The Antwerp Six
The 1980s boldness that upended world fashion.
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MoMu is Antwerp's fashion museum — in Europe's unexpected fashion capital: from Antwerp's Royal Academy came the "Antwerp Six" in the 1980s (Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck and others) who upended world fashion with their boldness, then Martin Margiela, and the city remains a designer factory. The museum is in the "ModeNatie" building (2002), which also houses the academy, and reopened expanded in 2021. It holds a collection of 35,000 pieces (garments, lace and textiles from the eighteenth century to today) shown not statically but in changing themed exhibitions on a designer, era or idea — every visit different, in a lavish artistic display treating clothes as sculpture. A huge fashion library and a distinctive shop. On Nationalestraat in the fashion district (designer shops around it) — for the fashion and design lover: a major destination; combine it with a tour of the district's shops and the Zuid.
The 1980s boldness that upended world fashion.
A lavish artistic display changing with every show.
Nationalestraat 28, 2000 Antwerp
Plantin-Moretus MuseumThe Plantin-Moretus Museum is the only museum in the world listed in its own rig2 minutes walk4.5
Cathedral of Our LadyAntwerp's Cathedral of Our Lady is the largest and greatest Gothic church in the5 minutes walk4.7
Vlaeykensgang AlleyThe Vlaeykensgang is a secret sixteenth-century alley steps from the cathedral: 5 minutes walk4.7
Museum Mayer van den BerghThe Museum Mayer van den Bergh is a small museum of the first rank: a neo-Gothic5 minutes walk4.7
DIVA Diamond and Jewellery MuseumDIVA is Antwerp's museum of diamonds, jewellery and silver — the world's diamond6 minutes walk4.2Right around the museum: Dries Van Noten's flagship in "Het Modepaleis" on Nationalestraat, Ann Demeulemeester by the Zuid, and concept stores on Kammenstraat and the southern streets. Wider shopping: the Meir (global chains) and Schuttershofstraat for luxury brands. The district is compact and explored on foot.