Peter Paul Rubens was a renowned Flemish Baroque painter who lived and worked in Antwerp during the 17th century. He is known for his extravagant style and mastery of depicting movement and emotion in his paintings.
Anthony Van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who was born in Antwerp in 1599. He was a protege of Peter Paul Rubens and became famous for his portraits of European nobility, particularly those of King Charles I of England.
Jan Fabre is a contemporary Belgian artist, playwright, and stage director who was born in Antwerp in 1958. He is known for his diverse body of work spanning from performance art to sculpture and installations.
Marie-Anne Collot was a French sculptor who lived and worked in Antwerp during the 18th century. She was known for her skill in portrait sculpture and her works can be found in museums across Europe.
Hendrik Conscience was a Belgian author and pioneer of Dutch-language literature. Born in Antwerp in 1812, he is best known for his historical novels which played a significant role in shaping Flemish cultural identity.
Hugo Claus was a prolific Belgian writer, poet, and playwright born in Bruges in 1929 but spent a considerable part of his life in Antwerp. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in Flemish literature.
Tom Lanoye is a contemporary Belgian novelist, poet, and playwright born in 1958 in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. He has strong ties to Antwerp and is known for his provocative and politically engaged writing.
Gerardus Mercator was a 16th-century Flemish cartographer and geographer born in Rupelmonde, Flanders (now Belgium). He is famous for creating the Mercator projection, a cylindrical map projection that became standard for nautical purposes.
Luc Tuymans is a contemporary Belgian painter born in Mortsel, Belgium, in 1958. He is associated with the Neo-Expressionist movement and is known for his subdued palette and evocative imagery.
Adriaen Brouwer was a Flemish painter active in the early 17th century. He was born in Oudenaarde, Flanders (now Belgium), but spent much of his life in Antwerp. Brouwer is known for his lively genre scenes and innovative brushwork.