Antwerp may be known for its fashion, architecture and food scene, but it is also a wonderful city for art and culture. What I particularly love is the variety. You can spend a morning surrounded by Flemish Masters in a magnificent museum, discover contemporary photography in the afternoon, or wander among sculptures in a peaceful green setting. Here are three very different museums I have visited in Antwerp, each offering its own experience, plus one unexpected architectural gem that takes you beneath the River Scheldt.
KMSKA: for the grand museum experience
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) is worth visiting as much for the building and its playful details as for the art itself. Following an extensive renovation, the museum combines its grand 19th-century galleries with striking contemporary spaces, creating an interesting contrast as you move through the collection.
The collection spans centuries of European art, with an exceptional focus on Flemish Masters such as Rubens and Van Dyck, alongside an important collection of works by James Ensor. But what makes KMSKA particularly enjoyable are the unexpected details you discover along the way.
Look out for the giant nose sticking out from one of the walls, the colourful staircase and other playful elements incorporated throughout the museum. They add a sense of fun to the experience and make the building itself part of the discovery. It is the kind of museum where it is worth slowing down, looking beyond the paintings and noticing what is happening around you.
Give yourself time to wander rather than trying to see everything. Part of the pleasure of KMSKA is moving between the historic rooms and contemporary spaces and discovering the little surprises hidden throughout the museum.
Leopold de Waelplaats 1, 2000 Antwerp
FOMU: For Photography and Contemporary Visual Culture
For a completely different cultural experience, head to FOMU, Antwerp’s photography museum, located in the Zuid district. The museum regularly presents changing exhibitions exploring photography in all its forms, from established names to emerging photographers and contemporary visual culture, which means that every visit can offer something completely different.
One exhibition that particularly stayed with me was the work of Belgian photographer Stephan Vanfleteren. Known for his powerful black-and-white photography and striking portraits, his images have an intensity that makes you stop and really look. It is exactly this ability to discover a photographer, a story or a different way of seeing the world that makes FOMU such an interesting museum to visit.
You do not need to be a photography expert to enjoy FOMU. Some exhibitions simply draw you in visually, while others make you think about the people, places and stories behind the images.
Check the current exhibitions before you go. FOMU is very much shaped by its temporary exhibitions, so each visit can be a completely new experience.
Middelheim Museum: Where Art Meets Nature
For something completely different again, Middelheim Museum takes art outdoors. Set in a beautiful green park on the outskirts of Antwerp, this open-air museum brings together modern and contemporary sculptures that you discover as you wander between trees, lawns and winding paths. There is no need to follow a strict route or try to see everything. Part of the pleasure is simply walking through the grounds and coming across a sculpture when you least expect it.
Some works will make you stop and admire, while others might leave you wondering how on earth they did it. I am still trying to figure out how they managed to get that folded-up boat in there! That sense of surprise is part of what makes Middelheim such a fun place to explore.
The historic Middelheim Castle adds another dimension to the setting, and the combination of art and nature makes this a lovely place to spend a slower few hours away from the centre of Antwerp.
Don’t rush your visit. Middelheim is a place to wander, stop, look and enjoy being outdoors. It is a perfect example of how art and nature can come together and a lovely way to slow down and reconnect while exploring Antwerp.
Middelheimlaan 61, 2020 Antwerpen
If you enjoy places where art and nature come together, discover three more cultural escapes around Brussels, combining museums with beautiful gardens and parkland.
Special Mention: Sint-Annatunnel
It may not be a museum, but the Sint-Annatunnel is one of those unexpected Antwerp discoveries that deserves a special mention.
Opened in 1933, this pedestrian tunnel runs beneath the River Scheldt, connecting the city centre with Linkeroever. What makes it particularly special are the beautifully preserved original wooden escalators, which take you more than 30 metres underground and immediately transport you back in time. The Art Deco details and wonderfully nostalgic atmosphere make the journey down almost as memorable as the tunnel itself. From there, you can walk the 572 metres beneath the river before emerging on the opposite bank, where you are rewarded with a completely different view of Antwerp’s skyline.
If you are visiting FOMU, the two can easily be combined. After exploring the museum, continue through Antwerp’s Zuid district towards the Scheldt and make the Sint-Annatunnel part of your walk back towards the historic centre.
Walk all the way through rather than simply going down to see the escalators. Once you reach Linkeroever, take some time to enjoy the view back across the Scheldt before making your way back. It is a wonderfully unusual way to experience another side of Antwerp.
Continue Exploring Art & Culture in Belgium
If you enjoyed discovering Antwerp through its art and museums, there is plenty more to explore nearby.
→ Museums in Brussels: 3 Cultural Places Worth Discovering
From the beautiful Art Deco setting of Villa Empain to the surreal world of René Magritte and the changing exhibitions at BOZAR, discover three very different cultural experiences in Brussels.
→ Art, Nature & Culture Around Brussels: 3 Beautiful Escapes
Slow things down with three cultural escapes where the surroundings are part of the experience, combining Museum Van Buuren and its gardens, Fondation Folon and Domaine Solvay, and AfricaMuseum with Tervuren Park.
Planning a Trip to Belgium?
Belgium may be small, but there is so much to discover beyond the obvious sights. If you would like help creating a trip that combines art and culture, memorable food, beautiful places and time to simply enjoy where you are, I can create a personalised itinerary around the things you genuinely love.
