expertise, ranging from scientific research and front desk responsibilities to education, collection and administration. They work at the Green Cloth Halls to make the museum's operations as sustainable as possible and minimise its impact on nature and the environment. The eco-team focuses on various important themes such as infrastructure and collection, energy consumption, water consumption, waste reduction and recycling, paper consumption, purchasing policy and sustainable commuting. In this way, we turn fine words into concrete actions and integrate sustainability into all aspects of the museum.

Enkele initiatieven

Felt shop items in collaboration with Vondels. In the city of cloth, we love working with fabric, such as felt. During exhibitions, you will regularly spot felt elements here. We don't believe in throwing things away. The people at Het Minnehuis in Wervik, part of Vondels vzw, recover and create the most beautiful shop items for us. From a cuddly cat to a wallet or bag: the result and the collaboration are right up our alley.
Reusable bags for group visits. Although we are as conscious and careful as possible with paper and printed matter, we have no choice but to display temporary promotional material in the cityscape. But after an event or exhibition, it doesn't end up in the rubbish bin! No, we get creative with it. In other words, the people at the Heilig Hart Ieper psychiatric hospital are putting them to creative use. They make large, reusable covers from banners and Heras screens. We use these to prepare for group visits and to collect the access wristbands of all attendees.
Reuse admission wristbands. Upon arrival at the Yper Museum, every visitor receives a cat paw wristband. The wristband makes your visit a personal experience. At the end of the visit, these wristbands are collected in a tube. Instead of throwing them away, we choose to reuse them. But not without a thorough cleaning first. The cleaning is done by an enthusiastic group of employees from Westlandia, a social enterprise that provides employment to people who are distanced from the labour market. They visited the museum and gained insight into the importance and reason behind their work. Cleaning the wristbands ensures that they can be reused hygienically by future visitors to the museum.
“New” shop furniture. In 2022, the exhibition “POES. How cats caught humans” will run. With a colourful display and beautiful pieces of furniture, the Ypres Museum unravels the mysterious relationship between humans and cats throughout time and across cultures. This successful exhibition has now been immortalised in our museum shop. The colourful decorative pieces have been transformed into practical furniture by the technical department of the City of Ypres. Come and have a look around!
Cheer up! In the temporary exhibition ‘Funny, Free & Filthy,’ disposable headphones are being replaced by reusable headphones. This is not only more comfortable for visitors, but also significantly better for the environment.
Delicious local produce. The museum is committed to purchasing local products. For example, after their visit, preschoolers receive a local gift from us. No overseas production, but laser-cut key rings, produced in West Flanders.