Paleis op de Meir
Eighteenth-century rococo palace on the Antwerp Meir with Empire interiors furnished for Napoleon, the Hall of William I and the mirror hall of Leopold II.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In 1745 the wealthy merchant Johan Alexander van Susteren had three properties on the Antwerp Meir demolished to build his dream palace. He died before the works were fully completed. Napoleon Bonaparte soon took an interest in the building; he had it refitted with French Empire furniture, but never stayed there. By the time it was finished, he was in exile on Elba. The next owner was King William I of the Netherlands, who had the Hall of the XVII Provinces installed there.
In 1829 the Antwerp artist Mattheus van Bree was commissioned to decorate three rooms; the Dutch Salon with twenty-three portraits is the centrepiece of that refurbishment. In 1830 the Belgian Revolution followed, and a new royal house came into possession of the palace. Leopold II was the last major remodeller: in 1905 he had a connecting gallery built as a winter garden, and he turned the first salons of the empress’s apartment into a mirror hall for festivities and banquets.
During a visit you see, among other things, the monumental oak staircase hall, the balcony room, the Blue Salon, the Dutch Salon, the empress’s salon, the emperor’s bedroom, the card room and the mirror hall. In 2026 the palace is open to individual visitors on Saturdays from 11 July to 7 November; in December it is one of the castles of Kerstmagie (Christmas Magic).
Highlights
- Rococo staircase hall from the mid-18th century
- Empire apartments furnished for Napoleon
- Dutch Salon by Mattheus van Bree for William I
- Mirror hall and connecting gallery of Leopold II
- Balcony from which rulers greeted the people
- Kerstmagie (Christmas Magic) in December
Permanent exhibition
- Paleis op de Meir – Tour of the rococo and Empire interiors of the palace, with the staircase hall, balcony room, salons, the emperor’s bedroom and the mirror hall.
- Operated by
- Herita
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 2 · Children and young people aged 3 to 18 pay €3; children under 3 are admitted free. |
| Groups | –Guided tour for groups: €300 per group of up to 20 people (Thursday €250), about 90 minutes. |
| Families | €15Family ticket for 2 adults and up to 4 children. |
| Guided tour for groups (per group of up to 20 people) | €300On Thursday €250. |
Herita members are admitted free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The palace is a historic building. Wheelchair users can take a lift to the first floor or the basement; a member of staff accompanies them. The accessible toilet is in the basement. Pets are not admitted; assistance dogs are.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Antwerp-Central railway station. With the ferry you travel free from Linkeroever to Het Steen; from there it is still a 500 m walk. The water bus also stops at Het Steen.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There are no parking spaces at the palace; follow the P-route to the Oudaen, Arenberg, Horta, Lombardia or Scheldekaai Noord car parks.
Antwerp is a low-emission zone. The Velo 23 Rubenshuis bicycle station is nearby.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
The palace houses The Chocolate Line (chocolate; Tuesday to Saturday 09:30–18:30, Sunday and Monday 10:30–18:30) and The Bistro (daily 10:00–21:00).
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
You can organise a dinner, reception, networking event or meeting in the palace.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | You can also visit the palace virtually with an audio guide. Groups can book a guided tour in which a city guide plays the role of a property agent. There are toilets in the basement. |
