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Rubens and Antwerp
Peter Paul Rubens and Antwerp. The master and his city. The two go hand in hand, and after more than 400 years, the presence of this world famous painter can still be felt in many places around the city.
Thousands of visitors come to this city on the Scheldt just because of him. In the lively city centre, you can see a number of Rubens’ most celebrated works, with some of them still in the original location he intended when he created them!
Rubens lived almost his entire life in Antwerp and made an active contribution to an extended cultural blossoming of the city. Religious problems, along with the recapture of the Southern Netherlands by Catholic Spain, led to the closure of the Scheldt in 1585 and the end of the Dutch Golden Age. Rubens transformed this ending into a new beginning. Thanks to the role played by this master of the Flemish Baroque as a painter, diplomat, graphic artist, designer, collector, teacher and source of inspiration, Antwerp continues to bask in the light of Rubens’ genius to this day.
Nowhere else can one experience Rubens so profoundly as in his hometown, the city where he is also buried. In your search for this genius you will enter some of Antwerp’s most beautiful monuments and experience the Antwerp of today - a melting pot of creative talent.
City tours
WALKING TOUR OF THE CITY | Baroque City of the Low Countries
Continuous
Rubens walking tour for groups. Let Rubens, Van Dyck and Jordaens - the three “princes” of the Antwerp Baroque style - lead your way.
WALKING TOUR OF THE CITY | Out on the town with Rubens
Continuous
This Rubens walking tour begins in the vicinity of the Scheldt. You will enter an attractive part of the historic city centre via charming streets once inhabited by stonemasons and Lombardian bankers.
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