MoMu - Fashion Museum Antwerp

MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp is a museum dedicated entirely to fashion, located in Antwerp, a city widely regarded as one of Europe's leading centres for fashion design. The institution focuses on documenting, preserving and presenting the achievements of Belgian fashion, and its holdings rank among the most significant of their kind anywhere in the world.

Where is the museum located?

MoMu occupies the historic ModeNatie building on Nationalestraat, a street in central Antwerp closely associated with fashion and design. The location is no coincidence: this part of the city has long been a hub for Antwerp's fashion community, including the educational institutions that train the city's designers.

When was MoMu founded?

The museum opened its doors on 21 September 2002. From the outset, its mission has been to collect, conserve, exhibit and support the creation of Belgian fashion. Its very first exhibition took place in the same historic ModeNatie building that still serves as its home today.

What does the collection contain?

MoMu's collection comprises more than 25,000 objects, mainly clothing and accessories, with over 7,000 pieces added since 2009. The museum holds the largest collection of Belgian fashion in the world, spanning both historical garments and contemporary designer pieces. Together, the holdings offer a representative overview of womenswear in Western Europe from the eighteenth century to the present day. This makes MoMu not just a showcase for current trends, but also an archive documenting how fashion has evolved over several centuries.

What exhibitions can visitors see?

Since opening, MoMu has run a continuous programme of temporary exhibitions, typically presenting two major shows per year. Each exhibition is built around a specific theme or designer, constructing a narrative about the cultural and historical significance of fashion. A defining feature of MoMu's shows is their immersive scenography, designed to let visitors experience the featured collections more directly than a conventional glass-case display would allow.

Alongside its temporary exhibitions, the museum also presents a permanent display dedicated to its own collection. This exhibition looks back at four decades of Belgian fashion, complemented by a selection of pieces from the museum's historic holdings. It is this part of the museum that best illustrates how Antwerp and its designers have shaped fashion internationally, particularly the generation of Belgian designers who rose to global prominence from the 1980s onward.

Who is this museum for?

MoMu attracts fashion and design enthusiasts as well as travellers interested in Antwerp's culture and history. It also serves as a reference point for students and professionals in the fashion industry, given the international standing of Antwerp's design scene.

Frequently asked questions

How is MoMu different from a typical art museum? MoMu is dedicated solely to fashion — clothing, accessories and the history of design — rather than the visual arts more broadly.

Does MoMu only display contemporary fashion? No. The collection spans historical garments dating back to the eighteenth century as well as contemporary work, including pieces by Belgian designers from the past four decades.

How often do the exhibitions change? The museum typically organises two major temporary exhibitions per year, alongside its permanent collection display.

Where exactly is MoMu located? In the ModeNatie building on Nationalestraat, in the centre of Antwerp.