The Art and Architecture of Antwerp

Departing: March 2027 - March 2027

A gem in the Flanders region of Belgium, famed for its medieval streets and Renaissance monuments, Antwerp is home to thousands of paintings by the Old Masters, housed in some of the most famous museums in the world. Our tour explores some of the wonderful architecture to be found in the city, including the Cathedral of Our Lady, which is still unfinished although construction began in 1351, and the impressive Centraal Station, which has been voted the most beautiful in the world on several occasions. We are joined by expert local guides as they take us through the notable art collections of some of Antwerp’s best museums, including the KMSKA – Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Snijders & Rockox Huis and the Plantin-Moretus Museum. We also include a visit to the newly reopened Rubens House Experience and Gardens.

Included

Explore Rubens House Experience and Gardens & the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, with entrance fees included
All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
Professional Tour Manager plus expert local guides for our walking tours & visits
4 nights at the MAEK Hotel, Antwerp (or similar)
4 breakfasts & 2 dinners
Return Eurostar from St Pancras
Private air-conditioned coach travel

Highlights

Walking tour of central Antwerp
Guided tour of the KMSKA - Royal Museum of Fine Arts
Guided tour of Snijders & Rockox Huis
Discover the Rubens Experience Centre and Gardens
A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Plantin-Moretus Museum

Mariska Beekenkamp-Wladimiroff

Mariska holds BA and MA degrees in Art History from the Courtauld Institute of Arts, specialising in 17th-century Dutch Baroque art. A PTLLS-accredited lecturer, she teaches art history across the UK, Netherlands, USA and Australia.

Tour Itinerary

We depart London St Pancras International on the morning Eurostar service to Brussels with an onward connection to Antwerp. On arrival we transfer to our hotel.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: MAEK Hotel Antwerp Central

Day 1 The Art and Architecture of Antwerp

After breakfast, we head out into the historic heart of Antwerp on an introductory walking tour. We join our local guide for a visit to Antwerpen-Centraal Station, which has been voted one of the most beautiful stations in the world. A combination of a stonework building with a Pantheon-inspired cupola and a steel structure covering the tracks, the station is now one of the most impressive in Europe. From here, we head to the Saint James Church, one of the largest in the city and home to the burial chapel of the painter Rubens. Here we can also see a striking pulpit, stunning stained-glass windows and numerous statues and paintings. Other highlights of the tour include the Steen, a medieval fortress, along with the beautiful town hall and guild houses. Finally, we head along the charming Vlaaikensgang which leads up to the cathedral.

This afternoon, we visit the Cathedral of Our Lady, where an experienced guide takes us on a tour of the cathedral, to learn about the building’s history, significance and its art heritage. The cathedral is home to beautiful statues and masterpieces by Peter-Paul Rubens.

We conclude with a visit to the Diamond Quarter, several square blocks covering an area of around a square mile and home to a host of diamond cutters and traders, known as diamantaires.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: MAEK Hotel Antwerp Central

Day 2 The Art and Architecture of Antwerp

We have the morning to explore the KMSKA – Royal Museum of Fine Arts, where we are joined by one of the local guides for a tour through the collections. We have time to discover works by numerous Flemish masters, over one hundred masterpieces, including works by Fouquet, Rodin and Chagall plus the largest collection of works by James Ensor and Rik Wouters.

This afternoon, we visit Snijders & Rockox Huis. Housed in two former townhouses, the museum showcases a collection of 16th and 17th-century art. The townhouses were once home to artists Nicolaas Rockox and Frans Snijders, who were neighbours for more than 20 years and were both passionate about art. The museum now showcases works by Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck, as well as collections of silverware and terracotta. We are joined by a knowledgeable guide for a tour of the museum and all its treasures.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: MAEK Hotel Antwerp Central

Day 3 The Art and Architecture of Antwerp

After breakfast, we depart for the Rubens Experience Centre and Gardens. The new building opened in 2024 and lies to the side of the original artist’s home. The building was designed by Robbrecht and Daem architects and is based on Rubens’ vision, but is also highly contemporary, with old and new coming together. The new centre delves deeper into Rubens' life and work, with interactive displays, multimedia presentations and even a reconstructed version of his studio. The new baroque garden blends past with present and also features plants from Rubens' time.

In the afternoon, we visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the original residence and workplace of the Plantin and Moretus publishing house. The museum was the first to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list and is of great importance in the history of the city. Today, over three hundred years of book-printing history can be seen, as well as a rich collection of art, including works by the family friend Peter-Paul Ruben.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: MAEK Hotel Antwerp Central

Day 4 The Art and Architecture of Antwerp

We check out of the hotel and are joined by a local tour guide for an ‘Art Nouveau along the railway’ walking tour. The duration of the tour is approximately two hours and explores the Art Nouveau buildings of the southern part of the Zurenborg district, located between Berchem station and Antwerp Central Station. During this walk, we discover the hidden gems of the frivolous architectural style located on either side of the Antwerp – Mechelen railway line. Shortly after the arrival of Art Nouveau style in Belgium in 1893, the architectural movement made its way to Antwerp by the way of local architects who took inspiration from colleagues such as Horta, Hankar and Van de Velde, but also contributed original ideas which can still be seen around the city.

