Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp grew out of the art collecting passion of Fritz Mayer van den Bergh (1858–1901). He assembled paintings, sculptures, household objects, furniture, coins and old manuscripts. After his early death, his mother, Henriëtte van den Bergh, decided to preserve the collection in his memory and opened a museum in 1904.
The collection is notable for its variety and personal character. Rather than being simply a selection of famous masterpieces, it reflects the tastes of a collector who studied historic art carefully and sought out unusual objects. It includes paintings, sculpture, decorative arts and historical artefacts, many dating from the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Fritz Mayer van den Bergh and his collection
Fritz grew up in a wealthy Antwerp family that valued art and cultural life. He eventually devoted himself to collecting and studying antiques. He acquired works at auctions and looked beyond famous pieces, seeking objects distinguished by their rarity, artistic qualities or history.
His interests ranged from painting and sculpture to furniture, carpets, tableware, coins and manuscripts. This broad approach created a collection that spans different styles and historical periods. Fritz died in 1901 at the age of 43, and his mother decided to make his collection accessible to the public.
A museum created by his mother
Henriëtte commissioned architect Joseph Hertogs to design a dedicated building for the collection. The museum was built between 1901 and 1904 beside the family residence and officially opened on 17 December 1904. Elements from Fritz’s collection were incorporated into the interiors, bringing the artworks and the architecture together.
Originally, the museum retained the intimate atmosphere of a private collection. Objects were arranged to evoke an old home filled with pieces chosen with care by their owner. Wooden panelling, carved furniture, decorative details and special cabinets for small or fragile objects contributed to this distinctive setting.
Mad Meg and other works
One of the collection’s best-known treasures is Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s painting Mad Meg (Dulle Griet). This unusual 16th-century composition is filled with fantastical creatures and unsettling details. It is regarded as one of the collection’s major highlights and attracts art lovers from around the world.
The collection also includes paintings, sculptures, religious images, decorative arts and historical objects. Portraits, old devotional images, furniture and smaller works help visitors imagine everyday life in earlier centuries. The lack of a single narrow theme makes the collection especially engaging: works from different genres, materials and artistic traditions appear side by side.
How to visit today
The museum’s main building is currently closed for major restoration and expansion. However, visitors can explore part of the collection through the temporary exhibition Beloved. An intimate look at masterpieces at the nearby Maagdenhuis, Lange Gasthuisstraat 33, Antwerp. Around 90 works are on display, including Bruegel’s Mad Meg.
The exhibition is scheduled to run until 17 September 2028, but visitors should check the latest details and book an online ticket for a specific time slot before travelling. The future project will expand the museum complex and connect it with the neighbouring building associated with the collector’s family history.
Museum Mayer van den Bergh is remarkable not only for individual masterpieces but also for the story of the man who assembled the collection and the mother who preserved it for future generations. It offers a personal perspective on art and a chance to explore the rich artistic heritage of late medieval and Renaissance Antwerp.
Gallery
