The MAS, short for Museum aan de Stroom, is Antwerp’s museum about the city, the river and the world it traded with, housed in a striking tower of red sandstone and wavy glass on the Eilandje, the old dock district north of the centre. It opened in 2011 and has become a symbol of the city’s waterfront revival. You can enjoy it in two ways. With a ticket, you climb through the galleries on the upper floors, which explore Antwerp as a port, as a metropolis and as a crossroads of cultures, together with temporary exhibitions. Without a ticket, you ride the escalators up the glass boulevard that spirals around the building, past free displays and the Visible Storage, to the rooftop panorama. From the top you see the cathedral spire, the docks, the Scheldt and the port cranes, and it stays open in the evening when the galleries have closed.
How it works: the museum galleries and the Visible Storage open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. The boulevard and rooftop panorama open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 22:00 through the winter, and until midnight from April to October. Everything closes on Mondays (except Easter and Whit Monday), on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, and early on 24 and 31 December. The panorama can close temporarily in bad weather.
Tickets: a standard ticket covers the museum halls on the upper floors and the current temporary exhibition, which until 29 November 2026 is Martial Arts on the third floor. Visitors aged 18 to 25 pay a reduced rate, and under-18s and Antwerp City Pass holders get in free but must still reserve a time slot online. The Visible Storage on the second floor and the boulevard exhibition are always free.
Getting there and making the most of it: tram 7 runs to the MAS stop at the end of its line, and tram 24 from Antwerp Central brings you within a ten-minute walk. Combine your visit with the Red Star Line Museum a few minutes away, and come back to the rooftop at dusk for the city lights. The Eilandje docks around the museum are full of cafés and restaurants.
What to expect
The experience
Ticketed museum galleries on the upper floors, plus a free escalator boulevard and rooftop panorama open late into the evening.
Best time
Visit the galleries in the late morning, then return to the free rooftop at sunset or after dark.
How long
Allow about two hours for the galleries and the roof, or thirty minutes for the panorama alone.
Tips
Remember the Monday closure, reserve a time slot online even for free entry, and check the weather before heading to the roof.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who wants the best free view in Antwerp and a quick introduction to the city and its port.
- Families
- Under-18s get in free, and children love the escalator boulevard and spotting ships and cranes from the roof.
- Couples
- Ride up to the rooftop at dusk, then have dinner in the Eilandje docks below.
- Pair with
- The Red Star Line Museum a short walk away, followed by a stroll along the Eilandje docks.
- Time needed
- Two hours with the galleries, or half an hour for the view.
Good questions
Is the MAS rooftop free?+
Yes, the boulevard and the rooftop panorama can be visited without a ticket. They are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 22:00 in winter, and until midnight from April to October.
Is the MAS open on Mondays?+
No, the MAS is closed on Mondays, except on Easter Monday and Whit Monday. It also closes on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
How much is a ticket for the MAS?+
A standard ticket costs a modest fee, with a reduced rate for visitors aged 18 to 25. Visitors under eighteen and Antwerp City Pass holders get in free but should still reserve a time slot online.
How do I get to the MAS?+
Tram 7 stops right at the MAS, and tram 24 from Antwerp Central stops at Londen, about a ten-minute walk away. It is also an easy walk of about twenty minutes from the Grote Markt.
What exhibition is on at the MAS in November 2026?+
The temporary exhibition Martial Arts runs on the third floor until 29 November 2026. Check the MAS calendar for what follows.
