Getting to know the MAS ( pdf ) - Museum aan de Stroom

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The MAS. A must-see.

© Sarah Blee
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GETTING TO KNOW THE MAS
Antwerp is a city on a river. It has a port. For centuries this
has made it a place of meeting, encounter and exchange.
The MAS takes up the traces of these exchanges and with
them it tells new stories. About the city, the river, the port.
About the world in all its diversity. About the essential connection
between Antwerp and the world.
Come and meet Antwerp in the world - come and meet the
world in Antwerp.
THE MAS AS A WHOLE
The museum building
The MAS was designed by the Dutch architectural firm
Neutelings Riedijk Architects. Their “warehouse” was chosen
from 55 submissions from around the world. It is located
on the site of the former Hanzehuis (Hanseatic House),
which was a storage depot in the 16 th century.
The MAS is much more than a museum. It is the sum of many
experiences: the museum rooms, the Visible Storage, the
boulevard, the rooftop panorama, the museum square, the
pavilions, the catering, etc. The MAS is alive outside of the
building as well as inside.
MAS visits are free of charge. Visitors only pay to see the
permanent and the temporary exhibitions in the museum
rooms.
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Boulevard (free entry)
Antwerp is the European Capital of Sport in 2013. The MAS too
is putting on a sporty show for “Sporting A”. “Sporting MAS”
brings together sport and the history of the Antwerp clubs in a
vertical trip through the Antwerp sports world.
Escalator display cases
The MAS visited 380 Antwerp sports clubs in search of their
collections. On the sides of the escalators you will discover
a rich selection of sport in the city, coming from over 100
sports clubs: the disciplines, the people, the clubs, their stories
and of course also the feeling of togetherness that sport
brings.
Light panels and mini exhibitions
Photographer Hans Van der Meer (NL) visited amateur football
fields in Antwerp and footballers from various teams. An
impression of these Antwerp landscapes and portraits can be
seen on the large light panels and in the mini exhibitions on
each floor.
Medallions
Just like the museum, writer Tom Lanoye and graphic designer
Tom Hautekiet pay tribute to the city, the port, the river
and the world. Hautekiet used the plans for Palmanova, the
ideal Renaissance city, as his foundation.
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THE MAS FLOOR BY FLOOR
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Info desk + Cloakroom + Toilets
+ Lift + Café STORM
Studio
Offices + Toilets
+ First Aid
permanent EXHIBITION
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Visible Storage (free entry)
Discover the story behind the collection: from the major collectors
to the rules of the art for good maintenance and management.
Temporary exhibition
DISPLAYS OF POWER | On Prestige and Symbols
METROPOLIS | On Here and Elsewhere
WORLD PORT | On Trade and Shipping
LIFE AND DEATH | On Men and Gods
LIFE AND DEATH | On the Upper- and Underworld
‘t Zilte Restaurant + 9 Beaufort Reception Hall
Panorama (free entry)
The roof of the MAS offers a 360° panoramic view on the city,
the river and the port.
Note: the rooftop viewing area can be closed to the public for
safety reasons.
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B-architecten have provided an innovative design for the
museum rooms.
In-house composer Eric Sleichim has created a sound
sculpture for each floor of the MAS. The musical pieces
can be heard in the first area of every museum floor.
The MAS brings together the collections from the former
Etnografisch Museum, the Nationaal Scheepvaartmuseum
and the Volkskundemuseum. Together with
a part of the Collectie Vleeshuis, they are given a new
home and new lease of life. The collection amounts to a
total of 470,000 objects and is still growing.
The MAS has combined the collections so as to give an
innovative account of how Antwerp is connected to the
world through four universal themes with which everyone
can identify. This is also shown in the temporary
exhibition on the third floor.
© Filip Dujardin
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+3 | Temporary exhibition
+4 | DISPLAYS OF POWER | On Prestige and Symbols
Power and its acquisition is a constant in history, especially
in economically or politically important places like Antwerp.
In all cultures, important leaders convince others that they
deserve power with beautiful and exclusive status symbols
which underline their wealth, their wisdom or their divine
status.
permanent EXHIBITION
+5 | METROPOLIS | On Here and Elsewhere
A city takes shape through buildings and events, and in portraits
and stories. So how has Antwerp portrayed itself over
the past 500 years? In short, as a city with many faces, but
also time and again as a city by the river and of the world.
