Plantin-Moretus Museum
The Plantin-Moretus Museum is located at the Vrijdagmarkt in Antwerp. The museum has an historic sixteenth-century printing business that has been exceptionally well preserved. The museum has therefore been put on the UNESCO list of world heritage since 2005.
The museum includes the house and printing business of the printer family Plantin-Moretus. The house is decorated with Flemish furniture, art objects and carvings covered in gold leather. There are also several works by Rubens, who was a family friend. The printing business Plantin was established in the 16th century by Christoffel Plantin and after his death it was taken over by his son-in-law Jan Moretus. The printing business used to a meeting place for many scholars.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, the printing business and its furniture was sold to the city of Antwerp. The collection includes a wealth of historical books and print: more than 30,000 books, over 600 manuscripts and some historical atlases. Some special copies that have been preserved are the 16th century Biblia Polyglotta in five languages, a Gutenberg Bible and Rembert Dodoens’ Cruydeboeck (book of herbs).
Address: Vrijdagmarkt 22
Postal code: 2000
City: Antwerp
