Handmade paper in Belgium

Just like 250 years ago, in the old paper mill they produce again handmade paper. Handmade paper is produced of peaces of textile. White textile gave writing paper and textile which contains colors was used to produce packaging paper. Today this paper is espacially used by artists, to draw, paint and for aquarelle paintings. Please feel free to ask us for more information about the production or the selling or buying of handmade paper.

The production process of handmade paper

The basic material to produce handmade paper is textile. The selection of colored and white textile is mostly done by woman and children. It could happen that there where valuable objects in the pants or old clothes... A fight for this was not excluded.

Photo the drums

Now the small pieces of textile are milled in a drum bucket. The hammers are powered by the waterwheels. The amount of hammers was a sign for which type of paper was produced in the paper mill.

Photo: The Hollander

In this machines are textile pieces milled smaller then in the bucket drum. This machine, the Hollander, has a wheel with knives. The water with the textile is circulation and the knives are cutting the textile pieces much smaller every time they pass this wheel. If everything is fine milled, the water which is a pulp now is putted in the basin. In the paper basin is sometimes added color to make the paper more white or red, green, etc.

Photo: The paper basin

In this paper basin the paper is produced by making separating with a paper from the water with a paper moue. 

Photo: Handmade paper in a wet fase

The paper on the moule window is printed of against a vilt textile, this a piece of textile which may absorb a lot of water. When there  +/-50 papers are collected, package leaves for the paper press. 

Photo: the press for handmade paper

The press machines presses out 80% or the water. After the press the paper leaves for the drying room where the paper dries for several hours (sometimes days) until all the water is evaporated.

Photo: The drying room

After the drying room the handmade paper is putted again 70-75 hours under the press in order to get a flat shape. If you want handmade paper to write on, the paper is treated with lime and goes again under the press.

You are very welcome to see and experience how we made a few centuries ago paper in Belgium near Brussels.

Location of the museum 

Alsemberg (community Beersel), in province Flemish Brabant, in Flanders in Belgium. This is 15 min. by car from the old market square of Brussels. Route planner...

Openings hours and reservations to visit the museum

To visit our museum we appreciate you reservation. We wish you always welcome but espacially during the openings hours or contact us for more information about visits or reservations.

Entrance prices of the museum