Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library

On view

Barokke Influencers campagnebeeld - zicht op de Sodaliteit

Baroque Influencers

Jesuits, Rubens and the Art of Persuasion

Saturday 22 April 2023 until Sunday 10 September 2023 from 10:00 to 17:00

Today, the Nottebohm Room is the most ornate room at the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library. But did you know that 250 years ago a miraculous chapel could be found here? It was very popular with Antwerp's elite, including Rubens and Van Dyck. The exhibition brings this mysterious location back to life.

De magische Nottebohmzaal van de Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience

The Nottebohm Room open to individual visitors from April 22, 2023

The Nottebohm Room is a hidden gem. This prestigious library space shines in all its facets. And from this autumn you can also discover the magic of this unique place in the heart of Antwerp on your own.

Guided tours for groups

Behind the scenes

Guided tour behind the scenes

For groups

Take a look behind the scenes of the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library with your group or association and learn more about our fascinating history and comprehensive collection.

Rondleiding

Treasures of the Nottebohm Room

Guided tour for groups

Visit one of the most beautiful and prestigious library spaces with your association or group. A guide will take you through the history of the building and explain the special books kept there.

Reading room

In our reading room you can consult all collection items of the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library. You can also search our digital databases and have reproductions made. And for those who want to get to know the library and its heritage collections in more detail, there are our introductory sessions or workshops.

Practical information

Do you intend to visit our library to consult a publication or visit our stunning Nottebohm Room? Below you can find all the practical information you need, from the opening hours to information for wheelchair users and accessibility.

Newsletter for researchers

Are you a researcher? Do you want to keep up to date with the newest developments in the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library? Consider subscribing to our international newsletter.

Contact us

Contact us with your questions or for further information. You can use our general contact details for this. Contact one of our employees directly for specific questions.

The Blaeu globes

Two of the masterpieces in the collection of the Nottebohm Room are Blaeu’s celestial and terrestrial globes. Our online exhibition discusses their history, their maker, their relevance and their restoration.

The Nottebohm Room

The Nottebohm Room is a hidden gem. The first 150,000 items in the library’s catalogue are preserved here in a breath-taking, historical setting. The doors only swing open for exhibitions, lectures, concerts or guided tours. And when they do, it’s like a breath of magic.

History

The building and the collection both are considered Flemish heritage. The story of the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library started in 1481, with 41 books. Today it is one of the most important heritage libraries in Flanders.

The library for Dutch literature, Flemish cultural heritage and the history of Antwerp