FOMU | Photo Museum Antwerp

The basis for what would become the photography museum was laid in 1965 during the '125 Years of Photography' exhibition, organized in collaboration with Agfa-Gevaert by the Provinciaal Museum voor Kunstambachten Sterckshof in Deurne.

The current museum building, formerly the 'Vlaanderen' warehouse, was constructed in 1911 and designed by architect Frans Van Dijck. It is a notable early example of the Hennebique reinforced concrete construction system with non-load-bearing brick facades.

Following the approval of plans in 1984, the museum moved to the repurposed 'Vlaanderen' warehouse and opened its doors as an independent provincial museum in 1986.

The museum underwent significant renovations and received an expansion designed by architect Georges Baines in collaboration with Patrick De Sterck. These works were completed in 2004, marking a new phase for the institution.

In 2016, the museum expanded with the completion of the Lieven Gevaert tower. This facility was purpose-built to house the growing collection and was the first climate-neutral depot of its kind in Europe, focusing on high-grade insulation and sustainable materials.

After 53 years of operating under the direct structure of the Province of Antwerp, the museum transitioned to a self-managed structure under 'De Museumstichting' on January 1, 2018.

The museum library underwent a year-long renovation project aimed at improving accessibility and visibility for the public, leading to its reopening on July 10, 2018.

At the end of 2019, the museum's cinema facilities were taken over by the Lumière group, transitioning from the former 'Cinema Zuid' program to 'Cinema Lumière' which offers a broader range of contemporary and classic film programming.