Riverside Museum is European Museum of the Year

The museum, which was designed by Zaha Hadid, has attracted more than two million visitors since it opened

Glasgow's Riverside Museum has been named European Museum of the Year (EMYA) at a ceremony in Belgium.

The prestigious award is presented to museums which have been built or extensively refurbished within the previous three years.

The £74m Riverside Museum, on the banks of the River Clyde, opened in June 2011 and showcase the city's transport, shipbuilding and engineering heritage.

It was designed by award-winning architect Zaha Hadid.

The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) was founded in 1977 under the auspices of the Council of Europe.

It has never been won by a Scottish museum but previous UK winners include the National Railway Museum in York and the Beamish: North of England Museum.

The judges said: "The Riverside Museum demonstrates brilliantly how a specialist transport collection can renew its relevance through active engagement with wider social and universal issues.

"The EMYA 2013 Judging Panel agreed unanimously that the museum fulfils the EMYA criteria of 'public quality' at the highest level."

The museum has attracted more than two million visitors since it opened and houses about 150 displays.

Cllr Archie Graham, chairman of Glasgow Life, said it was an "outstanding achievement".

He said: "Our fantastic Riverside Museum has been crowned Europe's best.

"That is no accident and is down to the hard work, passion and creativity of our staff who do everything they can to bring the stories of our transport and engineering past to existing and new audiences. They have made Glasgow proud."