Ackermans & van Haaren wants to help elevate KMSKA to a higher level through its network and expertise

The Belgian holding company Ackermans & van Haaren is an important pillar of support for KMSKA. Philip Heylen, International Relations & Corporate Affairs Officer and former Antwerp Alderman for Culture, is happy to explain the reasons behind their commitment.

Why do you consider it important to engage in this kind of partnership?

Philip Heylen: “We believe that a company simply cannot develop and do business without paying attention to what is happening in society. Within the group, we have various long-term commitments, focusing on the socio-economic, social, and cultural spheres. In terms of cultural engagement, we have a tradition, including with the Middelheimmuseum and the Museum Mayer Van den Bergh. And of course, also with KMSKA. Through our partnership, we aim to elevate the museum to a higher level, financially, but also through our network and expertise.”

Why did you choose KMSKA?

“Of course, there is the formidable collection spanning seven centuries of art, from the Flemish Primitives to modern masters. But for me, the history, the location, and the beauty of the building also play a role. KMSKA returns to the roots of Antwerp and its people. The connection with the city on the Scheldt and the province is important for A&vH, as our founding families have long been active here. As a group, we have made a special effort, led by Private Bank Delen, but also involving Bank Van Breda and A&vH itself. We had already been members of De Vrienden van het Museum for some time, so this strengthens the commitment we have maintained for many years.”

What is your favourite work from the collection?

“If you walk into the new museum today, you are treated to a cultural fireworks display. “Het is den bloemekee!” as we say in Antwerp, the highlight of the fireworks. You are drawn in, and that sensation lasts for hours, like being in a trance. Believe me: this will put Antwerp back on the map for many years to come.

It is therefore difficult to choose, but if I must, I would pick Jean Fouquet’s 'Madonna Surrounded by Seraphim and Cherubim.' A 15th-century painting that still looks modern. It is a visionary work of unusual elegance that sticks with you. For me, it is our Mona Lisa. I also love Alexandre Cabanel’s 'Cleopatra.' A beautiful, grand, and theatrical painting from the Romantic period. People at the time were immersed in the newly discovered Egypt and its exoticism. I also have a personal fascination with Egypt, which plays a role in my appreciation.”

What is your company most looking forward to during this partnership?

“I think it is important that KMSKA is not a passive space. In collaboration with the museum, we want to help develop new initiatives and expand opportunities, so that a fresh young audience and art lovers alike are eager to explore again. It should also become a place that people want to visit more than once. The admission price is low, and the collection is so exceptional that you can easily visit several times a year, like you would the Zoo or a beautiful park. Through our network, we also aim to bring thousands of additional visitors to the museum in the coming years.

Finally, many people have been frustrated over the past years because it took so long. But work has continued tirelessly. I want to give a big compliment to the management and the entire KMSKA team. The collection has traveled, it has been a showcase, and it has sparked curiosity in various countries, from which we will benefit for a long time. That is why I say: You simply must see this! The new museum belongs to all of us: to Antwerp, to Flanders, to Belgium. Let’s all enjoy it fully and be immensely proud.”