visit antwerpen.be

All information about the accessibility of and parking policy in the city of Antwerp can be found on

Transport in and to Antwerp and Parking on the street | Smart ways to Antwerp .

Experience Antwerp and get started right away!

Discover all that’s on offer

Would you like to admire a Rubens through the eyes of the curator, get a glimpse of Antwerp’s history during a guided city walk or visit one of the beautiful churches or inspiring museums? Our offerings are just as vibrant as the city itself. What are you waiting for? Discover, book and experience Antwerp!

In the picture

School offers, 2024: the year of james ensor, most popular activities, most popular city walks, most popular museum tours, individual tickets for a guided activity, a practical overview of all antwerp museums, discover the most beautiful antwerp districts, locations that are definitely worth a visit, city by the water, trendy antwerp, don’t just visit. experience antwerp..

You are about to visit a city, but how do you start planning your visit? Often you will find a scattered offering online or you will find some things to do that are not really your cup of tea. That won’t be the case in Antwerp! Experience Antwerp is your reliable partner for golden tips and tickets. Experience Antwerp helps you to not only visit our city, but to really experience it. Check it out!

• Official partner Experience Antwerp is the official partner of the city of Antwerp for tickets and tips. We unite the most diverse experiences in one place, so that you can experience our city to the fullest.
• Simple and intuitive Experience Antwerp is a reliable, user-friendly and intuitive one-stop shop. Think of it as a free and personal guide that escorts you through all of the beauty that Antwerp has to offer. Discover, book and experience!
• Tested and approved Our offerings have been tested and approved by real Antwerp locals. We give you a taste of the local heartbeat of our city and make your visit to Antwerp truly worthwhile.

Looking for the hippest hotspots, must-taste culinary delights, best activities for young and old or the hidden gems that even a true local doesn’t know about? Experience even more of Antwerp thanks to insider tips from born and raised Antwerp locals. Check it out and make the most of your visit to this beautiful city!

We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.

There’s never a dull moment in the City of Antwerp. Every season has something to offer, there is always something to see and experience. Curious to know what’s coming up? Check out the calendar for the coming years.

SPA©E - The Human Quest 23 April to 16 October 2022

The largest space expo in Europe lands in Antwerp. Antwerp Expo will be transformed into an inspiring 2,000m² expo featuring historic objects, impressive replicas, unprecedented anecdotes and an unprecedented look into the future of space travel.

Opening of Flemish Culinary Centre

The Loodswezen on the Eilandje will be transformed to become the Flemish Culinary Centre. This spot, close to the MAS, will be the ultimate meeting place for both national and international connoisseurs. The opening date will be announced at a later date.

Opening of the renovated  Rubens House

With 200,000 visitors a year from over 30 different countries, the Rubens House is one of Antwerp's foremost attractions. So that it can continue to inspire all those visitors and in order to improve the infrastructure, the museum is currently working on a brand-new visitors' centre that will include a multi-media visitor experience, a café and a reading room. The newly renovated Rubens House is scheduled to reopen in 2027.  

The return of the Giants ! The French theatre group Royal de Luxe, which has already paraded through Antwerp on 4 occasions, will be coming back to Antwerp in 2023 with its giant mechanical puppets. In 2015 no less than 900,000 visitors came to Antwerp to admire these wonderful works of art.

Opening  DIVA  | 9 December 2022 

Further to renovation work you are welcome once again in the exhibition galleries at DIVA | the diamond, jewellery and silver museum as from 9 December.

Opening of  MoMu , the Fashion Museum 8 October

Following a number of additional structural modifications, MoMu | MoMu the Fashion Museum will reopen its doors on 8 October.

Opening  Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp  24 September 2022

Following a renovation lasting 11 years the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp is finally ready to show off its unique collection of masterpieces in a fabulously historic & new building.

From scribble to cartoon

Museum Plantin Moretus From 17.11.2023 to 18.02.2024 This exhibition consists of 85 of the loveliest old drawings from Flemish collections and provides an overview of who, why and how people here made drawings in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is a unique chance to view some very special objects side by side, such as a sketchbook belonging to a 12-year-old Rubens, a Panorama of Zeeland by Antoon van den Wijngaerde that is ten metres long and sculptor Pieter Verbruggen’s extremely rare Italian sketchbooks. Alongside big names such as Pieter Bruegel and Anthony Van Dyck, drawings by lesser-known artists offer interesting surprises as well.

