Peter Paul Rubens bought a house on the Wapper in 1610 and turned it into a Flemish Baroque palace, with an Italianate studio, a monumental portico and a walled garden where he painted and received collectors and princes. For decades the Rubenshuis was one of the city’s most visited sights. Today the historic residence is closed for a major restoration, and the museum says it will reopen in 2030 at the earliest. What you can visit is still worthwhile. The Rubens Experience, a new visitor building beside the house, uses projections, interactive tools and real works by Rubens and Van Dyck to explain the painter’s life, his workshop and his Antwerp. The restored garden, replanted with more than 22,000 plants with advice from designer Dries Van Noten, is a calm green space in the middle of the shopping district. Treat it as a focused, shorter visit rather than the full house tour of old.
How it works: the renovation is happening in phases, and the museum’s alterations page explains what is open at any moment. In November 2026 that means the Rubens Experience, the garden and the library, while the residence and studio stay closed. Tickets are sold online through the museum’s ticket shop, so check prices and time slots there before you go.
What to expect: the Rubens Experience is an exhibition space rather than a period house, so it suits visitors who want the story of Rubens told clearly and quickly. Expect projections and interactive displays alongside a selection of paintings. Some of the house’s best-known works have been lent abroad during the works, so do not count on seeing a particular painting here.
Making the most of it: combine this visit with the places where Rubens’ work is still on view in its original setting, above all the Cathedral of Our Lady, and with the Rubens hall at the KMSKA. The garden is lovely in spring and summer, but in November it is more structure than flowers. The Meir shopping street is around the corner, so it slots easily into a day in the centre.
What to expect
The experience
A modern exhibition about Rubens with projections and original works, plus the restored garden; the historic residence itself is closed.
Best time
Late morning on a weekday, combined with lunch near the Meir; spring and summer are best for the garden.
How long
Allow about an hour for the Rubens Experience and a stroll in the garden.
Tips
Check the alterations page for what is open and book through the official ticket shop before you go.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Rubens fans who want the background story before seeing his altarpieces in the cathedral.
- Families
- The projections and interactive tools work for older children, but younger ones may prefer the zoo.
- Couples
- Pair a quiet hour here with coffee in the nearby streets and the cathedral in the afternoon.
- Pair with
- The Cathedral of Our Lady and the KMSKA for Rubens paintings in their full glory.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
Is the Rubens House open in 2026?+
The historic residence is closed for restoration and is expected to reopen in 2030 at the earliest. The garden, the Rubens Experience and the library remain open.
What is the Rubens Experience?+
It is a new exhibition space next to the house that tells the story of Rubens with projections, interactive tools and works by Rubens and Van Dyck. It replaces the house tour while the residence is closed.
Can I still see the Rubens garden?+
Yes, the garden is open and has been replanted with more than 22,000 plants, with advice from designer Dries Van Noten. It is at its best in spring and summer.
Where can I see Rubens paintings in Antwerp?+
The Cathedral of Our Lady holds several of his great altarpieces, and the KMSKA has a whole hall of his large canvases. The Rubens Experience also shows a selection of works.
How do I buy tickets?+
Tickets are sold through the museum’s official online ticket shop. Check current prices and opening hours there before your visit.
