Introductory tour behind the scenes

What is it like in a historical preservation library? Discover it during our tours behind the scenes. Your guide will take you from the most beautiful square in Antwerp to the seventeenth-century wing of the Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience and the majestic Nottebohm Room. This room is one of the most beautiful library spaces in Belgium. The interior dates from 1936. Moreover, the Nottebohm Room is, besides an exhibition space and library warehouse, also the repository of, among other things, the globes of Blaeu and the Egyptian cabinet. During the tour, you will walk through impressive warehouses to the microfilm room and the reading room. There you will discover how one cherishes, preserves and makes one and a half million books available. De Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience is a literary treasure trove full of Flemish cultural heritage. This tour is ideal for lovers of Flemish history and Dutch literature. The library itself is also heritage. The story of the heritage library started in 1481 when city lawyer Willem Pauwels donated 41 books to the city of Antwerp. Unfortunately, the books were lost in 1576 due to a fire during the Spaanse Furie. This proves that the history of the Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience is inextricably linked to the history of Antwerp. During the tour, you will learn what the ideal storage conditions for books, magazines and newspapers are and what problems a preservation library encounters. Praktisch Elke first Saturday of the month, each time from 10:30 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 14:30 Standard ticket: € 12 Max. 15 participants This tour is suitable for individuals Our guide will wait for you a quarter of an hour before the start at the desk of the Heritage Library, entrance via Hendrik Conscienceplein 4, 2000 Antwerp.