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The Eilandje was the place where people gathered on their way to the New World. The magnificent Red Star Line steamers moored on the quay just before the bend in the Scheldt River. When the steam whistle announced an impending departure, the quay swarmed with activity. The Eilandje is currently a sought after place in the city.

Abram Spiwak, searching for his beloved Sophie

Abram Spiwak decided to follow his beloved Sophie to America. He did not have valid papers, but he tried his luck with the financial support of his family.

Heritage Day 2021

The nine contemplations

The nine contemplations on the impurity of the human body depicts how finite the human body is. Japanese monks used such series as an aid to their meditation.

What we preserve

The MAS collection consists of more than 500,000 objects about art, cultural traditions and history of the city and port of Antwerp. But also of Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Oceania.

Become a sponsor

Sponsor the MAS and become our business partner. The MAS can offer enterprises a lot.

Cane and pinfire pistol

The exhibition “Colonialisme. Une Suisse impliquée” is on view at the Château de Prangins (National Museum of Switzerland) through October 11, 2026. For this exhibition, the MAS loaned a cane (made in Kalimantan) and a European-made pistol.

A Batak Pustaha looted from the last Singamangaraja

Two pustaha in the ‘Christoffel Collection’ have been identified in all likelihood as having been looted from Sisingamangaraja XII, a Batak ruler and national hero. What can palaeographic, linguistic and topographic analysis reveal about their provenance, history, and intended use?

In memoriam

Chris De Lauwer

On May 6, 2018 Chris De Lauwer, curator and keeper of the Asia collection in the MAS, passed away. Chris was 62.

Harbour cranes

The MAS' largest and most impressive collection pieces can be seen on the Scheldt quays. And just in front of the MAS, you almost bump into the showpiece of our collection.