Madonnas of Antwerp

The Madonnas of Antwerp, discreet guardians of the street corners

You barely notice them, and yet they have watched over Antwerp for centuries: the Madonnas, those statues of the Virgin nestled at street corners or set on façades. The Antwerp audio-guided tour lingers here to reveal a discreet but omnipresent tradition, which dots the historic centre with little touches of popular devotion.

A centuries-old tradition

For centuries, numerous statues of the Virgin have adorned the street corners and façades of Antwerp's historic centre. Witnesses of a deeply rooted popular devotion, they were once lit at night and marked the crossroads. Many still remain throughout the city, each with its history, its style and sometimes its anecdotes, forming a diffuse but precious heritage.

What to see

Spotting the Madonnas while strolling is a game in itself: you only need to look up to the corners of the buildings to discover them, in a great diversity of styles. This statue hunt offers another reading of the historic centre, more intimate and attentive to detail. It is an original way to discover Antwerp, beyond the great monuments alone.

Practical information

The Madonnas can be discovered almost everywhere in the historic centre of Antwerp, at street corners and on façades, reachable on foot. There is no single place to visit: it is a free stroll, with no ticket office, where you only need to look up. It is best to bring sturdy shoes to walk the cobbled lanes and multiply the discoveries.

What are the Madonnas of Antwerp?

They are statues of the Virgin, nestled for centuries at street corners and on façades of the historic centre, witnesses of a rooted popular devotion.

How can you see the Madonnas of Antwerp?

You only need to look up to the corners of the buildings of the historic centre while strolling; there are many, in a great variety of styles.