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Museum Plantin Moretus

Museums ·Antwerp ·Open now
4.66.1K
#1Museums in Antwerp#9Museums in BelgiumTravelers' Choice 2026
  • from EUR 12
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About

Museum Plantin Moretus is a printing history museum in a former family home and workshop on Antwerp’s Vrijdagmarkt.

More photos 10

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Museum Plantin Moretus — Plantin-Moretus Museum facade with tall windows and stepped roofline FrDr · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Museum Plantin Moretus — Plantin-Moretus Museum facade with tall windows and stepped rooflineMuseum Plantin Moretus — Historic library lined with books, wooden counters, and sculpted figuresMuseum Plantin Moretus — Historic printing press beneath exposed timber beams and tall windowsMuseum Plantin Moretus — Museum room with paintings, dark wood furniture, and a chandelierMuseum Plantin Moretus — Museum entrance and tall windows on the ornate stone facadeMuseum Plantin Moretus — Central entrance beneath the museum facade's round window and flagsMuseum Plantin Moretus — Landscape engraving from the museum's art collectionMuseum Plantin Moretus — Printing room with a wooden press and historic equipmentMuseum Plantin Moretus — Large historic press and tools in a timbered printing roomMuseum Plantin Moretus — Dimly lit gallery with paintings, wooden furnishings, and a chandelier

Why go

  • The two oldest surviving printing presses in the world, in the former workshop.
  • Paintings and drawings by Peter Paul Rubens.

Opening hours

Today10:00 – 17:00Show all
MondayClosed
Tuesday10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday10:00 – 17:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 17:00
Saturday10:00 – 17:00
Sunday10:00 – 17:00

Don't miss

  • Biblia PolyglottaA Bible in five languages.In the collection.1568–1573
  • 36-line Gutenberg BibleOne of 14 surviving copies worldwide.In the library.1461 or earlier
  • Theatrum Orbis TerrarumAn atlas by Abraham Ortelius.In the library.1579
  • Justus Lipsius’s studyThe humanist’s study and many of his works are preserved in the museum.In the museum.
  • Map of FlandersThe only surviving copy of Gerhard Mercator’s map of Flanders.In the collection.

Know before you go

  • The museum closes from 3 August to 4 December for renovations to the building and permanent exhibition.
  • A ticket is valid all day, so you can leave and return.
  • The ticket desk, shop and activities accept cashless payments.

What's inside

  • The 17th-century press room contains wooden presses, including Blaeu presses.
  • The type foundry contains hand-casting moulds.
  • The typography collection includes metal type, dies and matrices.
  • The library holds old volumes and historical manuscripts, including the chronicles of Jean Froissart.
  • The collection includes Thesaurus Teutoniae Linguae by Cornelis Kiliaan and Cruydeboeck by Rembert Dodoens.
  • The collection includes books on anatomy by Andreas Vesalius and Joannes Valverde, and on decimal numbers by Simon Stevin.
  • The collection includes globes based on models by Gerardus Mercator.
  • The reading room is at Heilige Geeststraat 6, alongside a paper heritage depot.

With kids

  • Children and adults can try creative activities inspired by the collection, with craft tips to follow.

Tips for your visit

  • The reading room and reproduction service are at Heilige Geeststraat 6.

Tours and audio guides

Guided tours
Available
Audio guide
Available
Audio play
Available

Interesting facts7

1/7

  1. Nine generations of the same family lived and worked in the house.

    Museum Plantin-Moretus | Museum Plantin-Moretus

  2. It is the only surviving printing works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

    Plantin-Moretus-Museum - Wikipedia

  3. The collection contains the only complete set of original Garamont punches.

    Musée Plantin-Moretus - Wikipedia

  4. The printing house’s archives and accounts have survived almost in full.

    Museum Plantin-Moretus - Wikipedia

  5. The collection includes original composing sticks used for musical notation.

    Museum Plantin-Moretus - Wikipedia

  6. Peter Paul Rubens illustrated books for the printing house.

    Plantin-Moretus-Museum - Wikipedia

  7. The printing house produced both Catholic and Reformation books.

    Plantin-Moretus-Museum - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

His son-in-law Jan Moretus took over the business after Plantin’s death. Four women ran the family printing house across the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

  1. 1555Christophe Plantin founded the printing house.
  2. 1576Plantin and his family moved into De Gulden Passer and set up their press there.
  3. 1876Edward Moretus sold the printing works and its contents to the city.
  4. 1877The house and printing workshop opened to the public.
  5. 2001The printing business archives entered UNESCO’s Memory of the World register.
Show all
  1. 2005The museum became the first museum on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Sources: Plantin–Moretus Museum - Wikipedia · Antwerp - Wikivoyage (see) · Museum Plantin-Moretus | Museum Plantin-Moretus · Plan je bezoek | Museum Plantin-Moretus · Zien & doen | Museum Plantin-Moretus · Plantin-Moretus-Museum - Wikipedia · Musée Plantin-Moretus - Wikipedia · Museum Plantin-Moretus - Wikipedia · checked 29 Oct 2026

Where
Vrijdagmarkt 22, Antwerp

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Where is Museum Plantin Moretus, and how can I get there?

The museum is at Vrijdagmarkt 22 in Antwerp. You can reach it by public transport, bicycle or on foot.

Can children visit Museum Plantin Moretus?

Yes. Children and adults can try creative activities inspired by the collection, with craft tips to follow.

Does Museum Plantin Moretus have guided tours or an audio guide?

The museum has guided tours, an audio guide and an audio play.

When is Museum Plantin Moretus closed for renovation?

The museum closes from 3 August to 4 December for renovations to the building and permanent exhibition.

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