From the “potato to potato fries”
The fascinating history of the potato
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WELCOME TO THE FASCINATING
WORLD OF THE POTATO FRY
Dear Teacher,
If you are interested in discovering the world of the potato chip with your pupils, then you
have come to the right place.
Our mission is to provide you with all the information you need to prepare your visit and
we guarantee you will find it extremely interesting.
The guide book contains ready-made tools and ideas that will help you plan for this
special day.
We hope you have fun organising the visit with the aid of the guide book and we are sure
you and your class will very much enjoy your excursion to the potato chip museum.
Kind regards
The Staff of the Potato Chip Museum
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Introduction
Table of Contents
The Potato Chip Museum
The Saaihalle
The Medieval Cellar
Question time
How to make your reservation
Price List
An enjoyable visit
The Potato Development Fund
How to reach us
Where to find us
Reservation form
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Pages 7, 8 and 9
Page 10
Page 11
Pages 12, 13 and 14
Page 15
Pages 16 and 17
Page 18
in attachment
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THE POTATO CHIP MUSEUM
The museum has on display more than 400 historical objects, the oldest dating from the
pre-Colombian period. Information about these objects can be read on around fifty
information boards and seen in several films.
The museum is divided into three parts:
• The history of the potatoThe history of the potato
• The history of potato fries and potato fries in art
• An opportunity to taste some delicious Belgian fries
goes back some 10,000 years (that is 8,000 years before our era began). In Peru and
Chile wild potatoes have been found in ancient tombs and prove that potatoes were
already being used and most probably consumed by ancient tribes at that time. The
museum explains how the potato went from its wild state to that of a cultivated plant
and its fascinating journey from Peru to Europe.
The history of potato fries: covering its past, its place in art, popular culture and its
origins. We will also give you some advice on how to make the best potato fries.
The opportunity to sample delicious Belgian fried potatoes in our medieval cellar.
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The Saaihalle
The Potato Chip Museum is housed in the “Saaihalle”.
This magnificent building goes back to the 14th century and many of its original features
have survived to this day and are now preserved. It is also the oldest building in
Bruges to have a date on its front wall.
It is composed of two structures. The first part was built at the end of the 14th century, in
1399 to be precise. At that time the town of Genoa used the building to house its
commercial delegation in Bruges. The delegation members not only lived here but
they also used the Saaihalle to store produce that was imported from Genoa and sold
in Bruges.
A second building was erected as an annex to the first in the 15th century for the personal
use of the Consul of Genoa.
Whilst the interior of each building is on different floors, over the years the use of the two
has gradually been merged into one and this has allowed us to create an interesting
tour around the Potato Chip Museum.
It is also of note that not only did the town of Genoa have a commercial delegation in
Bruges, but so did Venice and Florence.
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THE MEDIEVAL CELLAR
You and your pupils will have the opportunity to sample potato chips in our medieval
cellar. You and/or your school can choose between several different formulas.
Each pupil will receive a voucher worth 40 euro-cents with his entrance ticket and which
he can use to buy potato fries. The vouchers can be used individually or combined; 5
vouchers can be exchanged against a bag of potato fries.
Or
If you prefer to have lunch at the museum :
The menu costs 5 Euros per person and includes a bag of potato fries, a drink, a choice
of sauces and an assortment of snacks.
Please choose your menu in advance and let us know which one you want at least two
days before your visit so that we can guarantee the quality of our service and
products.
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QUESTION TIME
1. “Chuno or Tunta” is an extremely
clever method of conservation. What
is its advantage?
2. How does the potato reproduce itself?
3. Name a succession of European
countries through which the potato
travelled.
4. To which family does the potato
belong?
5. Which other vegetables also belong to
this family?
6. How are potatoes cultivated?
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QUESTION TIME
7. Who is the man in this photograph?
8. What is his profession?
9. Which country suffered from famine in
1845?
10. The first potatoes arrived at which
Belgian port town?
11. The potato is a great source of which
vitamin?
12. What is the maximum number of eggs
the Colorado beetle can lay in a year?
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QUESTION TIME
13. Potato fries originated in which region
of Belgium?
14. Where does the denomination “French
fries” come from?
15. Give a few tips on the best way to
obtain delicious potato fries.
16. What is the name of the appliance in
the photograph opposite and who
invented it?
17. Give five different names for a “fritkot”
18. Who has a bag of potato fries on his
head?
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HOW TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
Having read through this information booklet, we think you will now have a pretty good
idea what to expect.
So all that is left for you to do is to reply to the following questions and to send us your
replies, preferably by email:
• Date of your visit.
• What time you want to start the visit (keeping in mind that the visit lasts around one
hour and last entry is at 4.15 pm).
• The name of the person in charge (including the name of the person who will be
accompanying the group and the name of the person who makes the reservation).
• Administrative information (telephone, fax, mobile phone, email address).
• The number of participants (number of pupils and their age, see the price list, as well
as the number of accompanying adults).
• Choice between sampling potato fries and group menu.
