A Must-Visit Gem in Antwerp! MAS was an absolute highlight…read moreof my time in Antwerp. The Compassion exhibit was deeply moving--exactly what I needed and didn't know I was looking for. The museum's location by the port is beautiful, and the experience of exploring each floor was truly special. I loved how each level offered a new perspective--both artistically and visually. The artwork was thoughtfully curated, and taking the escalators between floors revealed stunning views over the city, creating a seamless blend of culture and scenery. Don't miss the panoramic rooftop--it's worth the visit alone.

We did not pay to go inside the museum BUT i will share what you can do for free…read more Walk or ride your bike to this area. If you have a rental bike there is a docking station right in front. There is a children's play area outside as well as plentiful places to sit to enjoy a rest or the sun. Once inside continue to the escalator. There is a free public toilet on the 2nd floor. Very clean. The ladies restroom also has free feminine products for those that need them. The window design blew me away and I wanted to stop on each floor to take photos and have a moment to take in the view. Continue to the roof top. Here you will have a 360 view of the city. Great place for photos. There is a thick plexiglass but you can hold your camera/phone up and reach the top. I cannot get over the glass design and how it continuously curves. Just simply amazing. On the Saturday we were there they had 2 art areas for children to create a photo. There is one free museum entry exhibit that impressed me-it is the storage area of pieces that either are rotated and stored. I do wish that all museums had this. Very neat to see behind the scenes. These items are in cages but you can see them still. Very interesting to also see the labels, tags etc. Definitely do not miss this. Tickets to actually go in the museum are sold on the first floor as soon as you enter the building to the right. There is a cafe and in the area several places you can eat and drink. You can also take a walk and see all the docked boats.

Around the corner from the Mode Museum, is a street, which is more like an alley, called…read moreKopstraatje. I heard that it was once just a run-down alley but some very good graffiti artists came to town and spruced it up, transforming it into an outdoor art museum. Its hard to describe the art, so have a look at the photos!

My mother and I visited this museum while we were in Brussels a few months ago and it was another…read moregreat museum in Brussels. They have a TON of paintings and sculptures. They have some great stuff here and I really liked the space in between each piece of art, as odd as that sounds, it let you spread out a bit when looking at a painting. There are many, huge rooms on two floors and there was something around every corner. This place was really cool and I would definitely visit here again.

This is one of Belgium's most famous fine arts museum. The buying tickets process is a bit…read morecomplicated as there are options to buy one exhibit or multiple exhibits. Either way, the ticket prices aren't hugely expensive and each exhibit is quite good so even if you buy the wrong exhibit, you'll have a good time. The museum itself is huge and I really appreciate them having electronic kiosks here and there to tell the stories of the paintings. There was one kiosk explaining how a painting of a family portrait got chopped off into three bits and the process of then identifying these pieces as a singular unit. I thought the story was quite incredibly as you not only learn about the art but also the way the museum conducts its business. While I was walking, I noticed that there was an English led tour going on and decided to join in. Not sure if this is for additional moneys, but honestly I would highly HIGHLY recommend. This is the only reason why the museum would get a 5-stars. The explainer was absolutely amazing, I definitely think that this was the best art museum tour I have ever been on. The guide didn't talk about many paintings, maybe 10-15 during the 1 hour tour, but every single painting she did talk about had such an interesting backstory and you're not learning just about the history but also about how the museum curates its work. You will definitely be able to get a deeper sense of appreciation for this place. Overall, highly recommend visiting, especially if you're deciding on going on a tour. The surrounding areas are also very nice too and would highly recommend checking out the surrounding architectures after the gallery visit.

Just a heads up -- the majority if art in here is by other artists. There are a few wonderful…read morepieces from Rubens himself but don't expect a museum of his work. This is mostly art that was part of his personal collection and the work of his contemporaries. Rubens is an example of an artist that was successful during his lifetime. He operated a studio and was very in demand. Thus, due to his wealth, the house is quite beautiful. The tour of the house is self-guided. They have booklets in various languages with numbers corresponding with art pieces. You just follow the path and bury your nose in your booklet to learn about the art. You don't need too much time here. If you move fast, you can probably see everything in one hour. This may change depending on how crowded the museum gets. The rooms are pretty small but it wasn't too bad when I came here since it was a rainy day at the end of August. **Make sure you see everything. The last room is the most beautiful (large paintings). Don't skip the courtyard in the back either -- gorgeous architecture (although they are currently restoring it). **Free on the last Wednesday of the month. I had no idea but just so happened to visit Antwerp on this day so I got very lucky.

