Sacred Places, Sacred Books

Rome, Mecca and Jerusalem in Antwerp

‘Sacred Places, Sacred Books’ brings Rome, Mecca and Jerusalem to Antwerp. Discover the differences and similarities between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. More than 200 works of art, historical and religious treasures await you.

Behind-the-scenes tour

What goes on in a historic preservation library? Find out during our behind-the-scenes tours.
 

Soldout Saturday 6 December 2025 from 10:30 to 12:00
Soldout Saturday 6 December 2025 from 13:00 to 14:30

Miraeus Lecture | Marianne C.E. Gillion

Religious and musical identities in the liturgical books of the Cathedral of Our Lady and the Church of St. James

Marianne C.E. Gillion has a PhD in musicology. In her Miraeus Lecture on 27 March 2019 she will talk about the liturgy of the Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady and St. James’ Church.

Miraeus Lecture | Marianne C.E. Gillion

Paradigmatic Prints and Particular Performances: Religious and musical identities in the liturgical books of the Cathedral of Our Lady and the Church of St. James

Marianne C.E. Gillion has a PhD in musicology. In her Miraeus Lecture on 27 March 2019 she will talk about the liturgy of the Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady and St. James’ Church. In this interview she gives us a preview.

Miraeus Lecture by Renaud Adam

Censorship and Biblioclasm in the Low Countries (15th-16th centuries)

During this Miraeus Lecture, Renaud Adam talks about censorship and biblioclasm in the Low Countries during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Miraeus Lecture by Nicholas De Sutter

Following the Script. Latin School Drama in the Southern Low Countries from Counter-Reformation to Counter-Enlightenment

During this Miraeus Lecture, Nicholas De Sutter (KU Leuven) talks about handwritten playtexts from the Southern Low Countries and how these dramas were materialised in Latin on the early modern stage. 

Miræus Lecture by Pierre Assenmaker and Valérie Leyh

Christoph Plantin, a player in a multilingual book market. A tour through the Namur collection of Plantin editions

During this lecture in English, Pierre Assenmaker and Valérie Leyh explore multilingualism and translation in Plantin's work as a printer and publisher.

Baroque Influencers

Jesuits, Rubens and the Art of Persuasion

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. 

Expert tour Baroque Influencers: Sarah Joan Moran

Dr Sarah Joan Moran focuses on religious art

During this tour, you will walk through the exhibition with an expert. How does an expert look at this expo? What interpretations does she make from his or her field of expertise? No doubt food for discussion!

Miraeus Lecture by Virginia Blanton

The Afterlives of Syon Abbey Books

In this Miraeus Lecture, Professor Virginia Blanton (University of Missouri-Kansas City) takes the floor and examines the wanderings of the sisters in the Cambrai diocese between 1539 and 1580 as a context for local lore of their devotional and administrative books.