Nowadays, it is natural to open a newspaper or a book to read and not be aware that hidden by the interesting, spectacular or worrying content of the pages,  there are centuries of unseen history: the history of publishing. Located at Vrijdagmarkt 22, the Museum Plantin-Moretus takes the visitor to a tour that illuminates 300 years of the history of  printing.The visitor will admire the most comprehensive collection of typographical materials that include a fully equipped printer’s workshop and the oldest presses of the world. The museum also houses a library and the archives of the Plantin company that include Tyndale manuscripts and Arabian texts.

Jan Van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Cornelis de Vos, Eugène Laermans, Emile Claus, René Magritte, Rubens, Paul Delvaux and Pierre Alechinsky are among the many artists whose artwork is part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts collection. The museum is located at Leopold De Waelplaats - 2000 and opens Tuesday to Satruday from 10:00am to 5:00 pm and on Sunday closes at 6:00 pm. NOTE: the museum is closed for major renovation until at least 2017. Large part of its collection can be seen in the brandnew museum MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) in the 't Eilandje neighbourhood (see "neighbourhoods"article).

Ruben’s house and studio is now a museum, Ruben’s House. Its Flemish Baroque architectural style is the perfect setting to show the richness of Rubens’ art life and his love for the great works of the world: his collection includes pieces by Tiziano, Raphael, Jan Van Eyck, Breughel the Elder, as well as a huge collection of antiques that include books, tapestries, sculptures and ivory objects. Visit the dining room of Renaissance style, and the atelier where he met the celebrities of the time.

The latest star on the firmament in terms of museum is the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom). It opened in March of 2011 in the 't Eilandje neighbourhood. It's huge (10 floors), the permanent collection is spread over five floors. The third floor is reserved for temporary exhibitions. In fact this is a museum with a plus. It 's a new city centre, a new meeting place where there is always something to do or see.