Visitor regulations

These visitor regulations set out the rules that apply to every visitor to the museum complex. Anyone who visits the museum complex is deemed to know and comply with these regulations. Visitors who refuse to comply with the provisions of these regulations may be removed from the museum complex immediately by Design Museum Gent.

In these regulations, the terms below have the meaning given next to them.

‘AGB Kunsten en Erfgoed Gent’: the overarching autonomous municipal company of which Design Museum Gent is part.

‘Design Museum Gent’: the name of the museum complex and the entity within AGB Kunsten en Erfgoed Gent that manages and operates the site.

‘Museum complex’: all publicly accessible spaces (built and unbuilt) that fall under the legal or management authority of the management of Design Museum Gent, including but not limited to the museum galleries, Stadskamer, Forum, Atelier, Vitrine, Loft, archive, museum café, meeting rooms, offices, storage areas, technical rooms and adjoining outdoor areas.

‘Visitor’: anyone who enters the museum complex in any way and at any time, with the exception of museum staff, external partners and other staff of Design Museum Gent who are authorised to act on behalf of Design Museum Gent. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals, groups and schools, organisations or companies that, in the museum, (1) visit the permanent collection and/or an exhibition, (2) use a space open to the public, (3) attend an activity organised by Design Museum Gent and/or an external user, (4) carry out professional assignments on behalf of the City of Ghent, AGB Kunsten en Erfgoed Gent, Design Museum Gent or their representatives.

‘Museum staff’: all persons working at Design Museum Gent, including but not limited to the management, curators, security staff, reception staff and other persons authorised to act on behalf of the organisation.

1. Access to the museum complex

Design Museum Gent is open to the public:

a. The museum galleries and the new wing:

Open: on weekdays from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. At weekends, during school holidays and on public holidays from 10 am to 6 pm, except for late openings and events. The latest version of these regulations (last updated 21/10/2026) is available at the museum reception.

Closed: on Wednesdays and on 1 January, 24, 25 and 31 December.

b. The archive:

On weekdays: by appointment only.

c. Other:

Always by appointment and only during office hours (Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm).

2. Access to the galleries

a. A valid admission ticket is required to visit the museum galleries. The new wing is free to visit.

b. Every visitor or group leader must at all times be able to show an admission ticket, ticket or voucher in the museum galleries when asked by a member of museum staff. Persons entitled to a reduced admission price must also be able to show their ticket when asked by a member of museum staff.

c. From 30 minutes before closing time, visitors who still wish to buy an admission ticket are informed of the limited visiting time remaining. They are advised not to buy a ticket. The free part of the museum can still be visited within the remaining opening hours.

d. From 15 minutes before closing time, the museum attendants gradually guide visitors towards the exit. Visitors are asked to leave the museum galleries in good time, so that the museum can close to the public at the stated closing time.

e. It is forbidden to bring in objects that may endanger the safety and/or health of other visitors, museum staff or the museum complex, including but not limited to:

I. handbags larger than 25 x 30 x 15 cm. Handbags that are allowed in the galleries must be carried in the hand or worn on the front.

II. backpacks, school bags, shopping bags, suitcases

III. walking sticks with metal tips. Only walking sticks with protective rubber tips are allowed

IV. umbrellas and parasols

V. capes, (rain)coats and wet jackets. Suit jackets and waistcoats are allowed. Coats may not be carried over the arm or on the shoulders

VI. lamps, flash equipment, tripods, selfie sticks or other equipment for taking photographs, film or sound recordings

VII. natural or chemical substances in liquid or solid form

VIII. animals (including pets), except assistance animals

IX. food, drinks and chewing gum

X. personal folding chairs, unless they are used by persons with a disability who have received explicit permission to do so from the museum’s security staff.

In addition: the security staff of the museum complex are authorised to decide whether or not an object may be taken along during a museum visit.

f. A visitor is (temporarily) refused access to the museum complex if:

I. the admission ticket is no longer complete or has been tampered with;

II. the visitor is clearly under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or similar substances;

III. the visitor is clearly disturbing public order or intends to do so;

IV. the visitor clearly refuses to behave in accordance with the rules in these regulations;

V. the visitor is in possession of legally prohibited or dangerous goods, materials or objects such as fireworks, glasses and cans, chains, firearms, striking, stabbing or thrusting weapons or other objects that can be used as weapons to disturb public order;

VI. the visitor is in possession of banners or leaflets with discriminatory or provocative texts, unless prior written permission has been given by the management.

3. Cloakroom / lockers

a. Lockers are available in which every museum visitor can leave personal belongings such as clothing, luggage, umbrellas, backpacks etc. free of charge for the duration of a museum visit. A token is available at reception.

b. The lockers are accessible during the museum’s opening hours.

c. All items left in the lockers must be collected by the same person on the same day, before closing time.

d. When the museum closes, all lockers are opened for inspection.

e. Items not collected at closing time are treated as lost property.

f. For schools and groups, a separate, unattended cloakroom is available with coat racks and four cages for storing backpacks. The key to each cage is entrusted to the group leader, who is responsible for the contents of the cage and for the key. The keys are available at reception.

g. At certain events, a staffed cloakroom may be available.

h. Design Museum Gent accepts no liability for the loss, theft or damage of any item left in the lockers, cloakroom or cages.

