The KMSKA, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, reopened in 2022 after more than a decade of renovation and has become one of the most visited museums in Belgium, setting a new attendance record in 2025. The grand nineteenth-century building in the Zuid district now hides a second museum inside it: around the restored historic galleries with their coloured walls and Old Masters, the architects built a bright white modern museum for art from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The collection spans seven centuries. Highlights include Flemish Primitives such as Jan van Eyck, a whole gallery of large Rubens canvases, Van Dyck and Jordaens, and the world’s largest collection of works by James Ensor, alongside Rik Wouters and René Magritte. It is the single best place in Antwerp to understand why the city mattered so much to European art.
How it works: the KMSKA is open every day. Weekday hours are 10:00 to 17:00, weekends and public holidays 10:00 to 18:00, and during the Flemish school holidays it stays open until 18:00 every day. On Thursdays, KMSKA LATE keeps the doors open until 22:00, except during the summer and Christmas holidays. It closes on 25 December and 1 January and closes early on 24 and 31 December.
Tickets: book online and choose a time slot, with visits starting every half hour. Adults pay a standard museum fee, visitors aged 18 to 26 pay half, and under-18s get in free. Museumpass holders also enter free but must reserve a slot. The free KMSKA app has audio tours, so bring headphones.
Making the most of it: start with the Old Masters on the upper floor, where the Rubens hall is the showstopper, then descend into the white modern galleries for Ensor and the twentieth century. A Thursday evening visit is calmer and feels special. The museum sits in the Zuid district, with cafés and restaurants all around, and tram connections back to the centre.
What to expect
The experience
A timed-entry visit to two museums in one: restored historic galleries of Old Masters and a hidden white modern museum for later art.
Best time
Weekday mornings are calmest, and Thursday evenings at KMSKA LATE are relaxed and atmospheric.
How long
Allow two to three hours to see the Old Masters, the Rubens hall and the Ensor galleries.
Tips
Book a time slot online, download the free app for audio tours and bring your own headphones.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers and anyone who wants to see Rubens, Van Eyck and Ensor under one roof.
- Families
- Under-18s go free, and the bright modern galleries and family trails help keep children engaged.
- Couples
- Book a Thursday evening slot, then have dinner in the Zuid district afterwards.
- Pair with
- The Cathedral of Our Lady for Rubens in situ, then the Rubens Experience and garden.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours, longer if you linger over the Old Masters.
Good questions
Is the KMSKA open on Mondays?+
Yes, the KMSKA is open every day, unlike most Antwerp museums. It closes only on 25 December and 1 January.
Do I need to book KMSKA tickets in advance?+
Booking online with a time slot is recommended, and visits start every half hour. Museumpass holders must also reserve a free time slot.
Is the KMSKA free for children?+
Yes, visitors under eighteen get in free. Visitors aged 18 to 26 pay a reduced rate.
What is KMSKA LATE?+
On Thursdays the museum stays open until 22:00. This does not apply during the Flemish summer and Christmas holidays.
Which famous artists are in the KMSKA collection?+
The collection includes Jan van Eyck, Rubens, Van Dyck and Jordaens, plus the world’s largest collection of James Ensor. Rik Wouters and René Magritte are also represented.
