Things to see in Antwerp
Attractions
Plantin-Moretus Museum
Probably Antwerp's most unexpected tourist attraction, this fascinating 16th-century aristocratic house is home to the world’s first industrial printing works. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this museum reaches far beyond the history of the namesake publishing group to portray the birth of a new technological age and the lifestyle of the city in its Golden Age.
Address: , Vrijdagmarkt 22, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 221 1450
Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1700.
Website: http://www.museumplantinmoretus.be/enAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: Yes
MAS (Museum aan de Stroom)
Since opening in 2011, the MAS (Museum on the River) has transformed this once neglected dockside into a thriving arts district. A feat of modern architecture, it houses some of the city’s most extraordinary exhibitions and a Michelin-starred restaurant. This gargantuan building, constructed of red stone and curved glass, dominates the area and takes visitors on an entertaining and interactive journey through Antwerp’s colourful history.
Address: , Hanzestedenplaats 1, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 338 4400
Opening times:
Tue-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 1000-1800 (Apr-Oct); Tue-Sun 1000-1700 (Nov-Mar).
Website: http://www.mas.be/enAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Diamond Pavilion at the MAS (Diamantpaviljoen aan het MAS)
Antwerp has long been entwined in the romance of diamonds, with the city controlling much of the rough and polished diamond market. The excellent Diamond Museum reopens on 7 May 2018.
Address: , Suikerrui 17-19, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 360 5252
Opening times:
Sun-Thu 1100-1900, Fri-Sat 1100-2100.
Website: http://www.divaantwerp.be/enAdmission Fees:
No.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal)
Described as 'lacework in stone', this beautiful structure was completed in 1521 and remains the largest gothic cathedral in the Low Countries. Rubens’ masterpieces adorn the interior, including his well-known works Raising of the Cross and the Descent from the Cross. A symbol of Antwerp’s rich culture and history, the cathedral is a stunning sight by night when floodlit.
Address: , Groenplaats 21, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 213 9951
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat 1000-1500, Sun 1300-1600.
Website: http://www.dekathedraal.be/en/Admission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Grote Markt (Main Market Square)
At the heart of Antwerp’s Old Town sits the magnificent Grote Markt, arguably the city’s biggest drawing card. In summer, this cobbled square throngs with tourists who come to see the imposing Renaissance-style Town Hall, flanked on both sides by a row of 16th-century guild houses. An unfeasibly large water feature dominates the centre of the square. Dubbed the Statue of Brabo and the Giant’s Hand, it was erected in 1887 and depicts the legend of Antwerp’s creation. It’s all overlooked by the largest gothic church in the Low Countries, the Cathedral of Our Lady.
Address: , Grote Markt, Antwerp, 2000Telephone:
Opening times:
Daily 24 hours.
Website:Admission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Ruben’s House (Rubenshuis)
The former residence of Sir Peter Paul Rubens is now a museum dedicated to the legendary baroque painter, who lived and worked in Antwerp from 1610 until his death in 1640. As well as a small exhibition of his works (which includes Adam and Eve in Paradise, Henry IV in the Battle for Paris and Self Portrait) the museum displays some of Rubens’ personal possessions and objects d’art. Visitors can also admire the impressive Flemish-Italian Renaissance garden, which Rubens designed himself.
Address: , Wapper 9-11, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 201 1555
Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1700.
Website: http://www.rubenshuis.be/enAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Middelheim Museum
This stunning open-air art gallery is well worth the bus ride from the city centre. Visitors can wander around the leafy park, which sports a quirky collection of 400 sculptures including a sausage massacre, a bendy boat and a series of eerie statues lurking in the woods. The museum fuses contemporary art with more traditional works by artists such as Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and Rik Wouters.
Address: , Middelheimlaan 61, Antwerp, 2020Telephone: +32 3 288 3360
Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1700 (Oct-Mar); Tue-Sun 1000-1900 (Apr and Sep); Tue-Sun 1000-2000 (May and Aug); Tue-Sun 1000-2100 (Jun-Jul).
Website: http://www.middelheimmuseum.be/enAdmission Fees:
No.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Mode Museum/MoMu (Fashion Museum)
Antwerp is a city at the cutting edge of fashion, so it seems apt that it should have a museum dedicated to this international obsession. In addition to MoMu’s permanent collection of clothing, lace, embroidery, fabrics and artisans' tools, the museum hosts two themed exhibitions every year to reflect the current trends. MoMu is currently closed for renovations, but will reopen in the autumn of 2020.
Address: , Nationalestraat 28, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 470 2770
Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1800.
Website: https://www.momu.be/en.htmlAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
MUHKA (Museum of Contemporary Art of Antwerp)
Housed in a converted grain store, the MUHKA boasts over 4,000sq m (43,055sq ft) of exhibition space used to display a vast collection of art from 1970 to present day. The works come courtesy of Belgian artists, as well as a host of international painters and sculptors, and are enhanced by a range of fascinating temporary exhibitions. The museum strives to create connections between artistic expression and emerging social issues.
Address: , Leuvenstraat 32, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 260 9999
Opening times:
Tue-Wed 1100-1800, Thu 1100-2100, Fri-Sun 1100-1800.
Website: https://www.muhka.be/enAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Royal Museum of Fine Arts collection at MAS
Antwerp's Royal Museum of Fine Arts houses a collection fit to grace any world capital, spanning 600 years from the 14th century to the present day. Unfortunately, it’s currently closed for an epic renovation and won’t reopen until 2020. Until then, some of the museum’s works are being temporarily displayed at the Cathedral of our Lady and the Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS).
Address: , Leopold de Waelplaats 2, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 224 9550
Opening times:
See website for opening times and specific locations.
Website: http://www.kmska.be/en/Admission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Visit Antwerpen
Address: , Grote Markt 13, Antwerp, 2000Telephone: +32 3 232 0103
Opening times:
Mon-Sun 1000-1700.
Website: https://www.visitantwerpen.be/enAs well as stocking a wide range of brochures and maps, Antwerp’s tourist office can book tours and make hotel reservations. There is also an information desk at level 0 in Centraal station.
Tourist passes
The Antwerp City Card (www.visitantwerpen.be/city-card) offers free admission to 16 museums and three churches, along with a host of other discounts, including free transport across the city. Passes are available for 24-, 48- or 72-hour periods.
