Discover all museums in Antwerp
In the mood for some culture? Explore the 21 museums that bring Antwerp to life!
Antwerp, the vibrant city on the banks of the river Scheldt, is not only known for its world-famous port and diamonds but is also home to a treasure of cultural pearls. The museums of Antwerp are a valuable source of art, history, and creativity. They offer visitors an engaging journey through the city’s rich heritage. Whether you’re fascinated by the masterpieces of the Old Flemish Masters, intrigued by maritime history, or simply looking for an inspiring day filled with art and culture, Antwerp has something for everyone. Let’s explore together and discover some of the most remarkable museums in this beautiful city.
MAS – Museum aan de Stroom
Antwerp is home to the remarkable Museum aan de Stroom, which literally means ‘Museum by the Stream’, where city and port meet. Here, you can explore both permanent and temporary exhibitions that tell stories about Antwerp, the river, the port, and the world. Take the escalators along the panoramic boulevard and discover a new exhibition on each floor. Be amazed by the art collection from pre-Columbian America and travel through the history of Antwerp’s connections with the world through its port in the exhibition ‘Vracht’, or ‘Cargo’. ‘Antwerp à la Carte’ reveals the close bond between the city and its culinary culture over the centuries. For families with children, there is a playful family exhibition called ‘Iemand thuis’, or ‘Is Anyone Home?’, where you can reflect on what the word ‘home’ means to you. Don’t miss the fascinating temporary exhibitions!
Middelheimmuseum
The harmonious fusion of art and nature at the Middelheim Open Air Sculpture Museum is reflected in its rich collection of sculptures spread throughout the park and its pavilions. These works provide an overview of more than a century of sculptural art. In addition, the museum regularly hosts unique solo and group exhibitions, ensuring there is always something new to discover. The park itself is also a masterpiece of landscape design, contributing to the unique atmosphere of this remarkable setting.
Chocolate Nation
In Antwerp, you will not only find well-known Belgian chocolate brands, but also artisanal chocolatiers who create true works of art. In addition, the port of Antwerp is internationally renowned as the largest cocoa storage port in the world. Leading chocolatiers are trained here at the prestigious PIVA school. It is therefore no surprise that Antwerp offers a chocolate experience unlike any other.
KMSKA – Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen
After an 11-year closure for extensive renovation works, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp reopened in 2022. The beautifully restored building now houses an impressive art collection, presented through an entirely new exhibition design. In the historic galleries, visitors can admire masterpieces by renowned artists such as Rubens, Van Dyck, and Van Eyck, and even come face to face with the magnificent Madonna by Fouquet. In the ten contemporary exhibition rooms, you can discover the world’s largest collection of works by James Ensor, alongside creations by Rik Wouters, Magritte, Modigliani, and many other internationally acclaimed artists.
Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience
The Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library, located in the city centre, offers a peaceful environment for study and reflection. For more than five centuries, the library has been dedicated to preserving and collecting Flemish cultural heritage. It is the ideal place for anyone wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the history of Antwerp and Flanders, as well as Dutch literature.
Museum De Reede
Museum De Reede opened its doors on Friday 9 June 2017 and focuses on the work of three Master artists: Francisco Goya, Félicien Rops and Edvard Munch. These artists are presented as critical observers of the time they lived in, each in their own artistic and social context. The museum will engage their creations in a dialogue with contemporary expressions of the society and culture. The temporary exhibitions will highlight both individual artist as thematic subjects.
Het Rubenshuis
At Rubenshuis in Antwerp, the true face of Rubens is revealed: he was not only a painter, but also a passionate art collector, a devoted father, a loyal friend, and even a talented architect. Most of this ‘palazzo’ on the banks of the Scheldt was designed by his own hand. A visit to Rubenshuis guarantees a profound and inspiring experience. Step across the threshold and feel welcome in the world of Master Rubens. Rubenshuis is temporarily closed for renovation works and is not expected to reopen before 2030.
Museum Platin-Moretus
The Museum Plantin-Moretus was the printing press and home of the Plantin-Moretus family around 400 years ago. It is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can admire the oldest printing presses in the world, as well as various art collections and portraits by Rubens.
MoMu, modemuseum Antwerpen
In 2002, MoMu opened its first exhibition in the historic setting of the ModeNatie building, located on Nationalestraat. Since then, MoMu has organised two alternating exhibitions every calendar year. In the ground-floor gallery, visitors can explore special exhibitions and art installations created for specific occasions.
MoMu exhibitions are known for their compelling scenography. As a visitor, you are not only confronted with the objects but are completely immersed in the world of the designer or the featured theme. With every new exhibition, the space undergoes a complete transformation, making each visit a truly unique and personal experience.
Maagdenhuis
On one of the trendy squares in Antwerp, known as Mechelseplein, Maagdenhuis stands. Especially during the summer months, the square buzzes with activity, but when you cross the threshold of Maagdenhuis, you are greeted by a serene and tranquil atmosphere. This majestic building, built in the 16th and 17th centuries, enchants visitors with its impressive façade and beautiful courtyard.
Until 1882, the property served as an orphanage for girls. After that period, the orphaned girls were housed in more modern facilities, and Maagdenhuis was transformed into the administrative headquarters of the Civil Welfare Institutions (later the Public Centre for Social Welfare). In 1884, the chapel of Maagdenhuis was converted into a museum, where the art treasures of the Civil Welfare Institutions were displayed.
Rubenianum
The main purpose of Rubenianum is to collect, promote and disseminate knowledge about visual arts in the Low Countries during the 16th and 17th centuries, with a special emphasis on the works of Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck. It is open to the public and offers support to both enthusiasts and specialised researchers.
Felixatelier
Felixatelier is the centre for archaeology in Antwerp, where visitors have the opportunity to explore the exhibition ‘Zeven eeuwen Falcon’, or ‘Seven Centuries of Falcon’. Furthermore, it is the workspace of the city archaeologists, who are engaged in researching and processing artefacts and soil samples originating from recent archaeological excavations in the city.
Snijders&Rockoxhuis
Nicolaas Rockox and Frans Snijders were prominent figures in the Antwerp Baroque period. Nicolaas served as mayor, while Frans distinguished himself as a renowned painter of animals and still lifes. Even more interestingly, the two were neighbours for two decades, their houses standing side by side in Keizerstraat.
Both historic properties are now part of the KBC heritage collection and have been reunited as the Snijders&Rockoxhuis. This special house brings the 17th-century living environment vividly to life, drawing on our own rich collection and complemented by valuable loans from both Belgian and international private collections. We warmly invite you to discover this unique place.
