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Ten top works

Ten top works jump out, books that determined Western thinking and shaped the world.

Latin classics - Justus Lipsius

Plantin convinces top humanist Justus Lipsius to print his Latin classics like Tacitus and Seneca at his printing office.

The first Dutch dictionary - Cornelis Kiliaan

The first Dutch dictionary was printed in Plantijns printing office.

Counting with decimal numbers - Simon Stevin

The basis for the US dollar is found in Simon Stevin's book 'de Thiende'.

An Italian view of the Netherlands - Lodovico Guicciardini

A reference work about the Netherlands, richly illustrated and full of maps.

The first atlas - Abraham Ortelius

The first atlas was printed in Plantijns printing office.

A new medicine book - Pieter Coudenberg

Coudenberg’s Dispensatorium is translated in France, the Netherlands and Italy and is reissued well into the 17th century. The work will remain a standard until the 19th century.

Illustrated flowers of nature - Rembert Dodoens

Rembert Dodoens publish his 'Cruydtboeck' (herbal book). In the 16th century the most translated book, after the Bible.

listening Eyes

low-literate young people and adults

The Museum has developed a set of cards that low-literate young people (and adults) can use to explore the Museum and its rich collections.

Manuscripts

The museum’s collection includes 638 manuscripts, ranging from the ninth to the eighteenth century. The basis of the collection was laid by Christophe Plantin himself: he bought manuscripts that he could use to make book editions of Greek and Roman authors and church fathers. Plantin was also given manuscripts.