The MOU museum occupies the upper floors of the Stadhuis and tells the twin stories of Oudenaarde's tapestry trade and its wider regional history. The tapestry collection is the main draw: pieces from the fifteenth through eighteenth centuries showing the distinctive verdure style — dense botanical compositions filled with birds and animals — for which the town was famous across Europe. The quality of the weaving is extraordinary, and many pieces remain vividly coloured despite their age.
Beyond the tapestries, the museum covers the history of the town and the surrounding Flemish Ardennes region, with collections relating to local guilds, religious life, and the landscape. The setting inside the Gothic town hall adds to the experience — the medieval council chamber and some of the original interior woodwork survive intact.