Name: MAS - Museum aan de Stroom
Address: Hanzestedenplaats 1, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Telephone: 03 338 44 00
Rating: 4.5

Striking red sandstone museum with high-tech exhibitions exploring Antwerp's place in the world.

Grand Place

Provided by Google

Efteling

Atomium

Manneken Pis

De Pier

The MAS stands tall at 60 meters, offering panoramic views of Antwerp and its harbor.

Meter Height

The museum's distinctive exterior is clad in Indian red sandstone, giving it a unique and striking appearance.

Indian Red Sandstone

A spiral walkway, known as 'the boulevard', allows visitors to ascend through the museum, experiencing different perspectives of the city as they climb.

The Boulevard

The MAS is located in the old docklands, a historically significant area that once served as a bustling hub for global trade.

Old Docklands

The MAS collection contains approximately 3,000 objects, showcasing the history of Antwerp, its port, and its connection to the world.

Objects

The MAS uses visible storage, allowing visitors to see a wider range of artifacts than are typically displayed in traditional museum settings.

Open Collection

MAS - Museum aan de Stroom

The MAS, Museum aan de Stroom in Antwerp, distinguishes itself through its striking architectural design, a stack of red sandstone volumes that spiral upwards, offering panoramic city views from its rooftop promenade. More than just a museum, it's a vertical city square, accessible even without a ticket. Its collection isn't focused on a single theme, but rather explores Antwerp's multifaceted history and its relationship with the world, encompassing port history, art, and ethnography. A unique aspect is its visible storage, allowing visitors glimpses into the curatorial process and the vast collection not currently on display. The museum's name, "Museum by the Stream," reflects its location on the Eilandje, a former docklands area, and its thematic focus on the flow of people, goods, and ideas. Interestingly, each floor is rotated 90 degrees relative to the one below, creating a dynamic internal space and contributing to the building's distinctive silhouette.

Introduction

The MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) in Antwerp redefines the museum-gallery concept through its architectural design and integration of public art. Opened in 2011, this ten-story complex incorporates big-idea themes using diverse media, including master paintings, tribal artifacts, and video installations. Half the building is dedicated to special exhibitions, offering visitors a choice between these and the permanent collections.

A key element of its public art integration is the succession of external escalators that lead to the MAS' open roof, providing a remarkable view of Antwerp. This feature is accessible without paying the museum entry fee, effectively turning the building's exterior into a public space. Additionally, three small, free pavilions outside the museum showcase exhibits on Antwerp’s port, diamond, and silver industries, further blending the museum's themes with the city's identity. This integration extends beyond the building's walls, engaging the public with Antwerp's cultural and economic heritage. The architectural design itself serves as a form of public art, drawing visitors and locals alike to experience the city from a unique vantage point.

Public Art Integration

The MAS, or Museum aan de Stroom, in Antwerp offers a unique vantage point for panoramic city views from its rooftop terrace. This feature, along with the ascending walking boulevard, is accessible to the public free of charge until late in the evening, establishing it as a popular tourist attraction. The building itself, designed by Neutelings Riedijk Architects, stands 60 meters tall, providing an elevated perspective of Antwerp and its surroundings.

Located in the old harbor on the Eilandje, the MAS's viewing platform allows visitors to observe the connection between Antwerp and the world, mirroring the museum's curatorial focus. From this height, one can appreciate the city's historical architecture, the bustling port, and the flow of international trade and shipping. The panoramic vista encapsulates the essence of Antwerp as a global hub.

Adding to the experience, the museum's location near the Stapelhuis Sint-Felix, the former Loodswezen building, and the Red Star Line Museum enriches the visual narrative. The rooftop view offers a comprehensive understanding of Antwerp's urban landscape and its historical layers. The panoramic views from the MAS provide a compelling reason to visit, offering a memorable perspective of Antwerp's identity.

Panoramic City Views

The Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) in Antwerp stands as a notable example of modern architectural innovation, distinguished by its geometric configuration of variegated stone and wave-shaped glass panels. This design creates a visually striking structure that resembles a child's block puzzle, setting it apart from traditional museum architecture. Overlooking the harbor, the MAS occupies the former site of the Hanseatic warehouse, a location that adds historical context to its modern design.

The building's ten-story structure allows for a diverse range of exhibits within a cohesive architectural framework. The use of varied stone and the incorporation of wave-shaped glass panels demonstrate a commitment to innovative materials and design techniques. This approach not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the museum but also creates a unique spatial experience for visitors. The architectural design facilitates a seamless integration of form and function, providing an engaging environment for exploring the museum's collections. The MAS exemplifies how modern architecture can transform a municipal museum into a landmark, blending historical significance with contemporary design principles.

Architectural Innovation

For those captivated by Antwerp's rich maritime past, the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) offers a unique vantage point. Situated overlooking the harbor on the former site of the Hanseatic warehouse, the museum's very location speaks to Antwerp's historical prominence as a global trade hub.

Within the MAS, exhibits delve into Antwerp's significant role as the largest trade and shipping port in the world. The museum meticulously explores this aspect of the city's identity, providing insights into the factors that propelled Antwerp to the forefront of maritime commerce. The rooftop, enclosed with glass walls, provides a 360-degree view of the city and the port, offering a modern perspective on the landscape that shaped Antwerp's maritime legacy.

Beyond dedicated exhibits, the MAS provides access to an extensive storage area, housing over 180,000 items, many of which relate to Antwerp's maritime activities. This glimpse into the museum's vast collection offers the potential for unexpected discoveries and a deeper understanding of the city's seafaring heritage. The museum's location and collection make it a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand Antwerp's enduring connection to the sea.

Antwerp's Maritime History

The MAS - Museum aan de Stroom distinguishes itself through its collection of global significance, housing over 500,000 pieces that extend far beyond local narratives. While the museum explores Antwerp's history, including its gastronomic evolution and former prominence as a global trade hub, its dedication to international subjects sets it apart. The museum delves into mankind's diverse approaches to death and spirituality across cultures, alongside celebrations of rites of passage from around the world.

A significant highlight is the eighth floor, which showcases one of Europe's most extensive collections of pre-Columbian American art. This exhibit focuses on the intricate relationship between native cultures and their deities, offering a unique perspective on ancient civilizations. Beyond these permanent displays, MAS regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that explore a wide array of subjects, further enriching its global perspective.

The museum's unique storage area on the second floor provides visitors with a glimpse into the vast collection, displaying over 180,000 items awaiting integration into exhibit space. This transparent approach to its collection underscores the museum's commitment to showcasing a diverse range of artifacts and narratives from across the globe. The rooftop sculpture, "Saluting Admiral Couple", created by Guillaume Bijl, also adds a layer of local art to the global context viewed from the panoramic city view.

MAS - Museum aan de Stroom

Did You Know?

Meter Height

Indian Red Sandstone

The Boulevard

Old Docklands

Highlights from Reviews

Location