4. Lost and found property

a. Items found by visitors in the museum complex must be handed in to a member of museum staff.

b. Design Museum Gent will make every effort to trace the owner or rightful claimant of the found item and reports it to the City of Ghent 7 days after it was found.

c. If the owner or rightful claimant of a found item comes forward, they can collect the items. If the rightful owner is unable to travel, the items are sent to them where possible, subject to payment of the shipping costs. In both cases, the owner or rightful claimant must prove their identity and give an accurate description of the item.

d. Found items are kept for a maximum of 6 months, except for perishable or harmful items and bicycles. If they are not collected or claimed by the rightful owner, found items are donated to Spullenhulp or, if they have no value, destroyed and discarded.

5. Visitor conduct

a. Visitors must behave in accordance with the applicable standards of decency and good manners. Public order must not be disturbed.

b. Visitors must immediately follow the directions and instructions of security officers, guides or other authorised staff of Design Museum Gent.

c. Children and young people (up to and including 14 years of age) must always be accompanied by an adult, unless prior written permission has been given by the management. Parents, supervisors or teachers of children, young people and groups are responsible for the behaviour of the children and young people they accompany.

d. If a visitor does not comply with the directions and orders of security officers, they may be temporarily refused access to the museum complex. In the event of any unlawful incident, damage or destruction of a work of art, the suspected offender(s) will be isolated and kept under guard until the police arrive (in accordance with art. 110 and art. 112 of the Private Security Act of 2 October 2017). In specific circumstances, security officers may, for safety reasons, ask visitors to open bags and packages, empty their pockets and show the contents. In the museum, visitors may be subject to a personal search.

e. In the museum, visitors are forbidden to:

I. come within an unsafe distance of the works of art (unless indicated otherwise).

II. touch works of art, exhibited objects and exhibition material, unless specifically indicated otherwise, for instance in specific temporary exhibitions and in the following zones:

• Searcher (digital experience space)
• The Atelier (maker cabinet, materials cabinet and workshop spaces)
• The chair circle
• The family trail
• Studiolo, permanent collection presentation +1

III. point at works of art with an object.

IV. lean against the walls, run, slide, climb, or lie on the benches or chairs.

V. block passageways or cause an obstruction by sitting on stairs.

VI. disturb other visitors, for instance through the use of mobile phones, music equipment or other audio sources causing noise nuisance; Design Museum Gent may, however, explicitly allow the use of such equipment in certain spaces.

VII. bring animals (including pets), unless they are assistance animals for persons with a disability.

VIII. smoke or vape on museum premises.

IX. eat and drink outside the museum café or clearly designated areas for which written permission has been given (e.g. during certain events, in the case of first aid or diabetes).

X. throw paper or waste on the floor.

XI. carry children on their shoulders (children must be held by the hand or carried on the chest).

XII. apply graffiti, inscriptions, signs and the like anywhere in or around Design Museum Gent.

XIII. deliberately and persistently block the way of other visitors or deliberately obstruct the view of exhibited objects.

XIV. leave personal belongings unattended, even for a short time.

XV. trade, advertise, campaign, beg or solicit.

XVI. bring in bicycles (neither into the buildings nor into the inner garden). Bicycles may not be parked against the façades either.

6. Photography, filming and sound recording

a. Visitors are forbidden to take photographs, video or film recordings using lamps, flash equipment, tripods, selfie sticks or other equipment, unless prior written permission has been obtained from Design Museum Gent. The same rules apply to sound recordings or any other form of media. Requests for permission must be sent to the general email address of Design Museum Gent. Design Museum Gent is not responsible for the publication of material for which no permission was obtained.

b. Unless stated otherwise, visitors may, during public opening hours and for private use, take photographs, film or make sound recordings in the galleries of the permanent collection, without flash, tripod or other equipment.

c. Professionals (including journalists, film and podcast producers, …) must obtain prior permission to film, photograph or make other recordings at Design Museum Gent.

d. Any image, sound or other recording of which staff and the public could be the subject requires the consent of the persons concerned. Design Museum Gent accepts no liability towards third parties. Publication of these recordings requires additional consent, except for personal and household use or on a legitimate basis, including a request by the police for recordings that may contribute to the detection and prosecution of criminal offences.

e. In temporary exhibitions, it may be forbidden to make recordings of specific works of art or of the exhibition as a whole. Visitors must follow the signage.

f. Installations and technical facilities of and in Design Museum Gent may not be filmed, photographed or scanned.

g. It is forbidden to photograph or film security staff or security installations. Any image, sound or other recording of which third parties may be the subject also requires the consent of the persons concerned. In the event of an infringement, visitors may be asked to delete the footage, and the museum accepts no liability towards third parties.

