Antwerp migration history

Red Star Line Museum Guide

Trace the historic paths of European emigrants in Antwerp's restored harbor warehouses.

HistoryLocal heritageArtPhotography

Explore the historic shipping company site where two million passengers embarked on their journeys to America. Through personal stories, photographs, and multimedia installations, the museum preserves the dreams and realities of historical emigration.

A historical museum tracing the personal stories of two million passengers who emigrated to North America on Red Star Line ships.

Exploring the Red Star Line Museum

Located in Antwerp, the Red Star Line Museum occupies the historic site where two million emigrants embarked for North America. The museum explores the personal journeys, hopes, and struggles of these passengers through letters and artifacts. Visitors can trace the physical steps of departure, medical checks, and embarkation, connecting these historic stories with contemporary migration exhibitions.

Exterior of the Red Star Line Museum, a large red brick building with 'RED STAR LINE' painted in white letters across the facade under a blue sky.

Red Star Line Museum opening hours in Antwerp

Check today’s opening status, weekly schedule, and special date changes for Red Star Line Museum. Use these opening hours to plan your arrival and avoid closed times in Antwerp.

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Family visits at the Red Star Line Museum

The Red Star Line Museum offers a welcoming environment for families, featuring interactive suitcases, creative workshops, and guided tours designed for children. With activities tailored for ages 3 to 12, young visitors can explore migration history through play and hands-on discovery. The museum also provides dedicated nursery and play facilities to support a comfortable visit.

Recommended age: Ages 3–12

The Red Star Line Museum offers a welcoming environment for families, featuring interactive suitcases, creative workshops, and guided tours designed for children.

Why families will enjoy it

Official 'Approved by and for Children' certification.
Dedicated mezzanine play area with educational toys and a craft table.
Monthly Family Sundays with thematic creative workshops.
Family suitcases available for self-guided exploration for different age groups.

Activities and resources for children

Kids trail

Family Suitcase (6-11 years)

Ages 6–11Free

A self-guided game involving assignments and stories about the emigrant girl Bessie.

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Kids trail

Help Gup the Gull Move Home

Ages 3–6Free

A themed trail for children aged 3 to 6 years.

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Family tour

All Hands on Deck Guided Tour

Ages 6–1290–90 minPaidBooking required

An active, guided tour through the museum for families.

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Museum pass access at Red Star Line Museum

Visitors can enjoy access to the Red Star Line Museum using select regional and city-wide museum passes. Depending on the pass held, admission may be included for the permanent collection or temporary exhibitions as part of a broader travel experience in Antwerp. Please review the specific pass conditions below for details on entry and visit coverage.

Antwerp City Pass

Includes major museums, historic churches, and public transport access.

Unlock access to heritage sites, contemporary art galleries, and historic houses across Antwerp. A flexible duration option helps you manage your discovery of the city's unique cultural landscape.

Accepted here3 pass options

From €45

museumPASSmusées

Unlimited access to cultural sites across Belgium.

Enjoy year-round access to a wide selection of Antwerp's finest museums and cultural heritage sites. Use your personal museumPASSmusées to explore collections at your own pace.

Accepted here

From €64.95

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Red Star Line Museum Location & Historic Setting

The Red Star Line Museum is located in the historic Eilandje neighborhood of Antwerp, situated in the very warehouses where emigrants once gathered. This harbor-side setting on Montevideostraat is where millions of passengers underwent medical checks before boarding ships for North America. Visiting this authentic waterfront site adds profound historical context to the exhibitions housed inside.

Montevideostraat 3

2000 Antwerp

Eilandje, Cadix, Province of Antwerp, BE

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The Migration Experience at the Red Star Line Museum

The Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp explores transatlantic migration through the personal journeys of two million passengers departing for North America. Set in the historic shipping company warehouses, the experience guides visitors through the very spaces where travelers underwent medical and administrative checks. Within these original halls, guests connect with history through letters, personal artifacts, and multimedia installations. Temporary art and photography displays enrich the visit, bridging historical departures with contemporary migration narratives.

Composite image showing a historic black-and-white steamship at dock on the left and modern visitors walking along a cobblestone quay with a large port crane on the right

The History of the Red Star Line Museum

Housed in historic warehouses in Antwerp, the Red Star Line Museum stands where passengers underwent health checks before departing for North America. The shipping company transported millions of emigrants before dissolving in 1939. Opened in 2013, the museum preserves these **historic journeys** through personal testimonies.

Opened to the public in 2013
2013Opening
The Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp was officially opened in 2013. It is located in the original warehouse buildings formerly used by the Red Star Line shipping company.
Dissolution of the Red Star Line in 1939
1939Historical period
The Red Star Line shipping company, which transported over 100,000 passengers per year during its peak, ceased its operations and was dissolved in 1939.
Historical site of migration processing
Cultural significance
The museum is housed in buildings where Red Star Line passengers were once required to undergo medical examinations and disinfection procedures before being permitted to embark on their journey to North America.

Red Star Line Museum FAQs: Practical Answers & Quirky Details

Planning a visit to the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp's Eilandje neighborhood but have some burning questions? While we can share details about scheduled late-night openings in 2026, email inquiries take up to 168 hours for a response. Thankfully, we have gathered the key facts so you can skip the week-long wait.

What is the Red Star Line Museum phone number?

The official phone number for the Red Star Line Museum is not currently provided.

What is the response time for Red Star Line Museum inquiries?

The expected response time for contact inquiries sent to the Red Star Line Museum is 168 hours.

How do I contact the Red Star Line Museum?

You can reach the Red Star Line Museum via email, although the specific email addresses are not currently listed in the available information.

Does Red Star Line Museum have special opening hours?

Yes, Red Star Line Museum has special opening hours scheduled starting on August 30, 2026, with operating hours from 13:30 to 15:00.

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Red Star Line Museum Gallery and Visual Preview

Preview the historic site of the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp through its architectural and artistic landmarks. Images showcase the original red brick warehouses complete with a modern glass spiral observation tower. Outside, the bronze statue of an emigrant carrying a suitcase stands as a visual introduction to the migration stories detailed inside the galleries.

Red brick warehouse building with 'Red Star Line' painted in white on the facade and a modern glass spiral observation tower rising behind it

Brick facade of the Red Star Line Museum with large white lettering and a modern tower rising behind the roof.

Red brick building facade with large white RED STAR LINE lettering across the top, tall industrial windows below, and a modern cylindrical glass tower rising behind it against a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Visitors walking around a large circular metal globe installation in a museum hall with wall exhibits.

Red brick building facade with a white stone emblem featuring a star and anchor centered above a dark-framed window, topped by an arched parapet

Interior of a historic warehouse museum with exposed wooden beams, glass skylights, brick walls, arched windows, and visitors exploring display cases beneath a red star sign.

Bronze statue of a man holding a suitcase standing in front of a large building with a grid-like facade.

Red brick warehouse building with 'RED STAR LINE' painted on the facade and a modern glass spiral tower rising behind it against a blue sky

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Explore Red Star Line Museum with Antwerp

Guides, visitor info, and museum details in Antwerp

Find everything about Red Star Line Museum in one place, including tickets, opening hours, current exhibitions, location details, visitor tips, nearby attractions, and the latest museum updates. Use these pages to plan your visit, discover what to see, and get practical information before you go.

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