Art & Architecture

Antwerp has always been a hotbed of creativity, but particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries, when artists such as Pieter Paul Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens were active. For an overview of these and other great Flemish artists, visit the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, the Fine Arts museum, which houses Flanders' largest art collection, over 7000 pieces.

Other museums well worth a visit include the Mayer van den Bergh, one man's eclectic collection of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, carpets and stained glass; Rockoxhuis, providing a fascinating insight into 17th century living and art; and Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen (MUHKA), a series of huge airy spaces housed in an old grain silo, where all forms of modern art are exhibited, be it photographs, installations or paintings. If you would rather be outdoors appreciating art, then head for the Middelheim, a park filled with 300 or so fantastic sculptures.

There is stunning architecture to be found almost everywhere you look in Antwerp. Kill two birds with one stone and visit the city's churches, for doses of both art and architecture. The Gothic Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal has two triptychs by Rubens, while St Paul's church plays host to paintings by several masters including Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck and Jordaens.

The Grote Markt, with its 16th and 17th century guild houses and town hall, is at the heart of the city and is a good place to start an architectural tour of Antwerp. Pretty little cobbled streets run off and around this main square, where many historic buildings wait to be discovered. Move further south to the neighbourhood known as Zuid and you will find a wealth of Art Nouveau buildings. Further afield, to the south-east of the city, the Zurenborg area of Berchem has become an architectural curiosity of international fame for its magnificent diverse styles; it was made a protected landscape in 1980.

Architecture continues to be important to the city in the 21st century; the Antwerp Law Courts, by British designer Richard Rogers, are an impressive piece of contemporary architecture opened in 2006.

Museums & Galleries in Antwerp:

Many museums and galleries are closed on Monday�s. Check their website to find out opening times.