Exploding Fashion: van 2D tot 3D tot 3D-animatie

MoMu - ModeMuseum Antwerpen   8 October 2022 until 5 February 2023

A new “Exploding Fashion” exhibition brings iconic fashion designs to digital life. Discover the role played by pattern cutters, see how designs came about and learn all the secrets behind 20th century fashion. This surprising exhibition was created as a research project in collaboration with Central Saint Martin’s College (University of the Arts London). Also included is a tour of the collection, offering a look back on four decades of Belgian fashion.

Recaptioning Congo  

FOMU 16 September 2022 until 29 January 2023

“Recaptioning Congo” is the first extensive exhibition to show the unique and multilayered history of photography in the Belgian Congo. Explore various European and African photographers’ perspectives, from propaganda to African amateur and studio photography. Take a deep dive into the construction of a colonial ideology through photography.

Museum in Motion

M HKA 16 September 2022 – 08 January 2023

The M HKA is putting on a temporary exhibition titled “Museum in Motion”. The museum offers a glimpse of the future with works by 24 contemporary artists. Diverse works of art provide an excellent impression of the museum's collection and will soon be granted a permanent home in the new building. They combine old and new, the familiar and the unknown, motion and marvels.

Mirror Mirror 

MoMu & Museum Dr. Guislain   8 October 2022 until 26 February 2023

MoMu and Ghent’s Dr. Guislain Museum have joined forces to create “Mirror Mirror”, a double exhibition. Explore the connections between fashion, psychology, self-image and identity. Reflect on themes such as body dysmorphia, beauty ideals and clothing’s power to make us feel stronger through art installations and avant-garde fashion. At the Dr. Guislain Museum, you can discover how artists use textiles and clothing to create a place for themselves in the world.

L'invitation au voyage 

Plantin-Moretus 28 October 2022 until 29 January 2023

Multi-talented artist Philip Aguirre has built up a rich body of work over the past 40 years. Admire a selection of his drawings and graphic work at Museum Plantin-Moretus. Discover the wide range of artistic media in which this artist has worked and the major recurring themes that mark his work. He often draws inspiration from old heritage items. He also references social themes such as global water, immigration and refugees.

Stories of refuge 1951-2021  

Red Star Line Museum Till 11 december 2022 

In 2021 it is 70 years since the refugee treaty was signed in Geneva by 24 countries. To mark this anniversary the Red Star Line Museum will open the exhibition 'Stories of refuge 1951 – 2021’, a moving and confrontational journey featuring authentic tales of people who have come to Belgium as a refugee in the last 70 years.

DIVA: Work in Progress

DIVA pop-up, Grote Markt 13 until 27 november 2022

Want to know more about the story behind diamonds, jewellery and silver objects? Visit the free exhibition 'DIVA: Work in Progress'. Explore three rooms where you will discover the work involving the objects and the people before a stone, a piece or a maker is ‘museum-worthy’.

Camille Henrot: Wet Job  

Middelheim Museum 11 June to 16 October 2022

A visit to the beautiful sculpture park of the Middelheim Museum is always a great idea. This summer, you will have the opportunity to see the work of internationally acclaimed Camille Henrot there. Through her sculpture she aims to illustrate the complexity of life. She manages to turn personal experiences into universal stories with which you will certainly identify.

Anybody home?

MAS   December 2022

The exhibition ‘Anybody home’, which opens in late 2022, gets visitors thinking about the meaning of 'home'. With collection pieces from the MAS and stories from Antwerp residents of all ages the exhibition shows how everyone has a different experience of home. ‘Anybody Home?’ will be an interactive and imaginative exhibition which gets visitors of all ages to consider what home means to them.

Finis Terrae  

Museum Plantin-Moretus and other locations From 17.11.2022 to 26.02.2023

Five years after the successful project 'Ecce Homo' a second large-scale group exhibition is to be organised at different locations in Antwerp. Finis Terrae aims to take a look at the world today and emphasise hope, human resilience and the power of art. The focus lies on the work by contemporary Belgian artists and contemporary artists living and working in Belgium.

Artists in the Nottebohm room

Library Hendrik Conscience Summer and autumn 2022

As from the summer the historic Nottebohm room will engage in a dialogue with contemporary artists. From 15 June to 11 September, Camiel Van Breedam (1936, Boom) will show a series of collages referring to the world of books. Van Breedam ‘recycles’ old books, removing their original stories and creating a new world. The end result are magnificent ‘book shelves’ which stand out between all other ancient works in the Nottebohm room.

Eugeen Van Mieghem  (1875-1930) Augustine Pautre,  love and suffering...

