See & do · Museums
Plantin-Moretus Museum
Opening hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Images provided by Google Places
Mansion museum housing the world's oldest printing presses, plus books, antiques, tapestries & art.via Google
The world's only museum designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in the original 16th-century home and workshop of printing pioneers Christophe Plantin and Jan Moretus.
- Good to know
- Houses the two oldest surviving printing presses in the world; a quiet, atmospheric visit requiring about two hours.
Reviews from Google
As a book lover and print maker (linocut and block printing), I was so excited for this museum. And let me say, it far exceeded my expectations. It was so much more than a museum on printing. It included artworks by renowned artists, a vast collection of literary works in the library and on displays, a free audio guide and additional information on plaques and in a booklet. The demonstrations were wonderful and the volunteer very kind and informative. The museum was both inspiring and informative. It now holds a spot in my heart as one of my favorite museums in the world. I would recommend anyone and everyone to attend this museum. Additionally, it was much more affordable compared to other museums in the area despite in my opinion far exceeding them in quality.
This is an incredibly well done museum! There is an audio guide included with your ticket which I would highly recommend! Downstairs is all about the old printing press, and upstairs has collections of books on display. The highlight of my visit was meeting a real printer, hearing his stories and printing a sonnet together!!! The garden was beautiful too and a great spot to rest with beautiful benches and a bathroom!
Everything a living‑history museum should be. Set within a beautiful, intact complex, the Plantin‑Moretus Museum brings you directly into the world of a family who lived, worked, edited, debated, and collaborated with the leading scientists, philosophers, linguists, explorers, and creatives of their time. The curation is exceptional, and the stewards of this museum have done a remarkable job keeping the experience fresh and accessible. The audio sets were perfect—clear, concise overviews that let you move at your own pace. We spent a little over an hour on site, but the visit didn’t end there. I’ve since gone back to their online platforms—SoundCloud, Pinterest, and the museum’s website—to keep exploring the collections and diving deeper into the lives of Plantin’s brilliant daughters and family members. The preservation of the home, workshops, and archives feels like a genuine blessing. I left with a deep sense of gratitude for a family who labored through hardship and personal sacrifice to ensure ideas were recorded, protected, and shared. This museum isn’t just a gem of Antwerp—it’s a gift to the world. It feels like standing at the cradle of knowledge. Kudos to the stewards of this institution.
I loved this museum, all the genuine printing presses and books. Such amazing history and it all happened here. Worth getting the audio guide because some rooms don't have a lot of descriptions.
Definitely a hidden gem and one of my favorite parts about my trip to Antwerp. The museum is set up fantastically and provides a wealth of knowledge. They had someone doing a demo of how to print that was particularly interesting. The staff member was very kind and knowledgeable and skilled in multiple languages. The garden was lovely in winter so I can’t imagine how beautiful it is in the spring. All around a great visit and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes books or history in general!