Museum MAS, Antwerp
MAS - Museum aan de Stroom (Museum by the Stream)
This museum, located in the old docks area of the city, is housed in an imposing new building clad with sandstone and massive sheets of 'corrugated' glass. Good views of the city are available from the rooftop. It is probably best to visit this floor first, using the lift, and then descend to the various accessible floors using the escalators, rather than follow the museum's suggestion to go first to the second floor. There, visitors find themselves in what could be taken as a dark cellar, containing cages of dusty artefacts. There are galleries on several of the nine floors.
The galleries offer displays on Antwerp at war, cities and food, freight, families and home, and art from pre-Columbian America.
Visitors interested in marine engineering are likely to be disappointed. However, according to the website, 'The MAS manages the largest collection of historical vessels in the country. For years, the collection was displayed under the shelters next to Het Steen. Work on the Scheldt quays meant that it had to be relocated. After a spectacular relocation operation, most of the vessels found a new home on-site at the Dry Docks site.' The website does not make clear whether the Dry Docks site is open to visitors.
See museum website
Note: The Red Star Line Museum is located nearby.