Museum De Reede   From 14.09.2022 to 12.12.2022

This exhibition shows around 50 works by Antwerp artist Eugeen Van Mieghem (1875-1930). Few Belgian artists demonstrate such a close connection with their home town. Eugeen Van Mieghem captured the mass emigration of Europeans to America. The exhibition was created in close collaboration with the Eugeen Van Mieghem Museum.

MAS Until 2023

The MAS celebrates the museum collection with a colourful, separate exhibition featuring exciting and moving tales. Along with writer and theatre maker Dimitri Leue, the museum is performing the collection pieces in a compelling audio play. He dives into myths, legends and worldly stories giving the visitor a new perspective of the objects with an auditive experience.

DIVA pop-up, Grote Markt 13 27 november 2022

Home » Travel Guides » Belgium » 15 Best Things to Do in Antwerp (Belgium)

15 Best Things to Do in Antwerp (Belgium)

The second city of Belgium and home to the biggest port in the country, Antwerp is an obvious choice for travellers in the country. The city seems to ooze power and cool and this may be due to its historic status as home of moguls and diamond dealers. Antwerp is known as the diamond capital of the world and the diamond industry plays an important role in the economy of the city and has done throughout its history.

During the 16th Century the city was one of the most important places, and one of the most important ports in all of Europe. The city suffered greatly in the Second World War but still retains many of its medieval charm and landmarks. Today, the city has a reputation for art and fashion.

Antwerp has everything a traveller should wish for in a European city; world class museums and art, beautiful architecture and great food and drink. Here is our list of 15 Best Things to do in Antwerp :

1. Admire Antwerp Central Station

Looking at a train station may not be one of the best things to do in many cities but in Antwerp, it is an absolute must. The Gothic architecture of the building’s impressive exterior will take your breath away and the main hall is equally splendid.

The station is one of the city’s most treasured landmarks and has been rated as one of the world’s top five most beautiful train stations.

The station is much more than just a pretty face however and has been fully adapted to operate in the 21st Century with its multilevel platforms.

2. Learn about printing at the Museum Plantin-Moretus

This former printing press was once one of the finest in the world. The site has been home to museum since 1876 and is now a UNSECO World Heritage Site.

It may be unusual for a museum to be inducted into World Heritage Site status but once you visit this fascinating place you will see why.

The building itself dates back to medieval times and, along with the courtyard, is alone worthy of a visit. Combine this with a museum exploring the world’s oldest printing press, a 17th Century library and a collection of valuable artwork and you will soon see why the Museum Plantin-Moretus is so highly regarded.

3. Pop into Rubens House

Rubenshuis is the former home of the painter Pieter Paul Rubens. The home was built by Rubens himself as both a place to live and also as a studio for him to work in.

The building was in a bad way prior to restorative work that began in 1937 but with some careful work, the building has now returned to its former glory.

As well as furniture from the period that the painter lived here, the house also shows off many pieces of his artwork.

4. Visit the Red Star Line Museum

The Red Star Line Museum exhibits the stories of many migrants who left Belgium, mainly for America, via the Red Star Line ships. Most of the passengers embarked from the very building in which the museum is housed.

The exhibits are very engaging and use actual photographs and other personal items to vividly tell the story of the crossing from Belgium to the States.

The observation tower, which was formerly the buildings chimney, has great views of the surrounding area.

5. Explore the historic Antwerp Zoo

Antwerp Zoo was founded in 1843 and makes a great day out when you are tired of looking at museums and architecture.

The zoo may be one of the oldest in the world but the facilities are modern and world class with state of the art enclosures and breeding programmes.

Popular attractions at the zoo include a loved up koala couple who live together in a thatched cottage as well as a new reef environment in the zoo’s aquarium.

6. Eat “French” Fries

I don’t want to spark an international conflict with this point but Belgians will argue that they actually invented so-called French Fries.

Regardless of who invented them, Antwerp is a great place to experience the Belgian take on fries.

Forget fast-food, in Belgium they slow the pace and serve fries in frites cafes which specialize in serving the tastiest fries around.

7. Shop in style

Shopping centres don’t come much more stylish than the Stadsfeestzaal Shopping Centre in the centre of Antwerp.

The building was once almost destroyed but due to its status as a listed building it was promptly restored to exactly how it should be. The architecture, marble staircase and mosaic floor will keep even the most reluctant shoppers entertained and if not, there is always the champagne bar to enjoy.

8. Worship the Cathedral of Our Lady

The tallest cathedral in the Low Countries is one that can be appreciated both from outside and inside.

It took 169 years to build before being completed in the year 1521. The spire is visible from many areas of the city and rarely fails to take one’s breath away.

The interior is a striking blend of Baroque decor and Ruben’s artwork. An entry fee to the cathedral applies and guided tours are available.

