Letterenhuis, Literary archive and museum in Antwerp, Belgium
Letterenhuis is a protected building in central Antwerp that houses an archive and museum focused on Flemish writers. The collection includes manuscripts, letters, portraits, and photographs spanning several centuries of Flemish literary history.
The institution was founded in 1933 as Museum van de Vlaamsche Letterkunde with the goal of preserving Flemish literary history. During World War II, the collection was protected from bombing by relocating to secure locations.
The institution holds personal papers and manuscripts from writers who shaped Flemish literature. Walking through the displays shows how these authors lived and worked in their time.
The archive has a reading room where visitors can study the collections and hosts regular exhibitions throughout its spaces. The best time to visit is from Tuesday through Saturday when the institution is open to the public.
The institution has changed its name multiple times throughout its history, originally operating as Museum van de Vlaamsche Letterkunde. It only adopted the simpler name Letterenhuis, meaning House of Letters, in 2002.
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