Antwerp, Belgium’s historic port city, boasts one of Europe’s richest cultural treasures.
The city’s museums offer unique insights into the world of Flemish art, European printing, fashion, and maritime history. The museum buildings themselves, ranging from medieval houses to modern architectural masterpieces, are attractions in their own right, presenting their collections in authentic environments.
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Best museums in Antwerp
Museum aan de Stroom (MAS)
Antwerp’s largest museum opened in May 2011 in the Eilandje district, on the banks of the Scheldt River.
The building is a stunning 60-meter-high architectural masterpiece made of red sandstone and glass, which is itself a work of art. The museum’s name, „Museum by the River”, refers to its location and Antwerp’s riverine connections.
The Antwerp City Council decided to build the museum in 1998 on Hanzestedenplaats, and the first brick was laid on September 14, 2006. During the project, collections from several former museums, including the Ethnographic Museum and the Maritime Museum, were relocated to the new site. The museum presents Antwerp’s history in a global context, emphasizing the city’s role as an international trading center.
The museum’s collection counts nearly 600,000 pieces, some of which can be viewed in permanent and temporary exhibitions across five floors. The exhibitions cover diverse themes, including trade, maritime history, and Antwerp’s cultural diversity. Visitors can discover the city’s history from prehistoric times to the present day, while enjoying panoramic views of the city, port, and river from the top of the building.
All information can be found here!
Diamond Museum (DIVA)
One of the world’s most unique institutions, offering an insight into the city’s centuries-old diamond trading and polishing tradition.
Antwerp has been at the centre of the diamond world since the 15th century, so it is no coincidence that it has created a museum that shows visitors how it became the ‘diamond capital’. The museum’s modern exhibition halls cover history, craft traditions and contemporary jewellery design.
Throughout the exhibitions, visitors can learn about the journey of diamonds from the mine to the finished jewel. Step by step, you can follow the processing of the rough gemstone, the development of cutting techniques and the expertise that has made Antwerp’s master craftsmen world famous for generations. There are also special sections on the historical role of diamonds – for example in royal crowns, religious artefacts and famous jewellery – and on the legendary diamond transactions linked to the city.
DIVA will not only showcase the world of diamonds, but also Antwerp’s collection of luxury goods from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as silverware and ornaments. The museum uses modern interactive tools, multimedia presentations and temporary exhibitions to make the visit an unforgettable experience not only for experts but also for the lay visitor.
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Rubenshuis
The former home and studio of Flemish Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, which now serves as a museum showcasing 17th-century Flemish art.
The building offers authentic insight into the life and creative environment of the world-famous painter, while providing an unparalleled collection for lovers of Flemish Baroque art. The museum is one of Antwerp’s most important cultural institutions.
Rubens purchased the house in 1610 and transformed it according to his own vision, redesigning it in the style of Italian palaces. The building was the artist’s home until his death in 1640, and many significant works were created here. The house’s architectural style reflects the influence of Rubens’ travels to Italy, showcasing the fusion of Flemish traditions with Italian Renaissance elements. The museum opened to the public in 1946.
Its rich collection includes works by Rubens and his contemporaries, as well as the painter’s personal belongings and furnishings. Visitors can view Rubens’ original studio, where famous works such as religious and mythological paintings were created. A special treasure of the museum is the reconstructed Baroque garden, created based on Rubens’ original plans. The collection includes his paintings, sketches, and etchings, as well as works by Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens.
All information can be found here!
Plantin-Moretus Museum
This printing museum focuses on the work of 16th-century printers Christophe Plantin and Jan Moretus.
The museum is located in their former residence and printing house, the Plantin Press building on Vrijdagmarkt. This unique institution preserves the world’s only original printing workshop and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
The printing house was founded in the 16th century by Christophe Plantin, who was one of the greatest printer-publishers of his time. The building combines a 16th-18th century patrician house with a printing company founded in 1550 and operating until the 19th century. Plantin was a major figure with humanist interests in contemporary printing, and his business operated for centuries under the leadership of the Moretus family.
The museum’s collection includes the world’s two oldest printing presses, 90 original typefaces, and more than 20,000 lead letters. The library incredibly preserves 30,000 old books, illuminated manuscripts, and other treasures of European printing. Visitors can discover printing plates, presses, casting molds, type cases, punches, and matrices, as well as furniture, engravings, drawings, and paintings. The library contains approximately 25,000 old printed books and 638 manuscripts. A special feature of the museum is the beautiful Baroque garden hidden within the museum walls.
All information can be found here!