9. Drink Beer

The Belgians are rightfully proud of their beer and it would be rude to visit Antwerp and not sample a few cold beers.

Visiting the Antwerp Brewery is a good place to learn about Belgian beer as well as sampling a glass of De Koninck beer at the very site it was made.

If this fails to quench your thirst, why not visit Paters Vaetje, located by the cathedral, which serves over 100 beers. You are certain to find at least one that you like.

10. Explore Het Steen

Het Steen is the name of a small but pretty castle just on the side of the river in Antwerp. The castle dates back to the early 13th Century and makes for some great photographs.

Also worth photographing is the odd statue outside the castle of Lange Wapper, a large peeping tom character who is exposing his codpiece to passers by.

There is nothing to be seen inside the castle itself but the nearby maritime museum, with its collection of historic barges, is worth a look while in the area.

11. Visit the unique MAS Museum

If you have had your fill of historic sights within Antwerp (and there are a lot worth seeing) then you should visit the modern MAS museum.

MAS is a museum that does explore the history of Antwerp and its role as an important port city but also features temporary cutting edge exhibits that are regularly changing. Temporary exhibits on display at the time of writing include one exploring different forms of body art.

Whilst visiting the museum it is well worth taking the elevators to the open top roof for breathtaking views of the city. There is no charge for this.

12. Tour the city by bike

Like many great European cities, Antwerp is great to explore on two wheels. Hiring a bike yourself and planning a route is a possibility but the safer option is to take a bike tour with a guide.

Most tours last for a few hours and will take in all of the cities major sights including the cathedral, MAS and central station.

Even if you have already walked around all of the main sights, seeing them again on two wheels is a great experience.

13. Visit the home of Rockoxhuis

Nicolaas Rockox was something of a celebrity in 17th Century Antwerp. He was a lawyer and politician and his house remains beautiful to this day.

The house, complimented by a lovely courtyard and garden, features commissions from Rockoxhuis’ private collection that have not been sold to bigger galleries. Works by Rubens and Van Dyck are still housed here.

The Golden Cabinet art exhibition is also housed here and is both fascinating and varied.

• 14.  Relax in the town square

Antwerp’s Grote Markt or town square dates back to the 16th Century and is a beautiful example of architecture from this period.

The town hall is the centerpiece and is built in Renaissance and Gothic styles. The statue at the centre of the square is of Brabo, a legendary giant slayer, and dates back to 1887.

The nearby street of Hofstraat is where the old stock exchange was located until the 16th Century.

15. Shop for Diamonds

Antwerp is known for its so-called diamond district which is located west of the Central Train Station. Around 85% of the world’s uncut diamonds find their way here and result in the employment of more than 30,000 people.

The diamond museum here is the largest of its kind in the world and will tell you everything you need to know about diamonds and the industry here.

The diamond industry is largely run by orthodox Jews although more and more wealthy Americans and Indians are becoming influential.

15 Best Things to Do in Antwerp (Belgium):

• Admire Antwerp Central Station
• Learn about printing at the Museum Plantin-Moretus
• Pop into Rubens House
• Visit the Red Star Line Museum
• Explore the historic Antwerp Zoo
• Eat "French" Fries
• Shop in style
• Worship the Cathedral of Our Lady
• Explore Het Steen
• Visit the unique MAS Museum
• Tour the city by bike
• Visit the home of Rockoxhuis
• Shop for Diamonds

16 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Antwerp

Written by Jess Lee Updated Dec 22, 2023

The cultural capital of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern area of Belgium, Antwerp is both a bustling industrial port city and an outstanding historic center for Belgian craftwork and artistry.

The city was once home to such famous artists as Rubens, van Dyck, and Jordaens, while centuries of prosperity through trade and commerce have bequeathed an inheritance of architectural beauty, which includes the magnificent cathedral, the town hall, and many other outstanding historical buildings in the old town center.

For art lovers and culture vultures, Antwerp's excellent museums are the main tourist attractions and are a vital stop on any Belgian itinerary.

In particular, the city's paintings – an incomparable collection of 15th- to 17th-century masterpieces from a time when the work of artists of the South Netherlands school attained extraordinary heights – is a highlight of any visit.

Discover the city and the best places to visit with our list of the top attractions and things to do in Antwerp.

