From Saturday 13 September 2025, the Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp will present ‘Women’s Business / Business Women‘ or ‘Vrouwenzaken / Zakenvrouwen‘, an exhibition that tells the stories of three centuries of women who lived and worked in the historic printing house and family home.
These were versatile women, essential to the business and ever present, yet largely invisible to the public. The museum openly acknowledges this omission and issues an apology to them, stating that without these women, there would be no story of Plantin & Moretus.
“Sorry Anna, sorry Magdalena, sorry Maria Theresia, sorry Theresia Mathilde…” is the message with which the museum begins its act of redress.
For nine generations, women lived, worked and ran households in the printer’s residence on Vrijdagmarkt. The workshop was a family enterprise, relying on businesswomen, housewives, daughters, master printers, apprentices and domestic staff. Yet the narrative until now has focused almost exclusively on the first three male directors of the press: founder Christophe Plantin, his son-in-law Jan Moretus, and grandson Balthasar Moretus.
Although the museum’s archives contain a wealth of information about the women’s lives, they have remained in the background of the story. Through extensive research, their experiences and contributions can now be brought to light and given the visibility they deserve.
From 13 September, visitors will encounter these women in seven locations within the permanent museum display. Each figure shares stories about health, marriage, work, household duties or child-rearing. The presentation not only restores the women’s presence in history but also challenges visitors to reflect on the role of women in society, both then and now.
Alderman for Culture Lien Van de Kelder (Vooruit) stated: “This presentation shows how women helped to lay the foundations of this house, this publishing enterprise and our culture throughout the centuries. These women fought their battles, often in silence, often without recognition. Today we finally give them a voice, but at the same time it is a mirror for ourselves: because even today we see how women worldwide have to struggle in their daily lives to be seen and heard, in culture, at work and in everyday life. Equal opportunities require us to keep listening, especially to the voices that have been ignored for too long.”
The women’s stories are given shape through contemporary silhouettes created by fashion workshop REantwerp. Each silhouette symbolises one of the women from the past. The atelier, which believes in the unifying power of fashion, works with newcomers and refugees who contribute their craftsmanship and personal stories. The designs use surplus fabrics from Belgian designers and labels.
Authentic archival pieces, prints and historical objects complement the stories, making them tangible. At each location, visitors can also listen to short literary texts by writer and columnist Aya Sabi. Based on historical facts but told from her perspective, the stories provide an imaginative interpretation of how the women’s lives might have been.
In preparation, the Encora NT2 Reading Club spent an academic year delving into the archives with the museum. Their contemporary insights and testimonies helped shape the choices behind the narratives now presented.
The project also extends beyond the museum. In the five-part podcast Indrukwekkende vrouwen by radio and podcast maker Sven Speybrouck, five contemporary women explore the lives of the five Plantin sisters: Margaretha, Martina, Catharina, Magdalena and Henrica.
The presentation features portraits of several women associated with the family, including Anna Goos by Jacob van Reesbroeck, Magdalena Plantin by Adriaen Thomasz Key, Jeanne Rivière by Peter Paul Rubens, Maria de Sweert by Jacob van Reesbroeck, Martina Plantin by Rubens, Anna-Maria de Neuf, Theresia-Mathilde Schilders by Jan Van Helmont, and Maria-Theresia Borrekens by Philip Joseph Tassaert.
‘Women’s Business / Business Women – nine generations of stories in the family home and publishing house‘ – opens on Saturday 13 September at the Museum Plantin-Moretus. Further information and tickets are available via www.museumplantinmoretus.be.
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.
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