This spring, 2025, for the first time, more than 1,000 historical tulips will be in bloom in the garden of the Rubens House. Visitors can enjoy this explosion of colour in the heart of Antwerp and discover new stories about the tulip bulb trade in the 17th century. 

The Rubens House is celebrating the first tulip season with a varied programme of activities, kicking off with the Tulip Festival on Saturday 5 April.

A garden with a story

For the first time, the general public can admire the tulip splendour in Rubens’ garden. 

In the summer of 2024, it will reopen its doors after a thorough makeover. Garden curator Klara Alen was inspired to redesign the garden by the painting ‘The Walk in the Garden’ and notarial archives from the 17th century. 

The result: a beautiful garden with more than 22,000 plants, including 1,240 tulips that were chosen based on their special historical background. In the 17th century, tulips were the symbol of luxury and wealth. 

From early April to mid-May, Rubens’ garden comes to life thanks to 20 unique historical tulip varieties.

A season full of outdoor activities

From April, visitors can enjoy extra activities in the garden every weekend. The coffee bar is open on Saturdays and Sundays for a hot cup of coffee or tea. 

On Sunday morning, the day starts with yoga in the greenery, followed by a botanical drawing workshop. On 21 April, the Rubens House opens the gates of the garden for a playful and exciting Easter egg hunt for young and old.

Tulip festival on Saturday 5 April

The kick-off of the tulip season is the big tulip festival on Saturday 5 April. 

Visitors can take part in guided walks, lectures and creative workshops that day. Garden curator Klara Alen shares her passion and knowledge about the garden and visitors discover the stories behind the special tulip varieties that Rubens himself admired in his time.

Practical information

The tulips in Rubens’ garden can be admired from 1 April to 15 May 2025, depending on the flowering of the tulips. The garden is open daily for a fee, except on Wednesdays. All activities and events can be found on the website of the Rubens House: www.rubenshuis.be.

Art and museums in Antwerp

• ANTWERP | ‘Panamarenko. Infinite Imagination’ exhibition until 4 May 2025 at KMSKA.
• ANTWERP | ‘Compassion’ in the MAS: the many faces of compassion.
• 2025 at the museums of Antwerp.
• 2025 at Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (KMSKA): René Magritte, Marthe Donas, Panamarenko, Hans Op de Beeck.
• ANTWERP | Graphics Museum De Reede ft. Francisco Goya, Edvard Munch, Félicien Rops and Albrecht Dürer.
• ANTWERP | Rubens Experience and Rubens Garden at Rubenshuis.
• Antwerp will have a new Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp M HKA.
• ANTWERP | Innovations in the Middelheim Museum provide a completely new visitor experience.
• A visit of the Flemish Tram and Bus Museum – Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum (VlaTAM) in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Discovering queer(ed) art with the Queer Tour at the KMSKA fine arts museum.
• REVIEW | Illusion Antwerpen, an active and photogenic museum.
• Antwerp museums and sports facilities team up with European Disability Card for accessible leisure activities.
• Museum Mayer van den Bergh.
• ANTWERP | Inside Rubens House.
• Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Museum Vleeshuis up for restoration.
• BOOK | ‘Antwerp. An Archaeological View on the Origin of the City’ by Tim Bellens.
• Red Star Line Museum.
• Paleis op de Meir. 
• DIVA, Antwerp Home of Diamonds.
• ANTWERP | Red Star Line Museum of (e)migration.