Peek inside the slick new gallery spaces at the reopened Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Today, it appears unchanged from the outside. But an entirely new building has been inserted within the existing footprint. Twenty-first century white cube galleries have been incorporated into the original structure, increasing the exhibition space by 40%.Following a major 11-year-long, $96 million restoration led by Rotterdam-based firm KAAN Architecten, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) finally reopened in Belgium. Photo: Karin BorghoutsKAAN Architecten’s work combined a renovation of the 19th-century neoclassical museum building, originally designed by Belgian architects Jean-Jacques Winders and Frans Van Dijk, with the addition of a contemporary extension nestled within the original structure. The firm revived the original colors, materials, and routing of the historic space.  Photo: Karin BorghoutsThe new interior building is defined by white exhibition halls, long staircases, hidden rooms, and daylight provided through four light wells. Take a look at interior shots of the new gallery spaces below. Photo: Karin BorghoutsPhoto: Karin BorghoutsPhoto: Karin BorghoutsPhoto: Karin BorghoutsPhoto: Karin BorghoutsPhoto: Karin BorghoutsPhoto: Karin BorghoutsPhoto: Karin BorghoutsPhoto: Karin Borghouts

Peek inside the slick new gallery spaces at the reopened Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Today, it appears unchanged from the outside. But an entirely new building has been inserted within the existing footprint. Twenty-first century white cube galleries have been incorporated into the original structure, increasing the exhibition space by 40%.



Following a major 11-year-long, $96 million restoration led by Rotterdam-based firm KAAN Architecten, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) finally reopened in Belgium.

Photo: Karin Borghouts

KAAN Architecten’s work combined a renovation of the 19th-century neoclassical museum building, originally designed by Belgian architects Jean-Jacques Winders and Frans Van Dijk, with the addition of a contemporary extension nestled within the original structure. The firm revived the original colors, materials, and routing of the historic space. 

Photo: Karin Borghouts

The new interior building is defined by white exhibition halls, long staircases, hidden rooms, and daylight provided through four light wells.

Take a look at interior shots of the new gallery spaces below.

Photo: Karin Borghouts

Photo: Karin Borghouts

Photo: Karin Borghouts

Photo: Karin Borghouts

Photo: Karin Borghouts

Photo: Karin Borghouts

Photo: Karin Borghouts

Photo: Karin Borghouts

Photo: Karin Borghouts