The Rubenshuis, which was the home of the famous painter Pieter Paul Rubens is a site to see if you…read moreneed time to kill. From the outside it looks tremendous and while it does not disappoint from the inside, I felt a little down after seeing the whole thing. Now while this is not the cheapest attraction in the town by far, it will not break the bank, the problem really comes down to what you are expecting. I expected to see more of the lifestyle of Pieter Paul Rubens, but what I got was a refinished house full of art setup in the way of a small art museum. Do not get me wrong, the sculptures and paintings are wonderful, but nothing to write home about when compared to many other museums nearby. Couple that with the small hallways and large crowds and it will have you rushing for the exit as soon as possible. We ended up walking around pretty freely as not many were there an hour after the opening on a crummy weather day, but as we were leaving, we saw a HUGE group heading in, so be aware this may not be friendly for those with no patience or claustrophobic. On the plus side, the back yard and garden is beautiful in the Spring and Summer, but sadly the buildings facade was getting a makeover when we were there. Was it deserving of more than a three star, yes, but I'd leave it at a 3.5 out of 5 to be honest. Still worth visiting though if you read up on it beforehand and interests you.

A small but enjoyable museum located in one of the 3 old townhalls of Mechelen that dates back to…read morethe end of the 13th century. And it's free! The building itself is already worth a visit: it was originally the place where the town elders met, but it later became the location of the parliament of the Netherlands (when it was still 17 provinces together with Holland, Luxemburg and Northern France). The museum has a small but exquisite collection of polychromed wooden statuettes of St Mary and saints dating to the 16th century and a unique collection of beguinage art (the "hofkens" or "little gardens") - triptyches that were partly painted, partly decorated by the "beguines". Hard to explain and I didn't have a camera with me!

Thoughtful exhibitions, great place to host a conference, the staff is excellent and they pay…read moreattention to large groups.

From the owner: M - Museum Leuven is een museum in de Leuvense binnenstad, op de locatie van het vroegere stedelijk…read moremuseum Vander Kelen-Mertens. Het museum beschikt over een eigen collectie van circa 46.000 werken. De opening vond plaats op 20 september 2009 door de Belgische prinses Mathilde en de Nederlandse prinses Máxima. M - Museum Leuven was de laureaat van de museum- en publieksprijs van de Vlaamse MuseumPrijs 2011.

I had a really nice time walking through this museum alone. Tons to see, loved seeing the royal…read moregems and the featured metal exhibit. There's a lot of history about diamonds and antwerps breakout of the diamond industry. The whole thing took maybe an hour without t stopping to listen to every little thing, I even found my own engagement ring cut in the case! They have a small gift shop at the end that you can browse, along with a pamphlet that shows recommended diamond shops in the city.

From the owner: DIVA is het nieuwe diamantmuseum met een hart voor zilver in Antwerpen. In een thematisch…read moretentoonstellingsparcours ervaart de bezoeker het historische en hedendaagse diamantverhaal in Antwerpen. Ontdek DIVA en treed binnen in een schitterend universum vol diamant, juwelen en edelsmeedkunst. DIVA, dé nieuwe ster in Antwerpen, en haar butler Jérome nemen je mee op een reis doorheen het Antwerpse diamantverhaal. Uniek vakmanschap, boeiende verhalen, meeslepende emoties en indrukwekkende ensceneringen wachten op je in dit briljante museum... DIVA est le nouveau musée du diamant d'Anvers, avec un oeil pour l'orfèvrerie. L'exposition entraîne un parcours thématique dans lequel le visitateur vit aussi bien la vieille histoire que l'histoire contemporaine des diamants à Anvers. Découvrez DIVA le nouveau musée du diamant à Anvers et entrez dans un univers splendide, plein de diamants, bijoux et d'orfèvrerie. DIVA, la nouvelle étoile d'Anvers, en son majordome Jérôme vous accompagnerons dans un voyage à travers l'histoire du diamant Anversois. Dans ce musée brilliant, vous retrouverez de l'expertise hors-norme, des récits passionants, de fortes émotions et des mises en scène impressionantes.

My museum timing is often uncannily bad, but this time I must've gotten lucky, because very soon…read morethis space will be closed for a lonnnnnng time. Sneaked in! Lots of paintings by the artist in a dark and visceral space. Bookcases always a good thing too. His famous hellscape is on display in it's own room with a bench and low lighting, so that was good thinking by the curators. The gift shop has some nice postcards and magnets and other little objects. The staff is friendly. There are lockers to put your stuff. The price is right. Keen eyed museum goers might find an oddly placed box containing several keys in one of the galleries. I couldn't help but snoop around in it... it's a little thing for the kids to find. If I was a wee one and I found this box, I would be losing my shit. Such a great idea by the staff! You turn in the key to the front desk and get a little surprise. Adults too, apparently :D

This house museum is a gorgeous way to step back in time. While not a huge place, it packs a big…read morepunch. You can wind your way through a few floors of charming art and history, appreciating interesting details as you go. They are currently interspersing a few contemporary works to juxtapose them with the permanent collection, which was something different. Visit both this lovely place and the Rockoxhuis Museum on your trip to Antwerp!