Red Star Line Museum

The basics

Highlights of the museum’s permanent collection include a cross-section model of the Belgenland II ship, which gives a good sense of life during the long sea voyage; paintings by Eugeen Van Mieghem and Louis van Engelen; and a commemorative memorial book that belonged to Henri Schulsinger, the co-founder of the Jewish aid organization Ezra. The museum features on the route of the Antwerp hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour, which lets you customize your itinerary according to which attractions capture your attention.

Things to know before you go

• Red Star Line Museum is fully accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

• You can’t bring backpacks and large bags into the exhibition; you’ll need to store them in the lockers in the basement, for which you’ll need a €1 coin.

• You can’t bring selfie sticks into the museum or take photos with a flash.

• There’s a museum shop where you can buy souvenirs and an indoor picnic area where you can eat your own drinks and snacks on communal tables.

How to get there

Located north of the city center, the closest bus stops to the museum are MAS and Londen, both within a 10-minute stroll of Red Star Line Museum. There’s a Velo (bikeshare) station in front of the museum, where you can rent bikes. You can also take the DeWaterbus over the river—the stop is 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) from the entrance.

When to get there

Red Star Line Museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday from mid-morning until late afternoon. It’s closed on Mondays, except for Easter Monday and Whit Monday when it opens specially. It’s also closed on New Year’s Day and Christmas Day.

Antwerp’s vibrant museum scene

Red Star Line Museum isn’t the only fascinating museum in Antwerp—it’s one of many. Top cultural picks include the glitzy DIVA Museum for Diamonds, which celebrates the city’s sparkling heritage, and MAS - Museum aan de Stroom, a modern space famous for its unique architecture.