Soon, visitors will once again have the opportunity to admire the masterpieces of artists like Peter Paul Rubens, Jan van Eyck, Anthony Van Dyck, Hans Memling, and James Ensor at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), which is set to reopen after eleven years of renovations. This is a momentous occasion for art lovers.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 24, 2022, as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp will finally welcome guests back through its doors! After more than a decade of necessary closure for extensive restoration and expansion, this magnificent cultural institution is ready to shine.
The renovation project involved significant work on both the interior and exterior of the museum. The facade has been meticulously restored, and a vibrant new mosaic enhances the entrance. Every detail of the interior has been carefully addressed, culminating in the creation of a grand new museum garden to enrich the visitor experience. The transformation of the museum’s four existing terraces has also increased its capacity, resulting in an impressive 40% more exhibition space. These historic premises are now prepared to embrace the future.
After this lengthy wait, we eagerly anticipate a heartfelt reunion with the finest offerings from our Flemish Masters and their international peers, showcasing splendor and artistry. The new Rubens Hall will serve as the centerpiece of the revitalized KMSKA. True to its name, this hall will focus on the altarpieces created by Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, honoring one of Antwerp’s most celebrated figures.
The museum will also feature the works of other significant artists, such as James Ensor, a key innovator in many modernist movements. KMSKA boasts the largest collection of Ensor’s works in the world, presenting a vibrant overview of his groundbreaking artistic journey.
In addition to highlighting the Flemish Masters, the renovated KMSKA will juxtapose their works with those of their successors, creating a dialogue that spans centuries and connects past and present.
This is just the beginning of the remarkable offerings at Antwerp’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts. As the largest museum in Flanders, KMSKA proudly houses over 8,000 artworks, with approximately 650 pieces on permanent display in the new layout.