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Museum · Antuérpia, Antuérpia
Red Star Line Museum
Museum of emigration in the port district, housed in the warehouses of the Red Star Line company, from which around two million passengers left Antuérpia bound for the United States and Canada.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Red Star Line Museum
The Red Star Line Museum occupies the former warehouses of the Red Star Line shipping company on Montevideostraat, between the docks of northern Antuérpia. The company began in Antuérpia at the end of the 19th century and operated until the 1930s, carrying around two million passengers to New York, Philadelphia and Canada.
The three buildings are protected as heritage. In the largest, from 1922, third-class passengers went through bathing, disinfection, medical inspection and document checks before boarding. The city opened the museum in the same complex, restored to its original appearance.
The exhibition follows the emigrant, not the ship: the purchase of a one-way ticket, the train journey to the port, the crossing and the arrival in the New World. There are suitcases, documents, photographs, a cutaway model of the ship Belgenland showing the separation between classes, and paintings by Eugeen Van Mieghem, a painter of port life.
Some famous passengers appear along the route. Albert Einstein traveled several times with the company, and the composer Irving Berlin emigrated with his family at age five. In place of the old chimney, an observation tower shaped like a ship’s funnel opens views over the docks.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One and a half to two hours for the exhibition and the tower.
Best time
Open year-round, Tuesday to Sunday; closed Mondays. It’s a good option for rainy days. On weekdays the museum hosts many school groups, so late afternoon is usually quieter. Check the opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It’s in the Eilandje district, about 1.5 km north of the Grote Markt. On foot the route goes past the MAS, which is about 450 metres from the museum. The nearest public transport stops are MAS and Londen; use De Lijn’s journey planner, the bus and tram company.
Tip
Combine it with the MAS on the same outing: the two are a few minutes’ walk apart on the docks.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Red Star Line Museum
What does the Red Star Line Museum show?
The history of the emigrants who left Antwerp on Red Star Line ships bound for the United States and Canada, from the late 19th century until the 1930s: documents, suitcases, photos and travel accounts.
Can you walk there from the center?
Yes. It’s about 2 km from the Grote Markt, passing through the Eilandje neighborhood and by the MAS.
Is the museum open on Mondays?
No. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday. Check the hours before you go.