Grand Place (Grote Markt)

Cathedral of our lady, rubens' house (rubenshuis), tour the museum aan de stroom (mas), take the kids to antwerp zoo, learn about chocolate at chocolate nation, plantin-moretus museum, see the collection inside museum mayer van den bergh, royal museum of fine arts (koninklijk museum voor schone kunsten), learn about migration history at the red star line museum, st. paul's church (sint-pauluskerk), the butcher's hall (vleeshuis), check out antwerp-centraal railway station, bike the havenroute (port tour), st. james' church (sint-jacobskerk), diva (the diamond museum), antwerp, belgium - climate chart.

Antwerp's Grand Place (Grote Markt) with its town hall and numerous guild houses is the heart of the old town. In the middle stands the ornate Brabo Fountain Brabo erected in 1887 by Jef Lambeaux and depicting the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo tossing the severed hand of the giant Antigonus into the Scheldt.

The Town Hall (or Stadhuis) dominates the plaza's western side and was built by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt between 1561 and 1565. Inside, the rooms are hung with 19th-century paintings by H. Leys illustrating the history of Antwerp.

Apart from the Stadhuis, most of the buildings bordering the Grote Markt are former guild houses (gildehuizen), which originally served as headquarters of the city's 16th- and 17th-century guilds.

Among the most interesting guild houses on the north side are the Gildehuis der Kuipers (Coopers' House No. 5), the Huis van de Schutters (Archer's House No. 7), and the Huis van de Kruideniers (Grocers' House No. 11).

Immediately behind the town hall, in the Gildekamersstraat, a former guild house has been turned into a Folk Museum devoted to the many traditional arts and crafts found in the Antwerp area, while nearby is the Ethnography Museum which highlights non-European cultures.

Address: Grand Place, Central Antwerp

The Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal), is Belgium's largest Gothic church.

Work was started on the cathedral in 1352, continuing until 1521. Jacob van Thienen, Pieter Appelmans, Jan Tac, Everaert Spoorwater, Hermann and Dominic de Waghemakere, and Rombout Keldermans were among the architects and master-builders who contributed to its construction.

The church has suffered serious damage on a number of occasions over the years, depriving it of many of its most precious works of art. First came a fire in 1533, then despoliation at the hands of dissident iconoclasts in 1566, Calvinists in 1581, and French Republican troops in 1794 and 1800. Sadly, only a few of the lost treasures have since been recovered.

Restoration of the exterior was begun in the 19th century, and all the carved stonework on the outside of the building is therefore recent. Work on the interior began in 1965, starting with the nave where repairs were completed in 1983.

The finest of the remaining works of art are displayed in the nave and aisles as well as in the cathedral treasury.

Address: Groenplaats 21 / Handschoenmarkt, Central Antwerp

Official site: www.dekathedraal.be

Peter Paul Rubens acquired No. 9 in 1610 – a year after his marriage to Isabella Brant – living there until his death in 1640. He arranged the house to his own taste and requirements, making his home to the left of the entrance and turning the right wing into his studio.

Following the French Revolution it was used as a prison, thereafter falling more and more into disrepair. Rubens' House (Rubenshuis) finally came into the possession of the City of Antwerp in 1937 and, between 1939 and 1946, was meticulously restored with the aid of old documents and drawings.

The 10 rooms are furnished in the style of the period and contain a large collection of paintings by both Rubens and his contemporaries. Among the pieces not to miss are Self-portrait , Adam and Eve , and The Annunciation , all by Rubens; Self-portrait by Anthony van Dyke; and Peasant Drinking by Adriaen Brouwer. The large studio contains several works by Rubens and others by his pupils.

Outside, the formal gardens of the house have been restored carefully to try and closely replicate the garden as it was when Rubens was resident at the house. It's a great spot for a stroll after touring the house.

Address: Wapper 9-11, Antwerp

Official site: https://rubenshuis.be/en

Antwerp's municipal museum is housed in a fine example of modern architecture that features a geometric configuration of variegated stone and wave-shaped glass panels. This 10-story building resembles a child's block puzzle, and sits overlooking the harbor on the former site of the Hanseatic warehouse.

The museum's exhibits include a true variety of topics. Local subjects include a gastronomic history of the city on the 5th floor and a look at Antwerp's former role as the largest trade and shipping port in the world.

The rooftop, which is open on top but enclosed with glass walls, affords tourists a full 360-degree view of the city and the port; here is where you will find the Saluting Admiral Couple sculpture created by local artist Guillaume Bijl.

Additional exhibits focus on international topics, including explorations of mankind's approach to death and spirituality throughout various cultures, as well as the ways that cultures around the world celebrate rites of passage.

The 8th floor is dedicated to one of Europe's largest collections of pre-Columbian American art, focusing on the relationship between the native cultures and their gods.

