Antwerp
About this Place
Antwerp is Belgium’s largest city and one of Europe’s great ports, standing on the River Scheldt in the north of Flanders. It became a leading centre of European trade and finance during the sixteenth century, when its prosperity also supported an extraordinary flowering of printing, painting and architecture. The legacy of the Plantin-Moretus printing house and the work of Peter Paul Rubens reflect that cultural importance.
The port remains central to Antwerp’s economy and international character. The city is also closely associated with the diamond trade, fashion and design, but retains a strong and sometimes proudly idiosyncratic local identity.
Beer forms part of that identity. Brouwerij De Koninck was founded in Antwerp in 1833, and its amber ale Bolleke—named after the rounded glass in which it is served—has become one of the city’s most recognisable symbols. Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie has also revived Seefbier, a historic local beer whose roots can be traced to the sixteenth century. This unusually close relationship between a city, its beer and the glass used to serve it makes Antwerp particularly relevant to the Museum.
Visitor notes
Antwerp’s historic centre includes the Grote Markt, the Cathedral of Our Lady and the streets leading towards the River Scheldt. The Plantin-Moretus Museum explores the city’s exceptional printing history, while the Museum aan de Stroom, known as MAS, provides an introduction to Antwerp and its relationship with the port and the wider world.
Stadsbrouwerij De Koninck offers an interactive brewery visit devoted to Antwerp’s beer culture and the story of the Bolleke. Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie, home of the revived Seefbier, provides another distinctly local brewing experience. Check current opening and visiting arrangements before travelling.
Dog-friendly
Dogs must be kept on a lead no longer than 1.5 metres on Antwerp’s streets and in its parks and nature areas, except within designated off-lead zones. Owners must carry waste bags and clean up after their dogs. Access to museums, breweries, shops, cafés and restaurants varies, so check with individual venues before visiting.