On Erfgoeddag or Heritage Day, young and old are welcome in Antwerp‘s museums and heritage institutions to enjoy all the wealth the city has to offer for free. This year, Heritage Day focuses on the theme ‘Home‘. The more than 80 free activities in Antwerp where everyone can become acquainted with cultural heritage in an accessible way are bundled on erfgoeddag.antwerpen.be.

On Sunday 21April 2024, well-known and lesser-known heritage institutions and museums are accessible free of charge during Heritage Day. More than 60 organisations are supporting the Antwerp Heritage Day. 

Home

This year the theme is ‘Home’. What makes a house a home? It seems like a simple question, but appearances can be deceiving. Because what does that consist of, that feeling of home? On Heritage Day, find out what makes the ordinary so special, past and present.

From ‘knock, knock, ginger’ to discovering the skipper’s life

City Hall on the Grote Markt opens up on 21 April. At Kamping Stormkop you can get lost with the family through a floating house, and at the Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS) you can make a family flag together. 

Discover Wannes Van de Velde‘s study in the Vleeshuis Museum, get nostalgic at the exhibition about household magazines in the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library, or visit DIVA where everything revolves around food on Heritage Day. 

Ring the bell at De Studio (at number 4A) and listen to Evelin Brosi read his novel ‘Thuis‘ from start to finish through the intercom. At De Groene Waterman, everyone with a heart for poetry will be touched by the nominated poems of the Creative Writing poetry competition. 

At M HKA, families can participate in a family workshop to put together a haunted house. At Kunsthal Extra City, children between 8 and 12 years old can participate in a participatory work by artist Chantal Van Rijt and, together with her, create ‘nests’ for the non-human beings with whom we share our home. 

Take me to church

In four Antwerp monumental churches – St. Andrew’s Church (Sint-Andrieskerk) St. Charles Borromeo’s Church (Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk), St. James’ Church (Sint-Jacobskerk) and St. Paul’s Church (Sint-Pauluskerk) – quests are organized and children can get started with activity books. 

The Searching Deer

You can philosophize like crazy at Het Zoekende Hert which organises no fewer than eight activities. Or why not discover what life is like on board the most charming inland vessel on Heritage Day?

No place like home

Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA): “There is no place better than home, and there is no better and more beautiful home than our proud Scheldt City. The theme of this Heritage Day could not have been chosen more appropriately for our city. Antwerp residents and visitors can find countless beautiful heritage jewels in our city during Heritage Day. And just like every year, there are also lesser-known gems that give lovers of our heritage and history a glimpse behind the curtain.”

From creative workshops to fascinating tours, from quests to listening to city stories: all visitors, and certainly families, will find the activity that suits them to experience heritage. The entire program can be found on erfgoeddag.antwerpen.be.

Practical

Heritage Day will take place on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Admission to the museums and various heritage institutions is free, and the activities are also free. However, reservations must be made in advance for some activities. More information via erfgoeddag.antwerpen.be.

Several events are planned in Antwerp on Sunday 21 April. Therefore, check Smart to Antwerp (Slim naar Antwerpen) and calculate the fastest route. Sites are best reached on foot, by bicycle or by public transport.