+6 | WORLD PORT | On Trade and Shipping
Wherever water and land meet, ports are born. The world
enters through them, while people and goods depart from
them. People trade goods there, enter another world and
come up with new ideas. Ports evolve along with the ships
that moor there. But at the heart of this huge area of steel
and concrete, the port still involves the work of people.
+ | LIFE AND DEATH | On Men and Gods
+8 | LIFE AND DEATH | On the Upper- and Underworld
Where do we come from? Where are we going? Myths and
religions, philosophers and scientists all try to understand,
explain and give meaning to life’s most vital questions. Art
objects and ritual objects reflect the diversity in interpretations.
A significant element is the pre-Columbian collection
of Paul and Dora Janssen-Arts.
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INFO + TOURS
Info desk + MAS Hosts and Hostesses
Do you have a question? Our colleagues at the info desk and
in the boulevard will be happy to help you.
Visitors’ guide
A collection of the room texts is available for purchase at the
info desk (ground floor) and the MASshop (pavilion).
It is available in Dutch/French/English/German/Spanish.
Visit using your Smartphone or the MASiPod
The MASapp offers translations of all the museum room texts.
You can retrieve these by scanning the QR codes or by scrolling
through the app. But this app does more than just tell you
about the link between the object you are viewing and similar
objects on other floors or in other collections throughout the
city of Antwerp. You can immediately tell others about an object
that you like by posting on Facebook or Twitter. You can
also bookmark an object; you’ll receive an email later with a
link to our I MAS THERE website, where you will find all of your
bookmarks. Register your email address and a 4-digit code.
You can borrow, free of charge and in exchange for your ID
card, a MASiPod at the info desk (ground floor).
You don’t have a QR code reader on your own smartphone?
Download the i-nigma app.
Concise room texts
are available free of charge at each floor.
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Tours with MAS guides
All group guided tours can be booked through Antwerp
Tourism & Convention.
T: +32 (0)3 232 01 03
F: +32 (0)3 338 95 91
E: visit@stad.antwerpen.be
Note: a guided tour with your own guide can only take place
in the boulevard. The museum rooms can only be visited with
a MAS guide booked in advance.
© Filip Dujardin
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PRACTICAL INFO
Entrance
- Tickets for the permanent and the temporary exhibitions
are available for purchase at the ticket counter (ground
floor).
- Tickets purchased in advance can be exchanged at the
group desk (ground floor) for a valid entry pass.
- The boulevard, the Visible Storage (2 nd floor) and the panorama
(10 th floor) are free of charge.
Cloakroom
There is an unattended cloakroom on the ground floor, offering
small lockers that are locked with a 1 euro coin. The coin
is returned to you once you re-open the locker. A number of
larger lockers are provided for school groups (more info at
the information desk).
Reduced-mobility visitors
- Are you visiting in a wheelchair? Visit the info desk (ground
floor). A MAS assistant will help you in the elevator to your
desired floor(s) .
- Four wheelchairs are available at the info desk (ground floor).
- An adapted toilet is located on floor 0.
- The panorama (10 th floor) is only accessible via stairs, but the
side terrace (9 th floor) has wheelchair access.
Sight-impaired people
Guide dogs are welcome in the boulevard and the museum
rooms.
Babies and small children
- Pushchairs can be taken on the escalator at your own responsibility.
Otherwise, visit the info desk (ground floor).
An assistant will help you in the elevator to your desired
floor(s), or you can leave the pushchair at the lockers.
- The panorama (10 th floor) is only accessible via stairs. The
side terrace (9 th floor) is accessible to pushchairs.
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- There is a changing table in the toilets on the ground floor.
- A breastfeeding spot is provided on the ground floor. Visit
the info desk (ground floor).
Food and drink
Café STORM
The Café STORM is located on the ground floor. It is accessible
via the museum or via the museum square. You can
have breakfast, lunch or a sweet stop here.
