The Cabinet Sessions #4

Are you up for a cosy ambience and sweet music to warm a winter’s night? Welcome to the 4th Cabinet Sessions on 5 December at the Rubenshuis!

Genre-bending accordion with Philippe Thuriot and Gwen Cresens

At 7.30 pm and 9 pm

Philippe Thuriot is the kind of classically trained musician who knows how to play Bach’s compositions but is also happy to push boundaries with his instrument and explore new styles. He joins forces with accomplished accordionist and composer Gwen Cresens on Friday 5 December for a one-off concert at the Rubenshuis. 

Jazz? Café vibes? Classical notes? Cresens and Thuriot invite you to an intuitive musical experiment that shatters all the boxes to smithereens.

Animation short meets musical poetry by Elis Floreen

At 7 pm en 10 pm

What could possibly make Elis Floreen’s (aka Marijke Maes) sweet, slightly ethereal voice even more magical? When you combine it with dreamy visuals, of course! Discover Ice Merchants, the Oscar-nominated animation short by Portuguese director João Gonzalez, during our winter Cabinet Session. An intimate, poetic short story about the bond between a father and his son. Singer-songwriter and producer Elis Floreen has created a live soundtrack to this film, combining filmic sound and a sensorial score into a poetic dialogue between sound and image.

Watch the trailer of Ice Merchants.

Magical ‘garden walk’ with Nel Maertens

Continuous from 8 pm until 11 pm, performance from 8 until 9 pm

Have you already seen Zaaien en Oogsten (Sowing and Harvesting), the multidisciplinary artwork by Nel Maertens? The Antwerp visual artist invites you to walk through her work quite literally, past sand carpets full of hand-strewn flowers and plants. Maertens has created a new, magical version of her performance especially for the Rubenshuis, following a creative immersion into our garden and library. Take a walk through her poetic universe, with live music by Aya Suzuki.

Drawing workshop with Willo Gonnissen

Continuous from 7 pm until 10 pm

Have you always dreamt of making an artful drawing in the vein of Rubens? During The Cabinet Sessions, artist Willo Gonnissen, renowned for his pure paintings and assemblages, will help you create your own design. Be inspired by a carefully curated selection of books from our library by Willo and join us for a relaxed drawing session.

In the footsteps of Rubens’s mother: Topmadammen, book talk by Carolien Krijnen

Start at 7, 7.45, 8.30, 9.15 and 10 pm

Antwerp author and city guide Carolien Krijnen has delved deeper into the lives of ten women who helped shape Antwerp. In her new book, Topmadammen (In a League of Their Own), she pays tribute to such trailblazers as Auschwitz survivor Regine Beer, animator and illustrator Nicole van Goethem, and singer Ann Christy: women who were well ahead of their time, with fascinating life stories. Maria Pijpelinckx, Rubens’s mother, is one of the women in this impressive line-up. Want to find out who she was and how she influenced her famous son? Carolien tells you all about her during a short book talk in Maria Pijpelinckxstraat, around the corner from the Rubenshuis.

The book talk is in Dutch.

Drinks & DJ set

Continuous from 7 pm

Walk through the rooms of the Rubens Experience and discover hidden gems in the library. Head into the garden or order a drink at the bar. And vibe along to a live DJ set!

Ask Rubens!

Continuous from 7 pm

Do you have a question? Want to know more about the garden, library or Rubens Experience? Our Rubens storytellers are at your service throughout the evening. They’re easy to spot with their green badge. Don’t hesitate to bombard them with your questions!

When?

• Friday 5 December 2025 from 7 pm until 11 pm
• Doors: 6.45 pm

Price

 I want tickets

Do you have a practical question?

Check all frequently asked question

Every year, the Rubens House presents the key to the cabinet to an inspiring curator. In 2025, B-Classic takes visitors on a journey into their world. B-Classic facilitates encounters between artists, genres and audiences. It breaks down the boundaries of classical music and explores how music, today and in the past, is made and experienced. B-Classic makes room for artists and makers, giving them the space they need to research, create, and present.

Experiencing innovative music. 
Learning from engaging workshops. 
Walking through the rooms of the Rubens Experience. 
Exploring the atmospheric garden at night. 
Being inspired by vibrant culture. 
Unwinding to a vibrant DJ set. 
Meeting like-minded culture lovers. 
Connecting with locals. 
Discovering Antwerp, the beloved birthplace of Rubens.

Friday nights that surprise, inspire and come to life - that’s The Cabinet Sessions.