We later depart Antwerp by rail, connecting to the Eurostar service returning to London St Pancras in the early evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 The Art and Architecture of Antwerp

Accommodation

Across the street from Stadtpark and a short walk from Antwerpen-Centraal train station, this modern hotel is located in the Diamant distrit. Sophisticated rooms with vibrant prints offer complimentary Wi-Fi, iPod/iPhone docks and flat-screen TVs, as well as desks, and tea and coffeemakers. There's a casual bar serving snacks and light meals.

Other amenities include a gym and a 24/7 convenience store.

Availability & Booking

2027

25th March from $1,870

Call to Book

[ { "ItineraryId": 0, "ItemOrder": 0, "Title": "Art & Architecture of Antwerp", "StrapLine1": "", "StrapLine2": "", "BodyText": "

", "BigImage1": "", "SmallImage1": "", "ItemTypeId": 1, "ItinItemTemplateId": 7151, "Images": [], "Version": "", "Year": "2027", "CreatedById": 77, "CreatedByName": "CallumTemp", "CreatedDate": "2026-09-07T09:40:01.693", "ModifiedById": 0, "ModifiedByName": null, "ModifiedDate": "2026-09-16T11:02:04.83", "Id": 69201 } ]

{ "TourId": 195733, "TourRef": "WANT270325", "ItineraryId": 11076, "DepartureNo": 1, "Title": "The Art and Architecture of Antwerp", "TourType": "I", "StartDate": "2027-03-25T00:00:00", "EndDate": "0001-01-01T00:00:00", "Duration": 5, "MaxPax": 80, "Available": 32, "AdultFare": 1870.00, "OAPFare": 1870.00, "ChildFare": 1870.00, "SingleSupplement": 0.00, "Hotel": "MAEK Hotel, Antwerp", "Area": "_CLAS_ARAR_SPI_NET_EUR_AC_", "Guaranteed": false, "Status": "", "CatalogueId": 1, "RouteNumber": 0, "RoutePointsList": "", "RoutePointsListExtended": "", "RoutePointsListExtendedT3": "", "CompanyId": 0, "OutwardHubId": 0, "OutwardHubId2": 0, "ReturnHubId": 0, "ReturnHubId2": 0, "T3PickupPoints": null, "Hotels": [ { "Id": "30808213", "Name": "MAEK Hotel, Antwerp", "BoardBasisCode": null, "BoardBasisDescription": null, "Rooms": [ { "Type": "DOUBLE S/O", "Available": 0, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 1, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 1870.0, "ChildPrice": 1870.0, "OAPPrice": 1870.0, "Description": "Double for Sole Occupancy", "Id": 127314340 }, { "Type": "DOUBLE SWS", "Available": 8, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 1, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 1870.0, "ChildPrice": 1870.0, "OAPPrice": 1870.0, "Description": "Double for Sole Occupancy without Supplement", "Id": 127314341 }, { "Type": "DOUBLE", "Available": 6, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 2, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 1870.0, "ChildPrice": 1870.0, "OAPPrice": 1870.0, "Description": "Double Room", "Id": 127314342 }, { "Type": "TWIN", "Available": 6, "Required": 0, "Capacity": 2, "Supplement": 0.0, "AdultPrice": 1870.0, "ChildPrice": 1870.0, "OAPPrice": 1870.0, "Description": "Twin Room", "Id": 127314343 } ], "Facilities": null } ], "Routes": [], "Discounts": [], "DiscountPercentage": 0.0, "DiscountType": 0, "DiscountValue": 0.00, "WebDisplayPrice": "$1,870.00", "SavingAmount": "-", "CanAgentHaveDiscount": false, "AgentRequiresAddress": false, "SelfDrive": false, "PromoCode": "", "T3PickupPointList": [], "DepositAmount": 450.00, "DepositExpiry": "2026-12-17T00:00:00", "WebAreas": [ { "FilterId": 7, "Name": "Classic", "Value": "CLAS", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 4, "Name": "Art & Architecture", "Value": "ARAR", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "#000000", "ParentCategory": "COLLECT", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 52, "Name": "Special Interest", "Value": "SPI", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "COLLECT", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 38, "Name": "Netherlands & Belgium", "Value": "NET", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "DEST", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 15, "Name": "Europe", "Value": "EUR", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "", "ParentCategory": "", "ChildCategories": [] }, { "FilterId": 0, "Name": "Active", "Value": "AC", "Description": "", "Image": "", "ImageAlt": "", "Url": "", "Color": "#000000", "ParentCategory": "", "ChildCategories": [] } ] }