When they say that good things come in small packages, they must have been talking about these little museums in Antwerp. Rosie Khdirexplores…

With all the amazing museums in Antwerp it is sometimes easy to forget the little hidden gems that don’t get as much publicity. This blog looks as the smaller places that are definitely worth a look.

Newspaper museum

This is a museum that hosts a collection of contemporary and older newspapers from 126 countries. It is divided into four sections: the history of writing, the origin of printing, the history of newspapers and the life and work of Abraham Verhoeven.

Mineral museum

This museum holds a fascinating collection of fossils and minerals from over a million years gone by. It is privately owned and has been operated by volunteers for more than 30 years. If you have a real interest in history or geology this place is the perfect little afternoon visit.

Stampe and Vertongen aviation museum

The Stampe and Vertongen aviation museum shows a collection of Jean Stampe’s military airplanes are on display alongside Hitler’s infamous V1, or Vergeltungswaffe Einz, which serves as a chilling reminder of how Antwerp was hit during the Second World War. This museum is ironically situated overlooking the runway of Antwerp – Deurne airport, in a beautiful peaceful garden.

Eugeen Van Mieghem Museum

This museum is a little gem. Its displays the works of Eugeen Van Mieghem (1875-1930) a Belgian artist who was famous for his depictions of life at the waterfront, an example of which you can see above. The museum holds 150 of his works, as well as pieces by other by Antwerp artists and is a delight for art lovers.

You can get there easily with P&O Ferries using the Hull – Zeebrugge route, or alternatively via Dover to Calais from where it is just a short drive along the E40 to the Belgian border. Prices start at just £30 for a car and up to nine people.

Image via Wikimedia

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