Antwerp

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Time: 10am - 3pm

Length of visit: 5 hours

What to expect

With a variety of cultural institutions from Antwerp we organise three city trails that take you past a number of these institutions. Each visit will give you an insight into the collections of these institutions and how they preserve our cultural heritage for the future. We give you a look behind the scenes, show and tell you about the special heritage that we preserve.

The visits start at 10am with coffee and tea in “The Living”, the entrance hall of the Library & Archives of the University of Antwerp at the Hof van Liere. From there the three city trails start:

1. The ‘archives’-trail: visits at the Archives & Special Collections of the University of Antwerp and the archival collection of the Flanders Architecture Institute.

2. The ‘literature’-trail: visits at the “Letterenhuis” and the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library.

3. The ‘printing’-trail: show and tell on the diverse collections of the Museum Plantin-Moretus and a printing demonstration.

At 1pm we will gather in the FelixArchief for lunch.

After lunch the arts center DE SINGEL will give a presentation about its activities. This will be followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the FelixArchief. 

We will conclude the visits at 3pm.

Who are the participating cultural institutions?

• DE SINGEL wants to be a contemporary and welcoming arts house, a lively and international, leading meeting place for art without borders in a changing world. Its unique building on a multifaceted arts site links DE SINGEL to the rich variety of communities in Flanders (and Antwerp), with artists and art practices from every corner of the globe. More information desingel.be. 

• FelixArchief: The Antwerp City Archives, located in a restored historic warehouse, preserves archives from the 9th century up until the present day. In this treasure house we take good care of the memory of the city and share this with the world. More information felixarchief.antwerpen.be.  

• The Flanders Architecture Institute is the main centre for information about architecture from Flanders and Brussels. Its archival collection, which includes project files, construction drawings, sketches, and models, documents the built environment and architectural practices in Flanders and Brussels from 1800 to the present day. More information www.vai.be/en/about-vai-collection. 

• The Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library is located in Antwerp’s bustling city centre. For over five centuries, the library has been collecting and preserving Flemish cultural heritage. More information consciencebibliotheek.be. 

• The Letterenhuis is the literary archive of Flanders. It brings people together around the subject of literary heritage by working with many and diverse partners to collect, preserve and unlock the collection. More information letterenhuis.be. 

• The Archives and Special Collections services of the University of Antwerp are responsible for the rich and varied heritage collections of the University of Antwerp and its predecessors. More information www.uantwerpen.be/archief-en-erfgoed. 

• The Museum Plantin-Moretus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that originated in the 16th century. The original furnishings, typografical material and archives tell the story of 300 years of living and working in this house and printing establishment. More information museumplantinmoretus.be. 

How to get there

Welcome at Hof van Liere, Antwerp University city campus, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp

Google Maps

You can easily reach the location by public transport. The meeting point is only a 15-minute walk from the Antwerpen-Centraal railway station.

Accessibility

This visit is wheelchair accessible.