This guide to the Plantin-Moretus Museum gives you all the key facts: opening hours, ticket prices, how to reach it by public transport or car, parking and accessibility, what you’ll see inside, and the best times to visit.
History and overview of the Plantin-Moretus Museum
The Plantin-Moretus Museum is located in the original residence and printing workshop of Christopher Plantin and his family in 16th-century Antwerp, Belgium. Founded by Plantin after relocating his printing business in the 1550s, the home and workshop changed hands within the Plantin family until his son-in-law Jan Moretus took over. The Moretus descendants kept operations going until the property was sold to the City of Antwerp in 1876, and since 1877 it has functioned as a museum preserving its legacy. It was the first museum in the world to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in recognition of its unique combination of printing history, book artistry and architecture.
The museum collection spans centuries of early printing: it contains original printing presses (some of the oldest in the world), historic typefaces and matrices, decorated manuscripts and incunabula, and a library housing tens of thousands of books, many of them beautifully illustrated works. Many rooms, including family rooms, workshops, the proof-reading room, the bookshop and binding rooms, are preserved almost as they were centuries ago, offering a glimpse into the working life of Plantin, Moretus and their craftsmen. Art is also prominent, with portraits by Rubens, decorated leather wall hangings, fine furniture and decorative arts.
In addition to static displays, the museum offers free audio guides and audio plays, floor plans, visitor guides to download, and regular workshops and demonstrations of historical printing techniques. The atmosphere is remarkable: wooden floors, courtyard gardens, original presses, shelves of books and prints; many visitors comment that it feels like stepping back into the 16th- and 17th-century heart of publishing. It is centrally located in the historic city centre on Vrijdagmarkt, within walking distance of many other Antwerp highlights.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Opening hours: The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. On 24 and 31 December it closes at 15:00. It is closed on Mondays (except Easter Monday and Whit Monday) and on public holidays: 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December. Rooms close from 16:45.
Ticket prices:
| Visitor category | Price (€) |
|---|---|
| Age 26 and above | €12.00 |
| Visitors aged 18-25; groups of 12 or more; wheelchair‐users (ground floor only); A-kaart holders | €8.00 |
| Under 18; school groups with teacher; museum pass holders etc. | Free |
How to get there and parking
- Address: Vrijdagmarkt 22, 2000 Antwerp, central historic district.
- Public transport: The nearest tram / premetro / tram stops include Groenplaats and Sint-Andries. Use De Lijn route planner. The DeWaterbus stop Steenplein is about 500 m away across the river.
- Biking / on foot: The museum is walkable from central Antwerp and has bicycle-share (Velo) stations nearby (Groenplaats, Modemuseum, Zuiderterras).
- By car / parking: There is no on-site parking. Recommended car parks are Groenplaats, Brabo (Kammenstraat), Scheldekaai Noord (Jordaenskaai). For visitors with disabilities there are two spaces on De Oever in front of Vrijdagmarkt numbers 10-14, and three spaces on Sint-Jansvliet at number 3. There are also park & ride sites on the city fringe with connections by public transport. Be aware that Antwerp has a low emission zone affecting many vehicles entering the city centre.
Five great things to do in Antwerp
- 🍺 Taste fantastic local beers – on an Antwerp brewing heritage tour.
- 🌙 Enjoy an evening walking tour – and discover Antwerp’s dark side.
- 🚢 See the ships industry and sights in Europe’s second-biggest port – on a harbour cruise.
- 🚲 Take a bike tour – and cover more of Antwerp’s highlights.
- 📖 Learn Antwerp’s best stories and legends – on a walking tour.
Accessibility and visitor facilities
- Wheelchair access: Only the ground floor is fully accessible. Upper floors are reached by stairs. Audio guide and audio play options are free at the ticket desk.
- Facilities: There’s no museum café, but many cafés and restaurants are located around the Vrijdagmarkt. You’ll also find a visitor shop, restrooms on the ground floor and a courtyard garden. A floor plan and visitor guide are available and the reading room are open by appointment.
Best times to visit and how long to allow
Best times of day: Early morning (shortly after 10:00) tends to be quiet. Late afternoon before closing (approx. 16:00-16:45) is calmer, too. The middle of the day during weekends sees more groups and tours.
Best days: Tuesday through Thursday tend to be less busy than Friday through Sunday. Avoid major holiday dates.
How long to allow: To experience the full museum (house, printing workshop, library, decorative rooms) plan for 1.5 to 2 hours. If also using audio play or participating in a workshop, allow extra time.
Suggested itinerary and nearby attractions to combine
- Begin with the printing workshop and mansion rooms to get a feel for Plantin’s life and work.
- Use the audio guide or audio play to get more detail than the signage provides, especially in the library and artwork rooms.
- After the museum, walk to the nearby Cathedral of Our Lady, Grote Markt or the Steen & the quays.
- Have lunch or a coffee on the Vrijdagmarkt square, then explore the historic shopping streets (such as Meir, Nationalestraat, Kammenstraat).
FAQ: practical visitor questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need to reserve a visit? | Yes. Museum works in time blocks with a maximum of 50 visitors per time block; booking in advance is recommended. |
| Is there a fee for audio guides? | No. Audio guide and audio play are free at the front desk. |
| Is there wheelchair access? | Partially. Ground floor is accessible; upper floors are via stairs only. Visitors in wheelchairs pay a reduced rate. |
| Are there cafés inside the museum? | No café inside; many cafés and restaurants around Vrijdagmarkt for breaks before or after visit. |
| Are tours available? | Yes. Guided tours for groups available, with reservation. Languages include Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian. |
| Is entrance free for under-18s? | Yes. Visitors under 18 enter free. Concessions apply to certain categories. |
More Antwerp travel
Other Antwerp travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Why Antwerp is one of the most underrated cities in Europe.
- How quick is the Amsterdam to Antwerp train?
- Discovering the migration stories of the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp.
- How to spend the perfect weekend in Antwerp.
- A practical guide to MAS in Antwerp.