ModeMuseum (MoMu)
Antwerp’s fashion museum showcases the history and present of fashion, befitting the city’s status as the center of „fashion Antwerp”.
The museum plays a central role in Flemish fashion design and is home to famous designers such as the „Antwerp Six” (Martin Margiela, Dries van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, and others). This institution provides unique insight into the art and culture of fashion.
MoMu opened in 2002 in a former museum building, which architect Bob Van Reeth transformed into a modern fashion exhibition space. The museum’s goal is to showcase the complexity, social role, and artistic value of fashion. The institution plays a central role in Antwerp’s fashion industry, which is one of the city’s most important cultural and economic sectors.
The museum’s collection contains more than 33,000 pieces, including clothing, accessories, textiles, and fashion photographs from the 18th century to the present day. MoMu is particularly proud of works by Flemish fashion designers, as well as pieces by international names such as Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Vivienne Westwood.
All information can be found here!
Museum De Reede
This museum specializes in the authentic presentation of local history and culture, paying special attention to the small details of urban life and the stories of local communities.
It is housed in a historic building that is itself part of the neighborhood’s cultural heritage. The institution was created on the initiative of the local community to preserve and showcase the unique stories and traditions of the area. The museum works closely with local residents and historians to provide an authentic picture of lesser-known aspects of Antwerp.
The collection consists mainly of local historical documents, photographs, objects, and personal memorabilia that showcase various aspects of daily life. The museum frequently organizes community programs and interactive exhibitions that allow visitors to closely experience local culture. Exhibition themes include local crafts, festivals, family stories, and social changes in the neighborhood.
All information can be found here!
Mayer van den Bergh Museum
The museum is based on the private collection of art collector Fritz Mayer van den Bergh (1858-1901), who died at only 43 years old but created an unparalleled art collection during his short life.
Fritz Mayer van den Bergh’s mother, Henriette Mayer van den Bergh, founded the museum in 1904 in memory of her son and to showcase his collection. The neo-Gothic style building was designed by Josef Bascourt and built specifically to display the collection. The museum building itself is a monument that perfectly complements the medieval and Renaissance artworks housed within.
The museum’s most important piece is Pieter Bruegel’s painting „Dulle Griet” which is one of the world’s most famous Flemish paintings. The collection also contains medieval sculptures, goldsmith works, textiles, manuscripts, and other European artistic works. Special attention should be paid to works by Flemish primitives, pieces of Gothic sculpture, and the rich collection of manuscript books and miniatures.
All information can be found here!
Red Star Line Museum
A touching tribute to the millions who started new lives in America, departing from Antwerp.
This museum presents the history of the Red Star Line shipping company, which operated from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century and transported more than two million passengers to the New World. It tells the universal story of human migration through personal destinies and family stories.
It is housed in the historic Red Star Line buildings, directly on the banks of the Scheldt River, where ships once departed for America. The facility opened in 2013 and occupies carefully restored historic spaces, including the original waiting rooms and offices. The buildings themselves are part of the story of migration, where life-changing decisions were made and farewells took place.
The museum’s interactive exhibitions showcase the migrants’ journey from Antwerp to New York, the conditions of the sea voyage, and the search for the American dream. The collection consists of original documents, photographs, personal objects, and maritime equipment. Special attention is given in the museum to Albert Einstein’s story, who arrived in Antwerp in 1933 on a Red Star Line ship. The museum uses modern technologies to bring stories to life, including interactive maps and multimedia presentations.
All information can be found here!
Snijders&Rockoxhuis
This ensemble of two adjacent 17th-century patrician houses preserves the former residences of painter Frans Snijders and mayor Nicolaas Rockox.
This special museum provides authentic insight into the life of Antwerp’s 17th-century elite, showcasing the social relations, artistic taste, and daily culture of the era. The museum offers a unique opportunity to experience how Rubens’ contemporaries lived.
Frans Snijders (1579-1657) was a famous still-life painter who became particularly renowned for his hunting and fruit still lifes, while Nicolaas Rockox (1560-1640) was Antwerp’s influential mayor and Rubens’ patron. The two houses were the center of Antwerp’s social and cultural life in the 17th century. The museum opened in 1970 after careful restoration work restored the buildings to their original state.
Its collection consists mainly of 17th-century Flemish artistic works, including Snijders’ still lifes, as well as works by Rubens, van Dyck, and other Flemish masters. The furnishings consist of period furniture, decorative art objects, and household items that paint a lifelike picture of aristocratic lifestyle of the era. Of special value in the museum are the collaborative works of Rubens and Snijders, as well as antique sculptures and coins from Rockox’s collection.
All information can be found here!