The Snijders&Rockox House is the best place in Antwerp to imagine how wealthy residents lived in the age of Rubens. The museum occupies two adjoining seventeenth-century patrician houses on the Keizerstraat: one belonged to Nicolaas Rockox, a mayor of the city, and the other to his neighbour, the painter Frans Snijders. Inside are paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, Teniers and other masters, set among art cabinets, sculptures, tapestries and ceramics in rooms that feel like homes rather than galleries. A courtyard garden adds a calm outdoor space, and the museum also tells the story of the Duarte family, who were known for their musical talents. It is small enough to see in an hour, and it is rarely crowded, which makes it a restful complement to the grander museums.
What it is
A house museum, a different experience from the large public galleries. Because the collection is displayed in domestic rooms, you see paintings in a setting similar to the one for which they were made, with furniture, objects and decoration that explain the taste and wealth of the city’s elite. The names on the walls are impressive, but the atmosphere is intimate.
Practical details
The museum is at Keizerstraat 10-12 and is open from 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Sunday; it appears to be closed on Mondays. A guided tour is recommended for the fullest experience, as the guides explain the stories behind the rooms and the objects. Check the museum’s website or phone for current ticket details before you visit, since admission categories can change. The Keizerstraat is a short walk from the Meir shopping street, so it is easy to fit into a day in the centre.
Making the most of it
Allow an hour to ninety minutes and visit on a weekday if you prefer quiet. It pairs well with the Rubens Experience and Garden, which offers a different view of the painter’s life, and with the cathedral, where Rubens’s great altarpieces hang.
If you have time for only one house museum in Antwerp, this is a strong choice. The nearby Mayer van den Bergh museum is currently closed for renovation, so this visit also helps to fill that gap for visitors who want to see Antwerp’s older collections in a domestic setting.
What to expect
The experience
A house museum in two seventeenth-century patrician homes, with paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens and others and a courtyard garden.
Best time
Weekday mornings and afternoons; it is usually quiet.
How long
About an hour to ninety minutes.
Tips
A guided tour is recommended, and it is closed on Mondays; confirm ticket details before you go.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers who like intimate settings and Baroque painting.
- Families
- Better suited to older children with an interest in art.
- Couples
- A quiet, atmospheric stop that is rarely busy.
- Pair with
- The Rubens Experience and Garden, or the cathedral for the Rubens altarpieces.
- Time needed
- About an hour to ninety minutes.
Good questions
Where is the Snijders&Rockox House?+
At Keizerstraat 10-12 in Antwerp’s centre, a short walk from the Meir.
When is it open?+
Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
What can I see there?+
Paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens and Teniers, plus art cabinets, sculptures, tapestries, ceramics and a courtyard garden.
Who lived in the houses?+
One house belonged to Nicolaas Rockox, a mayor of Antwerp, and the other to the painter Frans Snijders.
Is a guided tour worthwhile?+
Yes, a guided tour is recommended for the fullest experience of the rooms and collection.
