On Saturday 30 May, the brand-new archaeological exhibition ‘At home in medieval Antwerp‘ opened at Het Steen. Visitors will travel back to the year 1000 and discover the daily life of Antwerp’s inhabitants at that time, through the reconstruction of a 10th-century living and working house and various artefacts.
The exhibition is free to visit daily from 10:00 to 18:00 in the lounge (second floor) of Het Steen, starting past weekend and running until the end of October 2026. The opening of the exhibition also marked the start of the Antwerp archaeology days on Saturday 30 May, and Sunday 31 May.
A glimpse into daily life
The new archaeological exhibition ‘At home in medieval Antwerp’ offers a look at the everyday life of Antwerp’s inhabitants during the Middle Ages. Visitors will discover what a medieval house looked like and how people cooked and worked a thousand years ago.
Through archaeological finds, replicas, life-sized visualisations, and an exceptional reconstruction of a 10th-century living and working house, visitors can step into the life of that era. The partially reconstructed house is based on information from archaeological excavations of the medieval fortress zone near Het Steen and was built using authentic materials such as wood, wattle, and clay, including original excavated house posts. In addition to the house, visitors can explore medieval artefacts from the ground, organised by themes such as cooking, drinking and serving, clothing, and storage. Some of the finds were specifically restored for this exhibition.
Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA) said: “Here, within the walls of Het Steen, medieval Antwerp comes to life. Back then, it was a small trading settlement on the River Scheldt, protected by an earthen rampart. In this exhibition, you travel back a thousand years in time and come face to face with the daily life of the first inhabitants of Antwerp within the fortress. Absolutely worth discovering.”
The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the City of Antwerp, KU Leuven, the Center for Artefact Research, and the Pottery and Archaeology department. It is part of the research project Early medieval pottery from Antwerp (900–1200), co-financed by the Flemish agency for Immovable Heritage.
Antwerp’s fortress
The exhibition is closely linked to the archaeological excavations of the fortress zone, the place where Antwerp has its origins. During works on the Scheldt Quays in 2022, archaeologists uncovered remains of medieval Antwerp there.
Around the year 1000, Antwerp was a modest trading settlement on the Scheldt, protected by an earthen fortress rampart, which was later replaced by a stone fortress wall – partially preserved in Het Steen.
The excavations yielded exceptionally well-preserved wood, pottery, and some metal finds. Thanks to the wooden finds, archaeologists learned more about construction techniques, housing structures, and even the daily life of the earliest inhabitants of Antwerp.
This knowledge now forms the basis of the new exhibition.
Visitors to the exhibition will not only discover what life was like a thousand years ago but also gain insight into how archaeologists investigate and reconstruct the past.
Alderman for Tourism Koen Kennis (N-VA) said: “Het Steen is the perfect place to bring medieval Antwerp back to life. With the redevelopment of the quays, visitors will be able to discover even more knowledge here.”
Archaeology days 2026
The opening of the exhibition coincides with Archaeology Days 2026, the annual public event that puts archaeology in the spotlight across Flanders.
The City of Antwerp is offering two archaeological exhibitions: not only ‘At home in medieval Antwerp’ at Het Steen but also ‘Sub Urbs Antverpia‘ at the town hall.
Art and museums in Antwerp
- ANTWERP | ‘Antony Gormley. Geestgrond’ opens at KMSKA as the most comprehensive solo exhibition of the artist in Europe.
- Opera Ballet Vlaanderen unveils ‘À la flamande’ 2026–2027 season.
- ANTWERP | What if colours could sing? Masterpieces by Ensor, Wouters and Schmalzigaugnsor, Wouters and Schmalzigaug’, from 11 April to 30 August 2026.
- RED STAR LINE MUSEUM | ‘Drifting Belgians’, the incredible journey of the ghost walkers, until 30 August 2026.
- ANTWERP | ‘Martial Arts’: MAS exhibition explores the rich world of combat sports and martial traditions.
- REVIEW | ‘The Antwerp Six’ exhibition at the Antwerp fashion museum MoMu.
- ANTWERP | Museum Plantin-Moretus’ ‘Plantin’s Plants’ exhibition until 2 August 2026.
- FOMU 2026 | Carrie Mae Weems, Diane Severin Nguyen, Families, and Tenderly There by Tashattot.
- ANTWERP | M HKA opens new season with exhibition on censorship and artistic resistance.
- ANTWERP | Climb the Cathedral of Our Lady tower.
- ANTWERP | Rubens House appoints two design teams.
- Antwerp’s municipal museums surpass 2 million visitors in 2025.
- ANTWERP | KMSKA schedules ambitious exhibition programme for 2026, featuring international masters such as Antony Gormley, Philip Aguirre y Otegui and Ossip Zadkine.
- Museums of the City of Antwerp look ahead to 2026.
- REVIEW | ‘La ligne de vie’ René Magritte exhibition at Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA).
- 2028 to be Music Year in Antwerp.
- ANTWERP | Museum Mayer van den Bergh opens exhibition ‘Public Favourites’, from Mad Meg to Delft Blue, look at art through other people’s eyes.
- ANTWERP | Graphics Museum De Reede ft. Francisco Goya, Edvard Munch, Félicien Rops and Albrecht Dürer.
- ANTWERP | Rubens Experience and Rubens Garden at Rubenshuis.
- ANTWERP | Innovations in the Middelheim Museum provide a completely new visitor experience.
- A visit of the Flemish Tram and Bus Museum – Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum (VlaTAM) in Antwerp.
- ANTWERP | Discovering queer(ed) art with the Queer Tour at the KMSKA fine arts museum.
- REVIEW | Illusion Antwerpen, an active and photogenic museum.
- Antwerp museums and sports facilities team up with European Disability Card for accessible leisure activities.
- Museum Mayer van den Bergh.
- ANTWERP | Inside Rubens House.
- Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp.
- ANTWERP | Museum Vleeshuis up for restoration.
- BOOK | ‘Antwerp. An Archaeological View on the Origin of the City’ by Tim Bellens.
- Red Star Line Museum.
- Paleis op de Meir.
- DIVA, Antwerp Home of Diamonds.
- ANTWERP | Red Star Line Museum of (e)migration.
