The MAS, together with a number of key partners, collected stories from Antwerper citizens about what a "home" means to them. A dozen families collaborated on the exhibition for a year.
The expo featured loans from the Royal Yacht Club of Belgium and private collectors. A detailed Antwerp roadsted view and ship models attributed to Robert Mols, were the eye-catchers from the MAS collection.
V-bombs hit Antwerp hard in the winter of 1944-45. The blast at Cinema Rex was the deadliest bomb strike in history. The City at War exhibition features a large V1 practice bomb, surrounded by small, personal souvenirs. They show how deeply the attacks affected the lives of residents.
On Saturday 6 April 2013 the artist and filmmaker Hans Op de Beeck made “Dance”, a contemporary film about migration for the Red Star Line Museum. It was a cold spring day but the commitment and the enthusiasm of the 770 extras was heart-warming.
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.
CLOSED | Celebration! invited you to celebrate the moments of transition in life. A mix of festive objects, in an colourful arrangement with a unique soundtrack.
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.
"Freight" is the story of a port in the long history of globalisation. From the Vikings to today. A story about glorious periods and extraordinary encounters, but also about the downsides of economic growth.
Portopolis, the interactive visitor center about the Port of Antwerp located at the MAS, closed its doors on April 19, 2026. In December 2026, Havenwereld - an innovative experience center on the Droogdokken site - will open. It will build on the strengths of Portopolis, with an added focus on experience, current events, and education.