Reservations (max. 12 persons):
T: +32 (0)3 231 43 00
F: +32 (0)3 231 47 00
info@cafe-storm.com
www.cafe-storm.com
‘t Zilte Restaurant
‘t Zilte, the two-star restaurant run by star chef Viki Geunes,
is located on the 9 th floor. By reservation only.
Reservations:
T +32 (0)3 283 40 40
info@tzilte.be
www.tzilte.be
9 Beaufort Room
The hall on the 9 th floor can be rented out for events and
activities.
Reservations:
T: +32 (0)3 283 49 40
contact@9beaufort.be
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WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO IN THE MAS
General
- Smoking is not allowed anywhere.
- Only guide dogs are allowed.
- A guided tour with your own guide is only permitted in
the boulevard. The museum rooms can only be visited with
a MAS guide booked in advance.
Boulevard
- Only cold snacks and soft drinks are allowed.
- The escalators are not wheelchair accessible. Pushchairs
can be taken on the escalator at your own responsibility.
- You are allowed to take photographs.
Note: the building is copyright protected. If you wish to use a
picture of the MAS for commercial purposes, please contact
info@neutelings-riedijk.com.
Museum rooms
- No food or drink is allowed inside.
- You are allowed to take photographs without flash.
- You may not bring umbrellas, backpacks or large bags inside.
You can leave these in the lockers in the cloakroom (ground
floor).
- Change your mobile phone settings to silent.
The MAS has house rules that must be followed by all visitors
and users of the museum complex. A copy can be viewed at
the info desk.
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OUTSIDE THE MAS
The museum square
A 1,600 m² mosaic by Luc Tuymans covers the surface of the
square in front of the MAS. 'Dead Skull' refers to the commemorative
plaque for painter Quinten Metsys on the façade
of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady).
Just like the MAS, Tuymans links the past to the present and
the future. The square is best viewed from the boulevard on
the 5 th floor.
The pavilions
There are several pavilions located next to the MAS’s main entrance.
MASshop
The extensive museum shop has a wide range of gifts and a
special selection of books.
Open Tuesdays to Fridays, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. info@masshop.be
UMICORE Silver Pavilion
Umicore, the first founder of the MAS, has invited the silver
museum, Sterckshof, to display a selection of the best pieces
from its collection in the MAS Silver Pavilion.
Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MAS Port Pavilion
Experience the Port of Antwerp in an extraordinary, interactive
manner, using a large map of the port, a 360° projection
and touch screens.
Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
MAS Diamond Pavilion
From a diamond in the rough to a sparkling stone: the exhibition
follows both the lifecycle of the diamond as well as the
history and the future of the diamond industry in Antwerp.
There is also a shopping area.
Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Antwerp Collection
The MAS is more than just a building or a museum. It keeps
a finger on the pulse of the city of today. Therefore, the voyage
of discovery doesn’t end within the museum’s walls, but
extends outwards, deep into the city. The MAS invites you to
discover the rich heritage of Antwerp.
For more info: www.mas.be
© Antwerp Tourism & Convention
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COLOPHON
Texts
MAS team
Design
Volta | Vormgeving, Antwerp
Publisher
Carl Depauw
MAS | Museum aan de Stroom
Hanzestedenplaats 1
B-2000 Antwerp
T: +32 (0)3 338 44 34
F: +32 (0)3 338 44 44
Legal Deposit Number:
D/2012/0306/131
Cover © MAS
Photo © Flip Dujardin
No part of this publication
may be copied without permission
from the publisher
and entitled parties.
MAS | Museum aan de Stroom
Hanzestedenplaats 1
B-2000 Antwerp
T: +32 (0)3 338 44 34
F: +32 (0)3 338 44 44
E: mas@stad.antwerpen.be
www.mas.be
Do not throw onto the public domain
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Opening hours
April - oCtober
November - maRCH
Boulevard Museum rooms Boulevard Museum rooms
Tue - Fri : a.m. - midnight 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. : a.m. - p.m. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat - Sun : a.m. - midnight 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. : a.m. - p.m. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
One of the museum rooms is open on Thursday evenings until p.m.
For more info, visit: www.mas.be.
Closed on:
Mondays (except for Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday) • January • May • Ascension Day •
November • December
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