As well as the permanent collection, MAS regularly hosts a program of temporary exhibitions focused on a wide range of subjects.

The museum also has a unique storage area on the second floor, which allows visitors to view the racks filled with over 180,000 items that have yet to be placed into exhibit space. In total, the museum is home to over 500,000 pieces in its collection.

Address: Hanzestedenplaats 1

Official site: https://mas.be/en

Right in the center of the city, Antwerp Zoo was founded in 1843. It is widely regarded as one of the finest zoos in Europe on account of its variety of species; its success in breeding; the care bestowed on the animals, which are kept in the most natural environment possible; and, last but by no means least, its architecture.

While the Art Déco facades of the entrance area are the first features to catch the eye, inside the zoo are several buildings of note, among them the giraffe and elephant house (1855) in the style of an Egyptian temple.

More than 6,000 animals of 950 species live in the zoo, including rare breeds such as the white rhino, okapi, and mountain gorilla.

If you are visiting Antwerp with kids, at trip to the zoo is one of the top things to do.

Address: Kon. Astridplein 26, Central Antwerp

Official site: www.zooantwerpen.be

This museum is a treat for visitors with a sweet tooth. Located just across from Antwerp's Central Railway Station, Chocolate Nation is the largest Belgian Chocolate museum in the world .

Visitors are introduced to every step of the process via a multimedia presentation and interactive exhibits, from the cocoa bean's equatorial origins to the final product - which, of course, you can enjoy to your heart's content via samples and the museum shop.

The museum also explores the special place chocolate has within Belgian culture and tradition, as well as the history of the confection's innovations here and in other countries.

Exhibits look at the many ways that chocolate is used and presented, and visitors can even sign up for a chocolate workshop with take-home goodies.

Address: Koningin Astridplein 7, 2018, Antwerp

Official site: https://www.chocolatenation.be/en/

In 1576, Christophe Plantin the printer who hailed originally from France, moved into a house he christened "De gulden Passer" – the Golden Compasses – south of the Grote Markt Grote . The house, lived in by Plantin and his Moretus family heirs is now a supreme example of Flemish Renaissance architecture.

Today, the building is the Plantin-Moretus Museum incorporating the history of printing as well as showcasing the atmosphere of an Old Flemish patrician house.

The original furnishings, wide-ranging exhibits, and above all, the still tangible atmosphere arising from the proximity of home and workplace make this museum one of Antwerp's most fascinating tourist attractions.

If you're short on time, make a beeline for Room 7, devoted to the history of books and the processes involved in their production, from the earliest forms of writing and development of the alphabet – exhibits include important archaeological finds and manuscripts – to Johannes Gutenberg and the invention of letterpress printing using movable type.

And afterwards, don't miss Room 24 which is a celebration of the art of printing in Europe as a whole, the jewel in the crown being a 36-line Gutenberg Bible on display here.

Address: Vrijdagmarkt 22, Central Antwerp

Official site: www.museumplantinmoretus.be/

In the course of only a short period during the 1890s, a connoisseur of the fine arts, Fritz Mayer van den Bergh, assembled a remarkable collection of more than 3,000 items. These are now displayed on four floors of a Neo-Gothic house at Lange Gasthuisstraat 19 known as the Museum Mayer van den Bergh.

The collection includes some superlative works of art, among them paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, ( Dulle Griet and the earliest of the artist's signed works The Twelve Proverbs , both in Room 26), Rubens, Jordaens, Bouts, van der Weyden, van Ostade, Lucas Cranach, and Quentin Massys.

Also of great interest are the Flemish and French religious statues, the outstanding collection of ivories, and a unique 16th-century Flemish breviary, and in Room 14, a polychrome group Christ with St. John (1300) by Henry of Constance and a Netherlands diptych (ca. 1400).

The second floor features a collection of porcelain, while 17th-century furniture and paintings occupy the third.

Address: Lange Gasthuisstraat 19, Antwerp

The nucleus of the collection inside the Royal Museum of Fine Art (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten) belonged originally to the Lucas Guild of Painters and Sculptors, founded in 1442.

Following the winding up of the guild in 1773, the works of art accumulated over the years passed into the possession of the Academy of Fine Arts.

In the mid-19th century, however, the collection was swollen by a substantial number of new acquisitions, particularly gifts, mainly of 15th- and 16th-century paintings, from Florent van Ertborn, a former burgomaster of Antwerp.

The academy found itself with insufficient space to accommodate the enlarged collection and the decision was taken to build a new museum.

The collection is housed on two floors. The ground floor is largely devoted to 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculpture, some 1,500 items in all, providing, among other things, an excellent overview of the development of the plastic arts in Belgium since 1830.

