The Flemish Government decided on Friday 3 October 2025 to cancel the construction of the new building for the Museum of Contemporary Art of Antwerp (Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, M HKA). The announcement was made by Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez (Vooruit).
M HKA has been searching for a new home for many years, as its current building—located only a short distance from the planned new site—has long been considered too small and insufficiently welcoming.
The first feasibility study for the new museum dates back to 2016, nearly ten years ago. That study was followed by an architectural competition that was halted in 2020. In 2023, a new competition was launched, with six design teams reaching the final round. In February this year, a winner was finally chosen: the Belgian firm Bovenbouw Architectuur, working in collaboration with the Swiss studio Christ & Gantenbein.
However, the “architectural eye-catcher for a broad audience” planned for the Zuidpark area — in the words of then Antwerp alderwoman and current Flemish Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) — will not be built after all. Minister Gennez cited the “difficult budgetary context” and “rising construction costs”, as well as weaknesses in M HKA’s current operations. She stated that the museum’s functioning is presently “not strong enough”.
Her decision is based on a recent evaluation of the museum’s performance by an independent assessment committee. “€130 million is an enormous sum and a major responsibility,” Gennez said. “As a government, we must ensure that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely.” According to the Vooruit minister, the decision also creates the necessary space “to rethink and elevate the museum landscape in Flanders to a higher level.”
Reallocation of funds
Gennez will present more details on Monday about the restructuring of the Flemish museum landscape. The released budget is expected to flow back into the cultural sector, particularly in Antwerp. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, KMSKA) and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen will both receive additional support.
The renovation of the Bourla Theatre and the first improvements to M HKA’s current building will also be made possible through the reallocated funds.
Additional investment will go to the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde Antwerpen, KMDA) — which manages Antwerp Zoo — and to the Flanders Meeting & Convention Centre.
Minister Gennez emphasised that M HKA will continue to play a role within the restructured museum landscape, and that job security for staff will be guaranteed.
Art and museums in Antwerp
- MOMU | ‘GIRLS. On Boredom, Rebellion and Being In-Between’, 27 September 2025 to 1 February 2026.
- ANTWERP | Museum Plantin-Moretus highlights 300 years of women’s stories in ‘Women’s Business / Business Women’.
- Antwerp fashion museum MoMu will mark 40 years of The Antwerp Six with exhibition.
- ANTWERP | Museum Mayer van den Bergh opens exhibition ‘Public Favourites’, from Mad Meg to Delft Blue, look at art through other people’s eyes.
- ANTWERP | Museum Night 2025 on Saturday 2 August.
- ANTWERP | Middelheim Museum celebrates 75 years with a summer full of new ways to experience the art park.
- M HKA 2025 | Bruno Zhu – Panamarenko – ‘The Situation is Fluid’ – Today’s Place – Hugo Roelandt.
- ANTWERP | ‘These Branching Moments’ – ‘.tiff 2025′ – ”OM/MOTHER’: 3 new exhibitions at FOMU, from 28 June 2025.
- 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 | 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.
On the look of Antwerp
- Reopening Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station unfeasible in short term.
- Antwerp-Berchem Railway Station up for major revamp.
- ANTWERP | Top Boerentoren to be restored to 1930 look unless new plans are approved.
- City of Antwerp presents design proposals for Meir redevelopment.
- Flanders selects Bovenbouw Architectuur and Christ & Gantenbein as architects for M HKA museum of contemporary art.
- ANTWERP | Redevelopment of the Paardenmarkt one step closer.
- ANTWERP | New owners to explore future for Shopping Stadsfeestzaal on the Meir.
- ANTWERP | Groenplaats redesign planned for 2026.
- ANTWERP | ‘Blinds’ Martin Margiela at Schuttershofstraat.
- ANTWERP | Flemish Culinary Centre Smaakhaven at Loodwezen to open in 2029.
- Antwerp unveils texts and names for monument in honour of WWII victims.
- City of Antwerp commissions ‘Collectie Centrum’ to store heritage collection.
- 17th century Antwerp Citadel decorative vase gets prominent place at KMSKA.
- Antwerp erects cenotaph for deceased Congolese from 1894 World Exposition.
- ANTWERP | Redesign works of Wapper start in 2026.
- ANTWERP | Final design Linkeroever Scheldt Banks South approved.
- ANTWERP | Preliminary design of Ringpark ‘Cluster Centraal’ approved.
- Which flags get to fly at Antwerp City Hall?.
- ANTWERP | Market exploration questions the future of the Stadsschouwburg Theatre Building.
- ANTWERP | Meir Shopping Street set for major redesign in 2027.
- ANTWERP | Murals in Voetgangerstunnel repainted.
- ANTWERP | Restoration of Vleeshuis to start in 2025.
- Antwerp-South Railway Station and surroundings get makeover.
- ANTWERP | Northern Pavillion at Scheldt’s Northern Terrace gets revamp.
- AREAS OF ANTWERP | St. James’ Church (Sint-Jacobskerk).
- AREAS OF ANTWERP | St. Paul’s Church (Sint-Pauluskerk).
- AREAS OF ANTWERP | Scheldekaaien or Scheldt Quays.
- AREAS OF ANTWERP | Zurenborg.
- AREAS OF ANTWERP | Cogels-Osylei between Berchem and Antwerp’s Zurenborg neighbourhood.
- AREAS OF ANTWERP | De Gerlachekaai at the Scheldt.
- AREAS OF ANTWERP | Sint-Andriesplein.
- Rainbow zebra crossing in Borgerhout.
- Rainbow zebra crossings of Antwerp.
- Rainbow zebra crossing in Berchem.
- Antwerp designs future of Scheldt Left Bank riverside.
- ANTWERP | Major revamp of the Meirbrug – Suikerrui – Scheldt Quays axis to complete the Via Sinjoor.
- ANTWERP | Looking for Linkeroever Railway Station.
- PHOTOS | Het Steen, Antwerp’s new Visitor Centre.
- VIDEO | Walking the future Spoorpark between Zurenborg (Antwerp) and Borgerhout.
- 5 spots in Antwerp to soak up the sun for free..
- ANTWERP | Community centre coStA to become ANDRS in 2027 after major revamp.
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