FREE ENTRANCE | Maria Nijs assembled 200 precious dolls, made in Europe between 1830 and 1930. From her remarkable collection, MAS acquired eleven of these dolls. A painting of Maria with her favorite dolls, created by her father, is also part of the MAS collection. The 11 dolls, together with the painting, can be admired in the Visible Storage starting June 9.
What is valuable must be protected. That is the logic of the Flemish Masterpieces Decree. Since the creation of this decree in 2003, just about 1,000 objects and collections have been recognised and protected as masterpieces. Through decree, the government also strengthens public collections by acquiring important masterpieces.
In 2024, we selected a dental collection to perform a valuation on. There was no knowledge within the MAS about the provenance and history of this collection. It was not clear whether these objects had a place within the collection plan.
Book your ticket in advance to ensure that you can visit the museum on your chosen date. When the maximum number of visitors is reached, we can not give you access to the museum without reservation. Book your ticket here.
CLOSED - In the exhibition 'Eyecatchers', 16 Antwerp residents gave their own take on our collection and chose their personal masterpiece. Because a masterpiece is something different for everyone.
Recently, the Flemish Community acquired 'The Virgin of Consolation' by James Ensor. The painting had been on the 'Flemish Masterpieces' list since 2007. You can see the painting until 25 February in the 'Rare & Indispensable' exhibition. After that, it will be given into long-term loan at the MSK in Ghent.
The MAS collection comprises approximately 2,400 objects related to the poesjenelle tradition, originating from the former Folklore Museum: rod puppets, stage props, signs, theatre programmes and photographs. We also have rod puppets from other theatre traditions and a number of hand puppets.
