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World Port | About trade and shipping

Closed 22.08.2021

Once the largest port in the world, today the Port of Antwerp is characterised by colourful containers. It connects the city with the rest of the world. The exhibition 'Word Port' dived into the history of our port. 

The port in pictures

In the exhibition you could encounter the port as a small settlement and followed its ups and downs as it grew into one of the world’s largest international crossroads. Unique ship models, film footage, stories, old maps and tools demonstrated the expansion of the port, commerce, shipping and the people that made it all happen.

Here you could smell the world

Antwerp’s growth was due in part to the Scheldt and the port. In the Middle Ages, the city was bursting at the seams. From the 16th century, explorers sent exotic products and spices from here to the rest of the world. You could walk past the smell boxes and inhale the scents of products that were imported via the port of Antwerp.

Practical

  • 'World Port. About trade and shipping' was on display on the 6th floor until 22/08/2021.

About the exhibition

Take a virtual look at 'World Port'

Our museum halls are also virtually available. Explore our exhibition 'World Port'.

See also

Harbour cranes

Discover the 18 ‘giants’ in our collection: the largest collection of historic harbour cranes in the world.

Grain elevator 19

The historic grain elevator is under joint management of the MAS and the Maritime Museum Rotterdam. The extraordinary vessel will moor half of the time in Antwerp and the other half in Rotterdam.

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