On Sunday 14 September 2025, the 37th edition of Open Monuments Day will take place. With the theme ‘In Style!‘ this year’s programme highlights remarkable buildings in a wide range of architectural styles. 

Antwerp has been chosen as the host city. 

More than 80 sites across the city will open their doors, including around 40 ‘sacred houses’ – buildings with a religious character. All locations can be visited free of charge, although in some cases advance reservation is required. As a prelude, on Thursday evening 11 September, Antwerp’s five monumental churches will already open for a film night in honour of Open Monument Day.

From today, the full Antwerp programme is available at www.openmonumentendagantwerpen.be. Visitors can explore both well-known landmarks and hidden heritage treasures across Greater Antwerp, from the historic city centre to the districts. 

The 2025 edition focuses on ‘In Style!’, drawing attention to the many different architectural styles that reflect Antwerp’s rich history. As faith has always played a central role in the city, Antwerp has chosen to highlight its religious heritage under the theme ‘Sacred Houses’.

Acting Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA), responsible for heritage, explained:“Antwerp wears its history with style – in stone, glass and steel. From the Gothic grandeur of the Cathedral to the iconic Port House that shapes our skyline, from modernist gems in the Exhibition District to the proud Renaissance-style City Hall. Under the title ‘Sacred Houses’* our religious heritage receives special attention this year. On 14 September, these buildings will reveal stories of silence, beauty and conviction. I warmly invite everyone in Flanders to come and experience this with us.”

Take me to church

Among the many sites open to the public are the five monumental churches – St. James’s, St. Charles Borromeo’s, St. Paul’s, St. Andrew’s and the Cathedral of Our Lady – which will present their heritage in a new light. 

Visitors can also enjoy tea in Hoboken Mosque, Antwerp’s first newly built mosque, discover the grand foyer of Theater Elckerlyc, which was once the Church of Our Lady of Grace, step aboard Belgium’s only church ship, listen to a concert in the Dutch Synagogue, or follow in the footsteps of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela at St. James’s Church in Borsbeek. 

Beyond the religious theme, the programme also offers opportunities to explore the industrial interior of the former Handelsgesticht department store on De Vrièrestraat, the striking architecture of the Port House, the art deco garden of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, and the historic courtroom at the Palace of Justice on Britselei (British Avenue). Visitors will also be given exclusive access to the five finalists of the Heritage Jewel award, with the chance to cast their vote.

As host city, Antwerp is also offering a unique cultural experience in the form of a film night in the monumental churches on Thursday 11 September. 

Film

For one evening only, these grand buildings will be transformed into cinemas, with each showing a different film in a remarkable setting. The Cathedral of Our Lady will screen ‘Close‘ by Lukas Dhont, St. James’s will show ‘Any Way the Wind Blows‘ by Tom Barman, St Andrew’s will present ‘Corpus Christi‘ by Jan Komasa, St. Charles Borromeo’s will feature ‘The Old Oak‘ by Ken Loach, and St. Paul’s will screen ‘Small Things Like These‘ by Tim Mielants. More information about the films, their connection to the churches, and reservations is available at Antwerpen Morgen.

Alderman for Religious Affairs Stijn De Rooster (N-VA) underlined the importance of this approach, noting: “It is no coincidence that the preview of Open Monument Day is reserved for our monumental churches, a world-class quintet with which we proudly impress visitors from far and wide. Yet there is so much more to discover in Antwerp’s religious heritage. ‘Sacred Houses’ offers a unique opportunity to celebrate and share this architectural and spiritual wealth, from renowned landmarks to surprising and repurposed sites. Participants will gain a generous and fascinating insight into the often turbulent past and always compelling present of the buildings and the communities that call them home.’

The digital brochure, available at http://www.openmonumentendagantwerpen.be, provides the ideal starting point for anyone wishing to take part. It offers introductions to the history and architecture of each participating site, a map to help locate nearby monuments, and practical details for planning a visit. 

All sites are free to enter, though some require advance booking, and reservations are also necessary for the film night.

Art and museums in Antwerp

• 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 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.