DIVA: Antwerp’s Brilliant Diamond Museum

Belgium’s House of Diamonds, Jewellery & Silver

Step through the arched doorway of this 19th-century Flemish-Renaissance-Revival landmark and you’re instantly wrapped in 550 years of Antwerp sparkle. Inside DIVA, velvet-dark galleries glitter with diamond tiaras, silver spice ships and Art-Deco brooches, while immersive soundscapes whisper tales of court jewellers, daring sea merchants and today’s high-tech cutters. More than a treasure vault, the museum is a living workshop, research library and ethical think-tank that asks how luxury objects are made, traded and treasured in the 21st century. Five minutes away, trusted Antwerp Ateliers at Ajediam turns that history into your very own brilliant souvenir—proof that Antwerp’s diamond story still shines beyond the museum walls.

Why DIVA belongs on every Antwerp itinerary

The permanent route, “DIVA, a Brilliant Story,” guides you through six themed rooms that spotlight everything from the exotic allure of 17th-century objets de luxe to the thorny ethics of modern mining. Interactive grading games challenge you to spot a real diamond from a replica, and touch-screen design labs let you sketch your own ring—perfect for both first-timers and gem connoisseurs.

Behind the scenes: the DIVA Library & Atelier

DIVA Atelier – A fully equipped silversmithing studio open to everyone. Pros book intensive masterclasses that zoom in on specialist techniques, while curious beginners dive into weekend workshops and summer courses—no experience needed. Hammers clang, torches flare and visitors leave with a self-made trinket (or a brand-new skill set).

DIVA Library – A hush falls upstairs where 8 000+ books, journals and archival sketches await. Pull up a chair in the reading room to trace the provenance of an Art-Deco brooch or scroll through digital catalogues of contemporary Belgian design. Rare volumes from the museum’s “Bijzondere Collecties” rotate on display, while @DIVAlibrary on Instagram drops weekly inspiration for designers and researchers alike.

From museum magic to real-world sparkle: meet AJEDIAM

A five-minute stroll lands you in the Diamond District, where Ajediam has served, GIA-certified stones since 1987. The family-run office with in-house atelier offers transparent pricing buy appointment only. Ajediam is the ideal destination if DIVA has inspired you to take a brilliant souvenir home.

Plan your visit in a flash

Address: Suikerrui 17-19, 2000 Antwerp
Hours: Tue–Sun 10:00-18:00 (closed Mon)
Tickets: €12 adults; under-18s free (reserve online to skip the queue)
Website: https://www.divaantwerp.be/nl
Accessibility: Wheel-chair friendly routes, loaner folding chairs and large-print guides available.
Travel tips: After your AJEDIAM appointment, reach DIVA on foot from the Grote Markt, by bike along the Scheldt quays, or via tram 7/9/11. Waterbus stops at Steenplein for a scenic river approach.

Final sparkle

With a world-class exhibition programme, an open-door atelier and a research library that would make any diamond afficionado swoon, DIVA turns Antwerp into a living laboratory of craft and commerce. Pair it with your visit at AJEDIAM, and your Antwerp stay will glitter long after you’re home.