Located in the Zuid District of Antwerp is one of the most splendid buildings of the city, the Royal Museum of Fine Art. Home to a grand collection of some of the finest works of Flemish painters, if you love visiting Museum, this one should definitely make it to your list of places worth seeing in Antwerp. Home to the finest collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings and other forms of art, from the Flemish Golden Era, the Museum exhibits artists like Boetius à Bolswert, Frans Floris, Jan Van Eyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Quentin Matsys, Erasmus Quellinus II, and Appelmans. Apart from the fact that the Royal Museum is homes some of the most valuable paintings of the region, the building itself is well worth the attention and time. Designed and built by Antwerp architects, Jacob Winders and Frans van Dijk, the Royal Museum was actually designed to replace a previous Museum that was razed by fire. Great efforts were made for the new museum to stand at par with the one that previously stood and it took a good six years till the city of Antwerp got its Royal Museum. Built with respect to the Neo- Classic style of Architecture, the Museum till date is considered one of the best looking buildings in the city.

The MoMu-Mode Museum is yet another museum whose theme is sure to garner lots of interest as well as visitors. A unique museum that is especially dedicated to clothing, apparel and fashion, the MoMu Museum manages to enthrall an ardent fashion critic and follower as well as a fashion atheist. Touching a wide array of subjects, the exhibits manage to provide a unique insight about the cultural and societal influences of clothing and fashion along with historical account of the various changes that were brought about in the world of fashion.

Located perfectly at the heart Antwerp’s fashion destination, the ModeNatie, the Museum is next door to the Flanders Fashion Institute, the fashion department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Open since 2002, the Museum is a proud owner of more than 25,000 objects. With exhibits that display the delicate craftsmanship of the region, the Museum also showcases gorgeous garments, exotic fabrics, tools and machines, shoes laces and other accessories that are the key ingredients for a perfect look. Apart from that the Museum also possesses rare antique garments that date back to the 16th century along with contemporary modern apparels. Another unique feature of this splendid museum is its contemporary architecture and interiors. Designed by Belgian architect Marie-José Van Hee, the MoMu Museum is a must visit in Antwerp.

One of the most fascinating museums one can encounter in Antwerp is the Plantin- Moretus Museum. Home to one of the most prolific printing presses of the 16th and 17th century, the Platin – Moretus Museum is a must visit in Antwerp.

Founded by Christoffel Plantin, a Frenchman who from being a mere bookbinder became the most noted publisher and printer of the Renaissance period, the printing press was one of the key factors in establishing Antwerp as one of Europe’s leading cities with regard to the spread of typography and inventions in printing technology. After its establishment, the printing press saw the involvement of Plantin’s son-in-law, Jan Moretus who played a vital role in bringing newer technologies and inventions to the press after the death of Plantin.

After running successfully for over two centuries the company was sold to the city of Antwerp in 1876. It was not until recently that the Museum was given the title of a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The Museum houses some of the world’s oldest surviving printing presses and some extraordinary tools, dyes and matrices that were in use. However, the most prized possession of the Museum remains the extensive library and antique books that are a century or two old. Also noteworthy are the rich and elaborate interiors and the architecture that speak of the opulence of the Platin- Moretus family.

Museums are always windows to the cultural and historical side of any place. If you are bored of looking at the paintings hanging on the walls and need a change from yet another trip to some art gallery or museum exhibiting known painters of yesteryears, then visiting the Ethnographic Museum in Antwerp may be just the change you are looking for.

Different than the rest, the Ethnographic Museum’s main highlights are the cultures, art and heritage of foreign lands. Enjoy the experience of an insight into the daily life, culture and art of ethnic groups of Africa, Oceania, America and the Far East. A museum of international fame and recognition, it is also considered amongst one of the best museums of Europe having earned a special mention by European Museum Commission.

The Museum boasts a vast collection of over 33,000 artifacts which have been gathered since 1864. Tourist attractions of the Museum include sculptures, masks important for rituals and elaborate feathered head dresses from tribes in Western and Central Africa, several Pacific ethnic groups and South American Forests. The Museum also hosts a vast collection of sculptures, scrolls, weaponry and textile from India, China and Tibet. One of the main attractions in Antwerp, the Ethnographic Museum or the Etnografisch Museum as it is known locally is a must visit.

Known for his Counter Reformation portraits, landscapes and paintings, Sir Peter Paul Rubens was a Baroque painter, book illustrator and a diplomat during the early 1600s. The Rubenshuis is a city of Antwerp-owned and curated building that Rubens designed himself and spent most of his lifetime in.

Located on 9, Wapper Street, Rubens purchased this house in 1610 and added a gallery, porch and a large studio in Greco-Roman classic styles and a hint of Italian Renaissance to the structure. Within the walls of this house, Rubens and his students, such as Anthony Van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens, created most of their works. Rubens’ work is categorized by various stages of productivity of his own life. However, all of Rubens’ work that is displayed in the House today came back only after great efforts were put in by the people of Antwerp once it was decided to make the building into a monument in 1937.

The Rubens House is home to paintings such as St. Claire of Assisi, The Annunciation and Adam and Eve made by the great painter himself in addition to the works of other contemporaries of his time. The House also displays various objects of art from the 17th century giving the visitor a peek at the lavish lifestyles of those times. The Renaissance Garden which was renovated in 1993 takes inspiration from Rubens’ paintings and must not be missed.

The Museum Mayer van den Bergh is actually a personal collection of Fritz Mayer van den Bergh, the man who spent his life collecting exquisite and unique artwork. Bergh belonged to an aristocrat family and was destined for a career in diplomacy. An admirer of art from a very young age, Bergh invested in numerous paintings and sculptures. Sharing his interest was his mother, Henriette van den Bergh, who was also responsible for making the Museum available to the public in 1904.

Housed in the most elegant Neo-Gothic house, the museum boasts a rich collection of Northern Renaissance art, as well as artwork from the Gothic era. One of the main reasons the Museum has gained a lot of popularity is the collection of paintings by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, a Flemish painter and paint maker who was best known for his paintings depicting glimpses into the everyday lives of peasants, and breathtaking landscapes.

In fact, the popularization of Pieter Brueghel the Elder is credited to Bergh who was amongst the first to rediscover and generate interest in the work of the artist. The Museum stands to illustrate the keen appreciation and eye for detail that Bergh had, as each exhibit leaves its visitors yearning for more.