Between the late nineteenth century and the 1930s, the Red Star Line carried some two million passengers from Antwerp to New York and Philadelphia, most of them emigrants from across Europe hoping for a new life in America. The Red Star Line Museum tells their story in the original company buildings on the Rijnkaai in the Eilandje, where third-class passengers once went through medical checks and disinfection before boarding. The museum follows individual travellers from home to the quayside, across the ocean and through Ellis Island, using letters, photos, objects and personal stories, and it connects them to migration today. Famous passengers include Albert Einstein and the songwriter Irving Berlin, but the most powerful moments come from ordinary families. It is thoughtful rather than flashy, and many visitors find it the most memorable museum in Antwerp. It sits a short walk from the MAS, so the two make a natural pair.
How it works: the museum is at Montevideostraat 3 and opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, closing early at 15:00 on 24 and 31 December. It is closed on Mondays (except Easter Monday and Whit Monday), on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Tickets are sold online with time blocks, which is the easiest way to guarantee entry, though walk-ups usually work outside school holidays.
What to expect: the route leads you through the restored sheds where emigrants were processed, with personal stories at every stage of the journey. Allow at least ninety minutes; visitors with family roots in emigration often stay much longer, and the museum runs research help for people tracing ancestors.
Getting there and making the most of it: the MAS tram stop is about 450 metres away, and the walk from the Grote Markt along the river takes around twenty-five minutes. Combine the Red Star Line with the MAS rooftop, then have lunch or dinner in the Eilandje docks. If you are driving, the Montevideo underground car park is right beside the museum.
What to expect
The experience
A storytelling museum in the original emigrant sheds, following real passengers from Europe through Antwerp to America.
Best time
Weekday mornings are quietest; combine it with the MAS rooftop in the afternoon.
How long
Allow ninety minutes to two hours, and longer if you are tracing family history.
Tips
Book a time block online, remember the Monday closure and leave time for the personal stories.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History lovers and visitors with emigrant ancestors in America.
- Families
- Older children and teenagers relate to the personal stories; it is less suited to toddlers.
- Couples
- Pair the museum with a waterside dinner in the Eilandje docks.
- Pair with
- The MAS rooftop a short walk away and the Eilandje docks.
- Time needed
- Ninety minutes to two hours.
Good questions
Is the Red Star Line Museum open on Mondays?+
No, it is closed on Mondays, except on Easter Monday and Whit Monday. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
What was the Red Star Line?+
It was a shipping company that carried emigrants from Antwerp to North America from the late nineteenth century to the 1930s. Some two million passengers sailed with it.
Do I need to book in advance?+
Online tickets with time blocks are the easiest way to guarantee entry. Outside the school holidays you can usually also buy on the day.
How do I get to the Red Star Line Museum?+
The nearest tram stop is MAS, about 450 metres away, and the walk from the Grote Markt takes around twenty-five minutes. The Montevideo underground car park is beside the museum.
Can the museum help me trace my ancestors?+
The museum offers research help for visitors looking for relatives who emigrated. Check the official website for how it works before you go.
