Collection

Attention

Museum closed for restoration

Museum Vleeshuis is closed for a long time for restoration. The works will start in 2025. Both the outer shell and the interior of the monument and museum will be thoroughly tackled. Read more

Building and collection

A listed building

The history of the Vleeshuis goes back five hundred years – well into the Middle Ages. Until after the French Revolution the Antwerp meat cutters, the oldest trade in the city, used it as their base. As well as using the building as a guildhall, they also used the listed building as a location to sell their meat.

Museum Vleeshuis displays musical instruments, craftsmanship and traditions from 800 years of musical life in Antwerp and Flanders. Almost 4000 objects are preserved in the collection of Museum Vleeshuis. The entire collection is now accessible online.

Go to the online collection

Flemish masterpieces

Various pieces in our collection have been recognised by Flanders as rare and invaluable. They have been added to the Flemish Masterpiece List.

Playable instruments

A number of musical instruments from the museum collection are often played by our sound experts. Several historic instruments have been restored to playable condition despite their age, while others have been created, each with their own story.

Highlight

The music room of Gaspar Duarte

At the Snijders&Rockoxhuis, you can discover a music room that brings the sound of 17th-century Antwerp back to life.

Museum Vleeshuis supports craftsmanship

Thinking hands at work

We support craftsmanship by securing, documenting, protecting and encouraging instrument making. Together with makers and musicians, we create instruments and music. That way, our precious musical heritage stays alive.

Museum Vleeshuis on Google Arts & Culture

How about a stroll through a musical painting? Or examine a harpsichord from the comfort of your seat? Peer between the strings of a piano? Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can discover the museum collection in a completely novel way.

Museum closed? You can still visit us

Mini-exhibition

TorenTunes

A small exhibition about grand sounds

In the mini-exhibition TorenTunes, you can see some items from the museum's special music collection and learn everything there is to know about Antwerp Cathedral Tower and its carillon.

Highlight

The music room of Gaspar Duarte

At the Snijders&Rockoxhuis, you can discover a music room that brings the sound of 17th-century Antwerp back to life.

Carillon Concerts

Sound in the city? That must be the carillon!

Our city carillonneurs Koen Van Assche and Liesbeth Janssens play the carillon throughout the year. In this way, they keep the tradition alive.

Attention

Museum closed for restoration

Building and collection

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Museum closed? You can still visit us

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