• Do you want to book a guide (60 Euros per guide, maximum 20 people per guide per
language)?
• Payment (you can pay cash at the museum or pay at the end of the visit by bank
transfer. For this we will need your invoice details). We do not accept credit cards.
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PRICE LIST
POTATO CHIP
MUSEUM
POTATO CHIP
MUSEUM
CHOCO-STORY OR
LUMINA DOMESTICA
POTATO CHIP
MUSEUM
CHOCO-STORY AND
LUMINA DOMESTICA
Students
over 12
€ 5,00
€ 9,00
€ 13,00
Children between
6 and 11
€ 4,00
€ 6,00
€ 9,00
Children between
3 and 5
€ 1,00
€ 2,00
€ 3,00
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OUR AIM IS TO MAKE YOUR VISIT AS PLEASANT AS
POSSIBLE.
At the museum, both pupils and accompanying adults can expect:
• To be received in a friendly and helpful way
• To find the museum clean and tidy
• To be informed in advance of the rules and regulations in force at the
museum
• To receive all the information you need to make the most of your visit
• To answer all your questions to the best of our ability
• We inform you that the museum is under video surveillance
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In return, the museum expects that pupils :
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Behave in a courteous manner that respects the well-being of other visitors of the
museum and its staff
Respect the rules and regulations in force at the museum
Leave the museum clean and tidy
Do not have in their possession any object that could cause damage to the museum
Understand that it is forbidden to smoke, eat or drink inside the museum except for
food and drink that is bought and consumed in our chip shop
Be responsible for their personal belongings during their visit to the museum
The museum also expects that accompanying adults :
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Divide their class into groups of maximum 10 pupils
Effectively accompany each group
Bring the above-mentioned rules to the attention of pupils
Be responsible for the observance of these rules
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Punishable acts of damage
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Any action or behavior, whatever that may be, which is legally covered by Belgian
law, will be considered as harm or offense (theft, destruction, defacement, dirtying)
and liable to punishment.
Pupils are expected to behave in such a way as not to cause any damage to the
content of the museum or the building.
Measures will be taken
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If the above-mentioned rules are not observed, the museum reserves the right to put
an end to the visit
In the case of any wrongdoings, the museum reserves the right to prosecute the
guilty party according to law.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR BEING A GOOD
FRIEND OF THE MUSEUM
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THE POTATO DEVELOPMENT FUND
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Inspired by the ideal created by the Choco-Story museum, that is their Cocoa
Development Fund that helps third-world countries with the development of their local
projects, the Chip Potato Museum has created its own Potato Development Fund.
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The intention of the Chip Potato Museum is to participate in specific projects in the
developing countries by helping local farmers to develop the cultivation and
production of potatoes as a means of living to sustain their families.
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HOW TO REACH US
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If you are coming by train:
When you leave the train station, go towards the
town centre (turn left towards ‘t Zand) and
you will come to a roundabout. Now pass by
the statue of Albert 1st and you will come to
the ‘t Zand, near the concert hall (a modern,
red-brick building). Take Zuidzandstraat that
goes into Steenstraat and after another 500
metres you will reach the Market Square of
Bruges. Walk diagonally across the square
and you will come to the angle between
Philipstockstraat and Vlamingstraat. Walk
along Vlamingstraat for another 100 metres;
half-way along you will pass by the old
theatre situated on the left. Now you can
make you way to the entrance of the Potato
Chip Museum.
If you prefer to take the bus rather than walk,
check out the bus numbers. All the city buses
go to Market Square except for number 23.
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HOW TO REACH US
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If you are coming by coach:
On the Brussels-Ostend motorway, take the exit for Bruges and
continue to the first set of traffic lights. After the traffic lights, turn
right towards the town centre. At the first roundabout, carry
straight on. Follow Koning Albert-I laan until you reach the
roundabout after the Boeveriepoort and follow the direction to the
Station on the Buiten Begijnvest. IMPORTANT: coaches have to
park in the car park some 200 metres after the railway station.
They can however drop pupils off at the Bargeplein (indicated on
the map).
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How to reach the museum from the Bargeplein on foot:
Cross the Minnewaterpark and you will come to Arsenaalstraat.
Turn right and carry straight on until you reach Katelijnestraat.
Now turn left and walk towards the town centre.
When you reach the Church of Our Lady, cross the road and walk
along Mariastraat until you reach Simon Stevinplein. Cross the
square diagonally and turn right onto Steenstraat. Carry on along
Steenstraat and you will come to Market Square. Walk diagonally
across the square and you will come to the angle between
Philipstockstraat and Vlamingstraat. Walk along Vlamingstraat
for another 100 metres; half-way along you will pass by the old
theatre situated on the left. Now you can make your way to the
entrance of the Potato Chip Museum.
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WHERE TO FIND US
Frietmuseum
Vlamingstraat 33
8000 Brugge
Tel. 050 / 34 01 50
Fax 050 / 34 31 50
E-mail : info@frietmuseum.be
www.frietmuseum.be