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Discover the collection

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.

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.

Happy Birthday Dear Academy

08.09.2013 - 26.01.2014

The Royal Academy for Fine Arts existed 350 years in 2013. At the same time, the renowned Fashion Department turned 50. That is why the whole of Antwerp was dominated by the Academy and the clash between contemporary artistic "violence" and historical heritage.

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.

Colección

Altar of Antwerp

Since 2012, the Mestizo Arts Platform (MAP) collective has been maintaining and renewing the Altar of Antwerp: a participatory installation that invites us to reflect on the meaning of 'what we have lost' in the city. This has been a part of the MAS' permanent collection since 2017.

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.

Mesoamerican object to Brussels

For the exhibition 'Postcolonial?' at the House of European History in Brussels, the MAS is lending an artefact from Mayan culture. It is an object from the collection of Paul & Dora Janssen-Arts.

‘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. 

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. 

African masterpiece at BRUSK

The exhibition “Breedbeeld” in the new art hall sheds new light on Bruges as a metropolis from 900 to 1550. MAS contributes to this prestigious inaugural BRUSK exhibition with a unique ivory masterpiece from the African collection, as well as a cast of a 9th‑century stern ornament.