The exhibition of Old Masters on the first floor comprises more than 1,000 works, mostly from the Flemish and Dutch schools.

Address: Plaatsnijdersstraat 2, Antwerp

Official site: www.kmska.be/en/

One of the newer tourist attractions in Antwerp, the Red Star Line Museum was opened in 2013 after over two decades of planning.

The Red Star company's steamers transported emigrants from Belgium and surrounding European countries between 1883 and 1934, bringing them across the ocean to Canada or the United States to escape persecution, poverty, and oppression.

The museum is dedicated to exploring not only the journey and process itself, but the reasons that people chose to leave their home in hopes of a better life.

Among the exhibits are the areas where passengers were selected for passage, some of whom were never given the chance to get aboard a ship. Areas of interest also include personal stories of those who did emigrate, and those who were left behind, and accounts of the passage across the Atlantic.

Address: Montevideostraat 3, 2000 Antwerp

Official site: www.redstarline.be/en

In the central city, the Veemarkt (the plaza that once functioned as a former cattle market) is home to the late Gothic St. Paul's Church (Sint-Pauluskerk), begun in 1517 and not completed until 1639. The Baroque clock tower dates from 1680.

A fire in 1968 badly damaged the church and only the spirited efforts of local people prevented the loss of valuable interior furnishings.

The church is home to paintings by Rubens, Jordaens, and Van Dyck. These include the superb Baroque confessionals by Pieter Verbruggen the Elder and three paintings by Rubens: The Scourging of Christ (1617) in the left aisle and the Adoration of the Shepherds and Disputation on the Blessed Sacrament in the left transept.

Address: Sint Paulusstraat 20/22, Central Antwerp

The elegant rooms of the late Gothic Butcher's Hall (Vleeshuis) include the former council chamber of the butchers' guild. The impressive brick building, built in 1501-04, was deliberately sited close to the Scheldt, allowing the blood of slaughtered animals to run off into the river.

The Vleeshuis is now a museum of applied art and archaeology with collections of prehistoric, Egyptian, Roman, and Merovingian artefacts; weapons and armor; ceramics; furniture; sculpture and woodwork; and coins.

Among its most prized possessions are a 16th-century depiction of the conversion of Saul created from Antwerp tiles known as the Averbode Retable by Pieter Coecke van Aelst.

The Vleeshuis is also home to an outstanding collection of musical instruments including the remarkable harpsichord from the workshop of Ruckers the instrument-makers.

Address: Vleeshouwerstraat 38-40, Central Antwerp

Antwerp's railway station (called both Antwerp-Centraal or Antwerpen-Central) is one of the most beautiful railway stations in Europe and is considered to be one of the most impressive train stations in the world .

Its nickname of the Railroad Cathedral is a testament to its grandeur, and even those who are not traveling by rail will appreciate a quick peek at its interior.

Built between 1895 and 1905, it is historically significant as the first station of Belgium's public railway, which was itself, the first of its kind in Europe. Belgian architect Louis Delacenserie cherry-picked from several different architectural forms in his design, resulting in a bold, dramatic building that has a timeless style all of its own.

The entrance hall, with its high brick arches and dome, is the grandest section of the station's interior and a regal introduction to Antwerp if you arrive by train.

The station is an easy two-kilometer walk east from Antwerp's Grand Place in the old town, and just over one kilometer northeast from Ruben's House.

Address: Koningin Astridplein 27

The Havenroute is a sightseeing tour of the port area, marked out by the Antwerp Tourist Office. The central city sections can be easily explored on foot, but if you want to follow more of the route, hire a bike.

The Port of Antwerp is second only to Rotterdam among the major seaports of Europe, fully justifying its claim to be one of the largest in the world.

The harbor installations alone cover an area of more than 10,000 hectares, with a further 3,400 hectares of land in industrial use.

Start the Havenroute tour of the docks area from the Loodsgebouw (Pilot House) on the embankment north of the Steen, from where the route heads northwards, passing almost immediately the two oldest docks, the Bonapartedok and Willemsdok, at the far end, where you can see the massive Koninklijk Stapelhuis.

If you have a car or a bicycle, the Havenroute heads out of the city, past the 17th-century Eenhoorn windmill to Lillo (16 kilometers northwest of Antwerp), one of the few polder villages to have survived engulfment by the port.

At Lillo, there is a choice between driving on to inspect the huge Berendrechtsluis, the world's largest lock, or shortening the tour by turning round and following the Havenroute south again towards Antwerp, via the Frans Tijsmanstunnel beneath the Kanaaldok.

