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Belgian emigrants

In 1890, the painter Louis van Engelen depicted a crowd of Belgian emigrants moving across Antwerp’s Nassau Bridge to the district of Het Eilandje towards a ship. The resident population watches them pass by.

The story of the site

Along the frayed fault line between the city and port lies a raw and rusty area. For many Antwerp residents, this represents a blind spot on the map. However, this area oozes history linked to the once bustling in-city port.

A facade full of hands

The legend of Brabo and Antigoon makes the hand the symbol of Antwerp. But the little hands on the facade are also a reminder of the many patrons who helped build the MAS.

Migrants on deck

Photographs show the people involved and the circumstances surrounding their emigration. Consequently, photography is an important source of information for the story of the Red Star Line.

‘100 x Congo’ wins the 'International Exhibition of the Year’ award

We are very proud to announce that the exhibition '100 x Congo. A century of Congolese art in Antwerp' has been chosen as 'International exhibition of the year' by the British Museums & Heritage Awards. 

In collaboration with Antwerp families

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.

Area

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.

Art of America

Collection Paul & Dora Janssen-Arts

A world famous collection that tells us about the extraordinary relationship between man and the world of gods, ancestors and spirits in America before the conquest by the Europeans.

The Dry Docks site

Vessel collection

Just beyond the MAS lies the dry dock site: nine non active dry docks, former workshops for ship repairers, a pump house which is now a protected monument ... It now houses the MAS vessel collection.