The MAS collection

The MAS collection comprises just over 600 000 objects and is fully searchable online. Browse here and discover the richness of the collection. Continue your search via MAS Collectie Online.

Paul and Dora Janssen-Arts collection

The Paul and Dora Janssen-Arts collection is a world-famous collection of artefacts from the Americas before Columbus. It illustrates like no other the extraordinary link between life and death in pre-Columbian cultures.

Masterpieces from the Governement of Flanders

Flanders possesses a magnificent collection of movable cultural heritage. With the 'Masterpieces Decree', the Flemish government wants to protect these unique cultural objects. Based on the decree, a list of rare and indispensable objects was compiled. Some of them are part of the MAS collection.

Some remarkable pieces

Magic lantern slides in the light of today

The MAS started digitizing its collection of thousands of slides. These slides that used to be projected with a magic lantern, are finally seeing the light of day again.

beschilderde tegels die een tafereel uitbeelden

Saulustableau

The tile tableau from 1547 is a rare witness to early majolica production in Antwerp, a typical Renaissance phenomenon. The Saulus tableau is a piece of indispensable cultural heritage for Flanders.

Antwerp Hand biscuits

Cookies with a history

The Antwerp Hand biscuits are the most well-known tourist souvenir from the city. In the MAS collection, we find many packagings of the biscuits. However, behind the scenes of the little biscuit, there is more than one story to tell.

Aids Memorial Quilts

Quilts played an important role in commemorating AIDS victims from 1987 onwards. Fortunately, HIV is now less deadly in Europe. Consequently, fewer quilts are being created. This is why the Flemish non-profit organisation Sensoa donated its quilts to the MAS collection.

Beeldje van de jongen Nello en zijn hond Patrasche.

Nello and Patrasche

Jan Corteel devoted himself to promoting the story of Nello and Patrasche in Antwerp and Belgium. Over the years Jan even built up a Nello and Patrasche collection, with all kinds of merchandise and various editions of the book. He donated this collection to the MAS.

Ahopsan

Photographer Mark De Fraeye and his wife donated some of their photo series to the MAS. De Fraeye's series 'Ahopsan Forest' is a visual manifesto for the preservation of the forest.

Scheldt Free!

The freeing of the Scheldt was a landmark event in Flemish history. In mid-1863, Antwerp celebrated that after more than 250 years, merchant shipping on the Scheldt was truly free again. A telling painting of this ‘Scheldt Free!’ celebration from the MAS collection can be seen in our Visible Storage.

Outside the museum

München

Work by Luc Tuymans in MAS collection

Luc Tuymans made a monumental work for the restored Royal Atheneum of Antwerp.

Dead Skull

At the foot of the MAS

On the square in front of the MAS, you literally walk around on world-quality art. A huge mosaic by one of Antwerp’s most fascinating living artists, Luc Tuymans, occupies the Hanzestedenplaats.

Saluting Admiral Couple

On the shoulder of the MAS

At the request of the city of Antwerp, the Antwerp artist Guillaume Bijl created the artwork Saluting Admiral Couple for the fifth anniversary of the MAS. The work gives the monumental building a playful and surprising touch.

A unique collection of vessels

The MAS manages the largest collection of historical vessels in the country. For years, it was displayed under the shelters next to Het Steen, but after a spectacular relocation operation, the vessels found a new home at the Dry Docks site.

Harbour cranes

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

Collection online

Do you want to be able to enjoy all the MAS’s objects from the past, from Antwerp and from the world at any time and in any place? Well, you can, because the MAS also has its entire collection online.

Objects on the move

Many museums in Belgium and abroad are eager to borrow works from the MAS. You may come across pieces from the MAS collection at exhibitions all over the world. Would you like to borrow an artefact for your own exhibition?

Some remarkable pieces

Outside the museum

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