Question & Answer

It's best to do this in advance via our webshop. That way, your visit is nicely planned and you are sure of your spot.   

You can, but only if there are still enough places available. Prefer not to take the risk? Then book your ticket online.  

Unfortunately not. Due to capacity and security reasons, it is not possible to interrupt your visit to Rubens Experience and the garden. You can visit the library and shop for free.         

Sorry, purchased tickets are only valid on the selected date. Read all terms and conditions of sale here.   

That's not necessary. Save a tree and show us your ticket on your smartphone.  

Don't worry! Just let the front desk know. Your payment will be registered in our system at the email address of the person who purchased the tickets.    

Unfortunately not. Tickets can only be ordered via the webshop. If you have any problems, you can buy one at the counter (if in stock).   

First and foremost, don't panic. If there is enough space, we will move you to the next time slot. This may mean that your visit is shorter.  

Definitely. A staff member at the front desk can make a new museum pass card for you. There will be a small administrative cost though.  

Definitely check your spam folder. Or wait a little longer. In exceptional cases, it takes up to 48 hours for your bank to confirm the payment. Did you receive proof of payment but still no tickets? Then get in touch right away via Rubenshuis@antwerpen.be

They do. When you order, select a '-18 years old' ticket in our webshop. That way, we know how many people are coming, and you know for sure that your child can get in.  

A group is 12 or more people, and you can then book a guided tour. You are then entitled to tickets at the group rate. Please note: the maximum number of people per group is 15 (excluding guide).  

You can do this quickly and easily via the webshop of our partner Experience Antwerp. Make sure you order the right number of tickets for your group, on top of the guide.  

The Rubenshuis is open for groups on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Group visits with a guide are given priority. If you wish to come without a guide, definitely send an e-mail to rubenshuis@antwerpen.be at least 7 days in advance, stating the date, the preferred time of your visit, the number of participants and your name, e-mail address and telephone number.  

Absolutely. With 12 or more people, you form a group. Then you can book a guided tour and buy tickets at the group rate. Please note: the maximum number of people per group is 15.  

Only with a valid ticket. Definitely check in advance which guided tours include a visit of the garden. You can find them here.  

Unfortunately not. Only the official guides of the Rubenshuis are allowed to accompany a group. You book them via Experience Antwerp.  

Via the brand new building at Hopland 13, you have access to the Rubens Experience, the library and the redesigned baroque garden. Three unique experiences that take you deeper into the life of Rubens.  

Unfortunately not. It will remain closed for a while due to renovations. But Rubens is happy to let you into his world. Thanks to the interactive journey through time in the Rubens Experience, the thousands of books in the library and the fairy-tale decor of the new courtyard garden. The perfect spot to admire Rubens' historic residence from the outside.  

Even better, you can experience it. Following a mesmerising interactive tour through the Rubens Experience, you suddenly find yourself face to face with the artist and can even hear his voice ... 

That's entirely up to you. You can either join one of our guided group tours, or explore on your own among the 17,500 plants. Don't bother looking for signs with Latin names, listen instead to fascinating stories in the free podcast or browse through the guide from our shop with your green fingers (4 euros).  

Consult all the guided tours on the website or check via the activity calendar to see what's on on the day of your visit. 

Unfortunately not. Unplanned school visits are not possible. We are happy to open our doors to secondary school groups every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Please check the guided tours for schools in advance. 

A class visit without a guide is free of charge. We open our doors to secondary school groups every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Please check the guided tours for schools in advance. 

The Rubenshuis does not have a dedicated lunch area. But depending on the size of the group, we will be happy to check what is possible. 

  

You can book a visit without a guide via e-mail, a guided tour via the Experience Antwerp webshop. Check the details here or see the answers to the questions above.  

Secondary school students are allowed to walk around freely provided a supervisor keeps an eye on them.

The performance at Rubens Experience lasts about 30 minutes. There is no time limit for a visit to the garden. A guided visit lasts 1.5 hours. 

Definitely. We have a large lift and all our rooms have wide passages.   

Rubens had one himself, but these days only guide dogs are allowed.  

• Feel free to record your Rubens experience for later, or share on your social media. You can even tag us. Although some restrictions do apply:   
• images are for personal use only  
• tripods, flashes, selfie sticks and drones are not allowed  
• do not film or photograph security installations  

Do you have plans to record for commercial purposes? Then send your request to filmcel@antwerpen.be  

Good question. Because you might need your coat again for the garden visit. You can store these in the lockers near the entrance area. They are also suitable for storing handbags, rucksacks (up to 45x25x25 cm), packed lunches or personal belongings. You can easily set the electric PIN code for the lock yourself.   

Only the historic artist's residence is still closed for renovations. Rubens Experience, the garden and the library are fully open to the public.   

Definitely! You will get to see some of our finest pieces. For the full collection, you will have to wait a little longer until the reopening of the artist's residence.   

Keep things simple and bring as little belongings as possible. But do you need some storage space anyway? Then use a locker at the entrance (see previous question). Please note: luggage larger than 45×25×25 cm may be refused.   

  

Bikes, folding bikes and scooters are not allowed inside our building. But near the lockers, there is space for rollators and a few pushchairs.  

Always keep a good eye on your belongings. But don't panic. We keep all lost and found items at our counter. Feel free to contact us during opening hours.  

You don't need an entrance ticket for the Rubenshuis to visit the library. You don't need to reserve a spot either. You can find more practical information about the library here. 

On the second floor of the new building at Hopland 13. The elegant spiral staircases point the way from the reception area. Our staff will welcome you there. 

It is not possible to borrow publications like in a normal library. You can read material there and then in the library. You can obviously visit as often as you like. 

The merger means even better services for you. The library is no ordinary museum library, it's a treasure trove of information for research. The name 'Rubenianum' will disappear, but our modus operandi remain unchanged - and will become even better under the aegis of the Rubenshuis.  

In the library, you can consult two kilometres of research collections on the rich artistic tradition of the Southern Netherlands. The extensive collection is systematically supplemented with books, unique artwork documentation, archives and digital resources. You can already search the online library collection here.  

You can use the contact form to submit an image request for photos of items in the collection.  

Yes. The Corpus Rubenianum is a handy overview of all Rubens' works. Browse his rich oeuvre online. 

The Rubenshuis does not provide expertises. Would you like to research your artwork yourself? Then you are more than welcome to visit our library.