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Antwerp · Belgium · To discover

Plantin-Moretus Museum

Location & practical

The House That Printed Europe

  • The world's oldest surviving printing presses.
  • Rubens portraits and lavish Renaissance interiors.
  • A magnificent library and peaceful courtyard.
  • €0–12 / person
  • Sint-Andries, historic city centre
  • Museum
  • 60–120 minutes

Christophe Plantin knew how to make ideas travel. In 16th century Antwerp, his printing house grew into the largest in the world, with sixteen presses producing books for readers across Europe. Among its achievements were editions of Ortelius's pioneering atlas and an extraordinary eight volume Bible in five languages, commissioned by Philip II of Spain. Plantin understood the power of the printed word, and made a formidable business of it.

Today, the original workshop is still filled with wooden workbenches, drawers of metal type and printing presses, including the two oldest surviving examples in the world. They are wonderfully imposing machines, a reminder that spreading knowledge once required considerable physical effort.

A few rooms further on, the family residence suggests the business was doing rather well. Gilt leather walls, exquisite cabinets and portraits by Rubens, a childhood friend of Balthasar Moretus, reveal a household with both money and connections. Upstairs, the magnificent library is lined with centuries-old books, while the leafy Renaissance courtyard offers a welcome change of scenery.

For nearly three centuries, successive generations kept the business running and preserved an extraordinary amount of its history: presses, books, furniture and correspondence. That remarkable completeness earned the house UNESCO World Heritage status. You can still see the work that made the family fortune, then wander through the rooms in which it was so evidently enjoyed.

  • Garden

Good to know.

Location
Vrijdagmarkt 22, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Open map & directions
Parking
No on-site visitor parking. Use nearby paid car parks such as Parking Groenplaats, Parking Brabo on Kammenstraat, or Scheldekaai Noord; park-and-ride is another option. Disabled parking spaces can be found on Oever and Sint-Jansvliet. Antwerp city centre is a low-emission zone.
Getting around
A short walk from the Groenplaats and Sint-Andries tram/bus stops. From Antwerpen-Centraal, travel towards Groenplaats by tram or walk through the historic centre. The Steenplein Waterbus landing is approximately 500 metres away.
Arriving
Museum entrance: Vrijdagmarkt 22, 2000 Antwerp. Temporarily closed from 3 August to 4 December 2026; reopening planned for 5 December. The reading room, with its own arrangements, remains open during the works. In normal operation, open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–17:00; closed Mondays except Easter Monday and Whit Monday and on 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December. Closes at 15:00 on 24 and 31 December. Prebook online where possible; payment is cashless. Antwerp city centre is a low-emission zone.
Pets
Pets are not admitted to the museum, shop or garden, including in carriers or pushchairs. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
The accessible ground-floor route offers a substantial visit, with an alternative route around a narrow passage and an accessible toilet. A wheelchair is available to borrow, and a hearing loop is installed at reception. There is no lift: the upper-floor libraries and other rooms are not wheelchair or pushchair accessible. A reduced admission rate applies to visitors unable to use the upper floor, and an accompanying carer enters free. Contact reception for assistance.
Travelling with children
All ages welcome; under-18s enter free. The museum offers an entertaining audio play suitable for ages 8 and above, subject to availability after the December 2026 reopening. Pushchairs are limited to the ground floor; baby carriers are permitted but child-carrying backpacks are not.

Worth knowing

  • Temporary closure: the museum is closed for renovations from 3 August through 4 December 2026; reopening is scheduled for 5 December. Check the museum website before travelling. The reading room operates separately during the closure.
  • Admission in EUR per person: budget_min 0 is the exact free rate for under-18s and certain eligible visitors; reduced admission is 8 for ages 18–25 and selected categories; standard admission is 12 for visitors aged 26 and over. Guided tours and workshops cost extra. The special reopening weekend of 5–6 December 2026 is advertised as free.
  • Normal visiting hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:00; closed most Mondays. The ticket is valid throughout the day, including re-entry. Advance online booking is recommended and payments are cashless.
  • The building has uneven floors and many stairs; no lift serves the upper floor. Wheelchair visitors can use an alternative ground-floor route, but cannot reach the library above.
  • Large bags, backpacks and umbrellas must go into the entrance lockers. Photography is permitted without flash for personal use; tripods and drones are not allowed.
  • There is no museum café; food and drink are not allowed in the museum or garden. The surrounding Vrijdagmarkt has cafés, and same-day re-entry is possible.
  • The courtyard garden can ordinarily be visited without a museum ticket after checking with reception; this does not override the 2026 temporary closure.
  • The building is deliberately dim in places to protect fragile books, prints and documents.

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