Water-rAnt is assembling one hundred and fifteen authentic ships from Antwerp, the harbour and the Scheldt river's delta. You'll become acquainted with more than thirty maritime heritage and nautical organisations. Come aboard for cruises to the Dry Docks site, where an extensive programme awaits you. There's also all sorts of things to experience around the MAS!
The exhibition also tells the story of Antarctica today. You will find out how scientists are still conducting groundbreaking scientific research there. This topical part of the exhibition was created in collaboration with the International Polar Foundation.
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.
- CLOSED - In 1897 the Belgica set off from Antwerp to the last blind spot on the world map: Antarctica. The expedition got stuck in the polar ice and made history as a result. The expo showed how the men managed to survive, who followed in their footsteps, and what Antarctica is like today.
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.
The XIIth North Sea History Conference in 2017 seeks to involve maritime museum professionals and academic scholars, to generate knowledge and present new findings about the maritime culture of the North Sea region.
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.