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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.

Display of Power | About Prestige and Symbols

17.05.2011 - 18.02.2018

People have been fascinated by power for centuries. Why is power so seductive? What kind of prestige accompanies it? A highly topical theme in which – who knows? – you may find some personal relevance.

Look at '100 x Congo'

You didn't yet manage to come and see '100 x Congo' in the MAS? Or would you like to take another look at the exhibition after your visit? Our guide Baudouin Mena takes you through the museum hall in our digital exhibition and gives you some additional information. 

Discover the collection

Antwerp is a port city where the world has been mooring at the docks for centuries. The MAS collection is the place where city and world meet. 500,000 exhibits offer a varied perspective on the city and its age-old contacts with the world. Some of them are displayed in permanent and temporary exhibitions, but most are kept in storage. In the Visible Storage area, the MAS lifts a corner of the veil. For the really inquisitive, the MAS also has its entire collection on display online.

Objects in the exhibition

Except for a dozen or so loans, all the pieces on display in the exhibition come from the MAS collection. The objects have been chosen for what they portray, their significance or their (historical) story.

Congo in the MAS

The origin of the Congolese collection in the MAS dates back about a hundred years.

Manned V1

Manned flying bomb at La Coupole, France

On June 12, 1945, American Brigadier General Clare H. Armstrong donated two V-bombs to Antwerp as a reminder of the bitter struggle: an intact V1 practice bomb and a slightly damaged manned flying bomb. This bomb, the ReIV, we loaned to the Musée La Coupole near Saint-Omer in northern France.

Brabofountain to museum DIVA

This unique silver showpiece is one of the permanent loans to DIVA. It is a copy of the Brabofountain in Antwerp's Grote Markt. The bronze statues on a rock of basalt stones were executed in silver and set on a rock of amethyst.

Stuff

3.04.2020 - 6.06.2022

CLOSED - The Belgian philosopher Jaap Kruithof (1929-2009) collected 10,000 items, things that other people usually discard. Half of the Kruithof collection - which was donated to the MAS - was given a new life thanks to the visual work of artists Guy Rombouts and Benjamin Verdonck. In the MAS, they created a new installation with the objects.

The MAS has many more stories to tell

In the exhibition, you can listen to twelve stories from Antwerp and around the world. But the MAS has collected many more. Read a few more here.