Address: Port house, 1 Entrepotkaai, Antwerp

With its sumptuously ornate Baroque interior, St. James' Church (Sint-Jacobskerk) is one of the richest ecclesiastical buildings in Antwerp, blessed with an exceptional endowment of art treasures.

It was the church at which the city's patrician families worshipped, and they regularly commissioned leading artists to design their private chapels, altars, and tombs.

The Rubens Chapel provides the chief focus of interest for visitors. Located behind the high altar, it contains the tomb of the artist (1640) and those of other members of his family.

Address: Lange Nieuwstraat 73, Antwerp

DIVA (Antwerp's museum of diamonds, silver, and jewelry) explores all the different aspects of the trade in diamonds, including sections on their extraction, processing, and industrial use.

It also focuses on Antwerp's long heritage of silversmithing craftwork and jewelry making and how that heritage led to the city's central role in the global diamond trade.

As well as displays of cut and uncut diamonds (genuine) together with copies of the more famous stones, the museum exhibits include a vast showcase of Belgian silverwork, from intricately embossed tableware to delicate jewelry.

The museum is temporarily closed for renovation until December 2022, but a pop-up DIVA museum, displaying a range of the museum's diamond and silver collection, is open in Antwerp's Grand Place (Grote Markt) for this period.

Address: Suikerrui 17/19

Official site: https://www.divaantwerp.be/en/

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Ghent's Flemish Flair : Home to some of Belgium's most impressive architecture, Ghent can be explored easily on foot or by canal. Less tourist-filled than many other historic Flemish cities, this is a good place to go to get a feel for authentic culture.

Bustling Brussels : Like Antwerp, Belgium's capital city of Brussels is home to several fine museums among its many tourist attractions. Tourists visiting Brussels will find a modern and busy city filled with excellent restaurants and cafés.

Lovely Leuven : Home to one of Europe's most prominent universities, Leuven (Louvain, in French) sits east of Brussels on the banks of the Dijle. Despite damage done during the World Wars, Leuven still has many of its original historic buildings, including fine examples of Gothic architecture.

Day Trips from Antwerp : In addition to the larger cities nearby, those looking for good day trip options from Antwerp have plenty of options to choose from, including the beautiful towns of Mechelen, Lier, and Turnhout.

More on Belgium

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Antwerp (Antwerpen/Anvers in Dutch/French) is Belgium’s second city, biggest port and capital of cool. It has long been a powerful magnet for everyone from fashion moguls and club queens to art lovers and diamond dealers. In the mid-16th century it was one of Europe’s most important cities and home to baroque superstar painter Pieter Paul Rubens – as many a museum will regularly remind you. Despite many historical travails thereafter, and severe WWII bombing, Antwerp retains an intriguing medieval heart with plenty of café-filled cobbled lanes, a riverside fortress and a truly impressive cathedral. Today, however, Antwerp’s top drawcards are its vibrant fashion and entertainment scene, along with its startling architectural and cultural contrasts.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Museum Plantin-Moretus

The medieval building and 1622 courtyard garden alone would be worth a visit, but it's the world's oldest printing press, priceless manuscripts and…

This delightfully indulgent 1611 mansion was built as a home and studio for celebrated painter Pieter Paul Rubens. It was rescued from ruins in 1937 and…

Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal

Belgium’s finest Gothic cathedral was 169 years in the making (1352–1521). Wherever you wander in Antwerp, its gracious, 123m-high spire has a habit of…

Museum Mayer van den Bergh

Styled as a 16th-century town house, this superb place was actually constructed in 1904 as one of the first museums in the world built around a single…

Snijder-Rockoxhuis

Combining the impressive 17th-century houses of artist Frans Snijders and of Antwerp lawyer, mayor and Rubens-patron Nicolaas Rockox, this recently…

Grote Markt

As is the case with every great Flemish city, Antwerp’s medieval heart is a classic Grote Markt (market square). Here the triangular, pedestrianised space…

In a monumental neoclassical building topped with winged charioteer statues, KMSKA holds a world-class collection of artistic masterpieces. However, the…

Opened in 2011, MAS is a 10-storey complex that redefines the idea of a museum-gallery. Floors are designed around big-idea themes using a barrage of…

Latest stories from Antwerp

Festivals & Events

Dec 13, 2019 • 1 min read

Winter in Antwerp is designed to capture the magic of the season. The addition of a fairytale forest this year hopes to enhance visitors' sense of wonder.

Jun 1, 2018 • 4 min read

Jun 1, 2018 • 5 min read

Aug 30, 2017 • 5 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Antwerp