Exploring Art & Nature at the Verbeke Foundation
A few weeks ago on a lovely afternoon I finally visited the Verbeke Foundation, a wonderful private art collection by Geert Verbeke en Carla Verbeke-Lens, exhibited both indoors and outdoors on a large former nursery site not very far from Antwerp.
First impressions of the Verbeke Foundation
Before my visit I heard some very positive and excited reviews of the Verbeke Foundation from friends who’d visited before, some even saying it was their favourite museum in Belgium! So my expectations were high but at the same time I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I was not disappointed! The entrance is in a large hangar type of building, where some artworks of Belgian artist Panamarenko welcome you. The art right away pulls you in. It feels a bit like a mad jumble of curiosities, with the energy of a dusty old museum of natural history in some faraway exotic country. It’s somewhat chaotic but there’s beauty in it.
It is a great museum to bring kids to, and even pets are welcome, I noticed several people who brought their dog! This is not the kind of museum where silence is required. There are so many fun things to explore and discover!
The Greenhouse
Once you’ve seen the exhibits in the first indoor building you can go through the big greenhouse which is even dustier and chaotic. There are chickens and other exotic birds, airplanes and a range of sculptures, collages and art installations. And from there on you can explore the outside gardens.
Outdoor nature
Outside there’s 12 hectares of nature to explore dotted with art installations. And at the end you can enjoy a nice coffee at the wonderful Verbeke Foundation cafe.
Getting There
The Verbeke Foundation is located along the A11/E34 highway in Kemzeke. Unfortunately it’s not easy to get there by public transport, that was the main reason why I hadn’t visited it before. But if you have a car it’s very easy, it’s just a 20 minute drive from Antwerp.
Verbeke Foundation
Westakker z/n (GPS nr. 1)
Kemzeke, 9190
Belgium
Visit their website
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19 May 2021 by INE BEERTEN
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