MAS, short for Museum aan de Stroom, is a museum in Antwerp’s Eilandje dock district, at Hanzestedenplaats 1. Its red sandstone and glass tower explores the city’s history, port, and connections with cultures around the world. Exhibitions span subjects from shipping and trade to migration and daily life. You can also visit the rooftop viewpoint without buying an exhibition ticket, for broad views across Antwerp and its harbour. The building’s design and changing perspectives on the way up are part of the visit.
A museum shaped by Antwerp’s port
MAS stands in Eilandje, the old dock district beside the River Scheldt. Its name, Museum aan de Stroom, means Museum by the River. The museum opened in 2011, bringing a new cultural landmark to an area with a long history of warehouses and shipping.
Designed by Dutch architects Neutelings Riedijk, the building is made of stacked red sandstone forms and rippling glass. Its shape recalls the storage buildings of the port, while the glass changes the view as you move through the tower. The museum’s position links its subject matter to the working docks nearby: Antwerp’s history as a trading city and its relationships with the wider world.
Themes across the exhibition floors
The displays connect local stories with international history and culture. Themes include trade and shipping, Antwerp’s place in the world, and the ways people live and understand power and belief. Objects range from maritime artefacts and everyday utensils to pre-Columbian pieces and gas masks from the Second World War. Temporary exhibitions add subjects that change over time, so the displays can differ between visits.
The museum is arranged across multiple floors, with a different subject on each level. A children’s exhibition floor makes room for younger visitors, while other displays approach Antwerp’s past through objects and the stories behind them. Some areas are free to enter and others require a ticket. Check which exhibitions are on and what access is included when planning your visit.
Finding your way through MAS
The route through the building leads visitors upwards, with escalators and views through the glass along the way. Each turn gives a different angle on the building and the surrounding docks. Allow time to stop at exhibits rather than treating the climb as only a route to the top; the collection covers both the city’s past and its connections with other places.
Most exhibition documentation is not in English. QR codes beside many displays provide a way to access translations on a phone, and information booklets are available at room entrances. These can help you follow the themes without rushing from floor to floor.
The rooftop viewpoint
The rooftop is accessible without an exhibition ticket and gives a wide panorama of Antwerp and its harbour. The outlook includes the city’s rooftops and landmarks as well as the industrial scenery of the docks. Lower viewpoints along the route can show the city at a different angle, so pause on the way up rather than saving all your time for the top.
If you visit around sunset, the changing light brings a different character to the skyline. You can make the rooftop your main stop if time is short, or combine it with the exhibitions for a fuller visit. The museum also has a restaurant, ‘t Zilte, and spaces to pause inside the building.
Häufige Fragen
Is the MAS rooftop free to visit?
Yes. You can go to the rooftop viewpoint without buying an exhibition ticket.
How long should I spend at MAS?
Around 90 minutes is a useful starting point. Allow longer if you want to explore several exhibition floors as well as the rooftop.
Are the exhibitions in English?
Much of the exhibition documentation is not in English. QR codes beside many displays and information booklets at room entrances can help with translations.
Is MAS open on Mondays?
No. The museum is closed on Mondays.