7. Safety of visitors, works of art and the building

a. Visitors with special assignments, such as technicians and workers, must wear their badge clearly visible.

b. Visitors refrain from any act that endangers the safety and/or health of other visitors, museum staff or the museum complex. Any accident, illness or abnormal occurrence must be reported immediately to the competent staff of Design Museum Gent, such as security officers, a receptionist or another member of museum staff.

c. In the event of fire, everyone must remain as calm as possible. If evacuation of the museum complex proves necessary, it takes place under the supervision and guidance of Design Museum Gent staff and/or the competent emergency services. During an evacuation, the cloakrooms, lockers and cages are not accessible.

d. Any lost child must be entrusted to a member of Design Museum Gent staff, who will take the child to the reception desk.

e. Except in special circumstances, no exhibited work is removed or moved in the presence of the public during the opening hours of Design Museum Gent. Any visitor who witnesses a work being moved or removed must inform the security officers immediately.

f. In the event of any unlawful or irregular occurrence, the necessary protective measures may be taken, in particular closing the entrances and checking the exits. This means that visitors must remain inside Design Museum Gent until the police arrive.

g. In the event of overcrowding, unrest or natural conditions that endanger the safety of persons and property, or in the event of drills and strikes, it may be decided to close the museum complex (partly) or to change the opening hours. This can never give rise to a claim for compensation or a refund of admission fees paid. In the event of a drill, this will be clearly communicated in advance at the entrances to the museum complex and through the museum complex’s communication channels.

h. In the event of illness or accident, it is forbidden to move the sick or injured person, give them anything to drink or administer any medication until the emergency services arrive. If a doctor or nurse is present among the visitors and, after verification, provides assistance, this person must stay with the sick or injured person until they are evacuated. The person providing assistance is also asked to leave their name and address with the receptionist.

8. Measures for groups

a. Groups must book, both for a guided tour and for a self-guided visit. Without a booking, reception staff cannot admit the group to the museum when it is busy.

b. Group sizes are limited:

• Guided tour for nursery / primary school: 22 pupils
• Guided tour for secondary school: 20 pupils
• Guided tour for adults: 15 people
• Self-guided group visit: 25 people
• School workshop: 25 pupils
• Adult workshop: 15 people

c. One supervisor per school group is mandatory.

d. Groups may guide themselves, unless the organisation decides otherwise, for instance for a temporary exhibition. A speaking fee is charged for this.

e. At busy exhibitions, additional organisational measures may be taken regarding group visits, so that the exhibition visit remains pleasant for every visitor.

f. Every group member must wear the museum sticker visibly. In addition, the group must be able to identify itself with the booking confirmation.

g. Visitors in groups may not disturb other visitors in any way. Every group member must stay close to the person in charge of the group.

h. For the safety and/or health of visitors and museum staff, the museum director may at any time adjust the usual access and visiting conditions for groups, especially when an exhibition is busy.

9. Complaints

a. Design Museum Gent does everything possible to ensure that visits to the museum complex or to exhibitions and activities organised by Design Museum Gent take place in accordance with the published programme. Design Museum Gent informs the public of possible inconvenience caused by the (re)arrangement of spaces.

b. Visitors have no recourse for the following complaints and circumstances, which can never give rise to any obligation on the part of the museum to compensate the visitor:

I. complaints concerning objects from the permanent/temporary collection of Design Museum Gent not being visible/present;

II. complaints concerning the partial closure of the museum complex, partial closure due to the installation or dismantling of exhibitions or as a result of drills;

III. complaints and circumstances concerning nuisance or inconvenience caused by other visitors, e.g. noise, inappropriate behaviour, misappropriation or theft;

IV. complaints and circumstances concerning nuisance or inconvenience caused by, among other things, maintenance work, the (re)arrangement of spaces or renovation;

V. complaints and circumstances concerning nuisance or inconvenience caused by facilities in the museum complex not functioning properly, except in the case of force majeure due to temporary technical or temporary organisational problems;

VI. the prospective visitor is not entitled to a refund of admission fees or any other compensation in the event of loss or theft of the admission ticket, either before or after entering the museum complex. If a prospective visitor does not use an admission ticket bought in advance, this is at the visitor’s own expense and risk. No refund is possible for unused tickets, expired tickets… This also applies if the admission ticket is only valid for a certain period or until a certain date. Once obtained, an admission ticket cannot be exchanged. Nor are admission fees refunded. An admission ticket bought on site at Design Museum Gent cannot be exchanged afterwards either, nor can any refund of admission fees be obtained, except in the case of force majeure due to temporary technical or temporary organisational problems. The same applies to tickets bought from one of the partners appointed to sell tickets for events taking place in the museum complex. Visitors can submit complaints and suggestions via the general email address of Design Museum Gent.

These regulations enter into force on 30 September 2026. The operation of these regulations is evaluated annually. The management committee (unless sub-delegated) may issue temporary regulations with additional rules on the safety and health of other visitors, museum staff and the museum complex.