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๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ช Belgium /Culture & Society

Antwerp's Plantin-Moretus Museum to Close for Four Months for Renovation

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp will close for four months for renovations starting August 3.
  • The museum will unveil a completely renewed permanent exhibition upon its reopening.
  • The museum will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year, alongside the 450th anniversary of the Plantin-Moretus printing press.

The Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its historic printing press, will temporarily close its doors for a four-month renovation period. The closure begins on August 3, with the museum set to reopen on December 5 and 6 with a festive weekend.

During the closure, the museum will undertake significant work to renew its permanent exhibition, aiming to create a more engaging and interactive visitor experience. This renovation is timely, as the museum is preparing to celebrate two major milestones next year: its own 150th anniversary and the 450th anniversary of the Plantin-Moretus printing dynasty.

Plans for the reopening include a new visitor route, updated displays, and a new interactive visitor app. The museum is encouraging visitors to experience its current exhibition, 'Planten van Plantijn,' before the closure, with a special 'Museumnacht' (Museum Night) event scheduled for August 1.

Lien Van de Kelder, the alderman for Culture, highlighted the importance of visiting the current exhibition before the renovation begins. The closure is a necessary step to enhance the museum's offerings and prepare for its upcoming anniversaries, ensuring it remains a vibrant cultural institution.

Definitely visit our great exhibition 'Planten van Plantijn', with our Museumnacht on August 1 as the highlight. After that, the museum will close.

โ€” Lien Van de KelderLien Van de Kelder, alderman for Culture, encouraging visits before the museum's closure for renovation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.