ANTWERP | New Rubens House building and garden to open on 30 August 2024

The Rubens House in Antwerp will reopen on 30 August 2024. A visit starts from Hopland 13. The brand new building by Robbrecht en Daem architects gives access to Rubens Experience, the lushly redesigned Baroque garden and the library. Tickets are now for sale.

A strong example of architecture, a colorful museum hall without a ceiling, 2000 meters of books and paper and an offering that focuses fully on experience and comfort. This completes the first major renovation of the Rubens House. Tickets can be purchased from today on the Rubenshuis website.

With the same vision with which Peter Paul Rubens converted his house into a city palace, Robbrecht and Daem have designed a contemporary building as the new entrance to the Rubens House at Hopland 13.

From 30 August, visitors will have access to the Rubens Experience, the lushly redesigned Baroque garden and the library. This gives the artist’s universe more breathing space and becomes accessible to everyone. The offer focuses much more on experience and comfort.

In Rubens Experience, technology immerses the visitor in Rubens’ world. In the library, everyone can research the thousands of documents themselves. The new garden has now become the green extension of Rubens’ city palace.

The contemporary design shows 17,500 plants and, with color advice from Antwerp fashion designer Dries Van Noten, is beautiful in every season. From this green oasis in the middle of the city there is a beautiful view of Rubens’ house. The artist’s home itself is still closed for restoration. The first major renovation of the Rubens House has now been completed.

“We’re counting down! Another 126 days and the Rubens House will open again. From August 30, visitors are welcome again via the new entrance at Hopland 13. Then they experience the immersive experience in Rubens Experience, delve into the library or enjoy the garden with a beautiful view of Rubens’ unique architecture. The first phase of the master plan has now been completed, and we are taking a major step towards making Rubens’ ‘Palazzo on the Scheldt‘ shine again as the master himself was: flamboyant, stunning and visionary”, says Alderman for Culture Nabilla Ait Daoud (N-VA) in the press release.

The new access gate

The new entrance to the Rubens House is a design by the internationally renowned Robbrecht and Daem architects. The building is of course Rubens. The playful columns are reminiscent of a powerful muscular body. At the same time, it is a nod to Rubens’ preference for Italian architecture.

The many round shapes provide a surprising side effect: both day and night, light and dark play an intriguing game. The two giant bookcases in the design refer to the place where Rubens kept his own books and where the art history library of the Rubens House will now be located.

Inside, enormous diagonal spiral staircases are a symbolic stepping stone to the movement and dynamics in the artist’s work. They immediately attract attention and literally and figuratively make the visitor look up. The contemporary building is emphatically present and yet discreet due to its lateral location in relation to the artist’s home. A well-thought-out approach, because not only the view of the porch and the garden, but also their connecting function is preserved.

Face to face with Rubens

In Rubens Experience, immersive images and sounds bring Rubens’ story to life. Rubens was a well-known figure and was much discussed. Visitors can get under his skin using lively videos, interactive tools and some exclusive art objects, including the ‘Self-Portrait‘.

“Who was Rubens really? The artist and the man behind the brush. And what made him so popular? In this underground studio, today’s technology catapults us to the Europe of the past. Amid the buzz of contemporaries, you follow the artist from old Antwerp to Rome, Paris, London and Madrid and do your own research”, the press release says.

2,000 meters of paper and books

With thousands of publications, old books and archival documents about Rubens and other masters of Flemish art from the 16th and 17th centuries, the library will be the place for enthusiasts and professional researchers to delve into the life and work of Rubens. Long open shelves bundle all relevant publications, such as monographs, art trade and auction catalogues, photographs, exhibition editions, newspaper articles and magazines: you name it and it is there. Recent or ancient. Older and fragile books are given a place in depots.

More than 2,000 meters of paper will soon be moved to Hopland. In this way, the Rubens House sticks to its mission: collecting, developing and showing knowledge about Flemish masters to everyone who is interested. The current reading room at Kolveniersstraat 20 is still open until 28 June 2024.

Museum room without ceiling

With 17,500 plants, the new garden has color for 365 days throughout all seasons and Rubens’ garden comes back to life. After extensive research of hundreds of archive documents, flower still lifes and gardening manuals by the museum team, Ars Horti drew up a contemporary garden design.

In the meantime, 17,500 plants, trees, shrubs, shrubs and bulbs have been planted in parterres with the portico and garden pavilion as a beautiful backdrop.

With color advice from Belgian fashion figurehead and garden enthusiast Dries Van Noten, visitors can enjoy the most beautiful colors of impressive flora.

“A great artist deserves a great approach”, says Flemish Minister for Tourism Zuhal Demir (N-VA).

“Rubens was already a world-famous painter in his time, but also a diplomat, designer, entrepreneur, visionary, lover of the outdoors. This world-renowned Flemish master deserves a place where all this comes together in a way that reflects and does full honors to his mastery. It is and remains one of our best-known export products. To support this feat, I am making resources available through Toerisme Vlaanderen for both the visitor experience in the new building and for the redesign of the beautiful Baroque garden.”

Artist’s home remains closed for restoration

From 30 August visitors are welcome again in the Rubens House. The new access completes the first phase of the master plan, which should give Rubens’ universe more breathing space. In the second phase, the artist’s home and the Kolveniershof will be restored. The opening is scheduled for 2030 at the earliest.

Tickets available online

The first tickets for individuals and groups can be ordered online via the brand new Rubens House website. A ticket for Rubens Experience and the garden costs 12 euros. You pay 8 euros for a separate garden ticket.

Capacity is limited. Reservations are recommended.

Practical information

Open from Friday 30 August 2024 from 5 PM.
Opening hours Rubens Experience & garden: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Tickets can be ordered via www.rubenshuis.be (both for individuals and groups). Capacity is limited.
Library opening hours: every weekday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. The library is free to visit. Reservations are not necessary.
The current reading room at Kolveniersstraat 20 is still open until 28 June 2024.