Antwerp Museum Night Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Record Visitor Numbers

Antwerp's Museum Night marked its 20th anniversary with a record-breaking turnout, drawing over 12,000 culture enthusiasts. The event saw 31 museums across the city offer special activities, exhibitions, performances, and workshops, transforming the city into a vibrant hub of cultural exploration. The warm summer evening encouraged a large number of visitors to engage with the city's diverse collections.

Major attractions like the Rubens House, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), and the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) were particularly popular. The MAS hosted a martial arts demonstration, drawing significant crowds and sparking interest in the sport. The Rubens House welcomed nearly 4,000 visitors alone. Other notable venues included the Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk, the CoBrA Depot of The Phoebus Foundation, and Argentin, showcasing maritime heritage. A collaborative "Bosparade" by Het Bos and the Music Museum Vleeshuis offered a playful procession through the city, while an atmospheric light installation by Boslabs illuminated the ferry to Linkeroever.

Young artists from the Bosacademie also contributed, presenting performances, workshops, and installations in eight different museums. The free catch wrestling match at the MAS aimed to revitalize the sport and attracted considerable attention. Culture alderman Lien Van de Kelder expressed her satisfaction, stating, "20 years of Museum Night, and the magic is clearly far from over." She highlighted the broad appeal, from established institutions to new participants at unique locations.

However, the event was not without controversy. The Ukrainian embassy had requested the removal of Russian artist Daria Patrikeeva from the program, citing ethical concerns due to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The city government declined the request, with alderman Van de Kelder asserting that there was no hate speech, discrimination, or incitement to violence involved in Patrikeeva's planned contribution.