Red Star Line Museum
About This Museum
People don't come to the Red Star Line Museum for famous art; they come for the ghosts. They are searching for traces of the over two million hopeful souls—perhaps their own ancestors—who passed through these very brick halls on a desperate, one-way journey to America. The air in the old shipping company warehouses still feels thick with their mingled anxiety and anticipation. It’s a deeply human story of farewells and fresh starts, told not with grand pronouncements but with humble, heart-wrenching objects: a worn-out suitcase, a steamer ticket, a faded photograph held tight.
Collection Highlights
The most powerful moment comes when you climb to the tower and stand at the prow-like window, gazing out at the Scheldt River just as the emigrants did, imagining their final view of Europe. Elsewhere, you can listen to recorded memories of survivors or trace a passenger's name on a digital manifest, making the vast statistic profoundly personal.
Visitor Information
It's located right on the river in Antwerp, easy to spot by its red-brick charm. Give yourself a good two hours to really absorb the stories without rushing.
Architecture & Building
The museum is cleverly housed in the original red-brick warehouses and administrative buildings of the historic shipping line, creating an authentic atmosphere where history feels immediate.
Contact & Location
Address: Red Star Line Museum, 3, Montevideostraat, Nieuwstad-Cadix, Eilandje, Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, 2000, België / Belgique / Belgien
Phone: +32 3 298 27 70
Website: Visit Website
