I’ve been living in Antwerp for over twenty years, taking pictures of everyone and everything. Throughout these years I got to know the city as if it were my backyard – and let’s be honest: it kind of is. High time to pour all of this knowledge into one comprehensive travel guide. This guide will be most useful to visitors who don’t know Antwerp very well, but even long-term residents will occasionally discover things completely new to them. Read through it, and you’ll be aware of everything that can be seen and done in the City of Diamonds. Every neighbourhood is covered: from your arrival in Antwerp Central Station to excursions to the most obscure suburbs. Welcome to the – prove me wrong – most complete online Antwerp travel guide in existence. Enjoy!
A visit to Antwerp? Always a splendid idea! Flanders’ largest city – and by extension Belgium’s, because Brussels consists of 19 separate municipalities and therefore doesn’t count – is also its most interesting. I of course say this out of healthy chauvinism and to irritate Ghent’s snooty hipsters – but also because it’s the God-honest truth. Antwerp is Europe’s second largest port, and thus the main reason the rest of the country gets fed. Furthermore, we’re Belgium’s main fashion capital and the world’s biggest diamond hub, we have the most Michelin stars, our Brabo statue isn’t a tiny over-hyped gnome like Manneken Pis and our cathedral is by far the tallest and most beautiful. And this is without even mentioning Antwerp’s sweet, soft-spoken dialect. A downright melodic accent it is, suitable only for the most intimate poetry and ballads. This in stark contrast to the rest of the country, where everyone sounds as if they’re choking on an uncooked potato. There, now that every toe has been thoroughly stepped on, we can move on to the order of the day. Antwerp is a pocket-sized metropolis, and we’re exploring it in detail starting right now. To infinity, and beyond!
The Ultimate Antwerp Travel Guide: All Highlights, Sights and Attractions
Since I didn’t intend to make everyone wander all over the place at random, I thought I’d put some logic into my way of working. This is why I’ll start – like most tourists arriving in Antwerp – in Antwerp Central Station and its surrounding neighbourhoods. Once these are covered, I’ll gradually move towards the historic city centre and then tackle the most important attractions and hidden gems in the rest of town, to eventually end with an overview of every single one of Antwerp’s nine other districts. The ingenious thing about this cunning plan of mine, is that anyone can stop reading at any time to actually start exploring. Someone just interested in ticking off the main downtown attractions, can go bananas doing exactly that after less than half the article. People looking for real added value on the other hand, can finish the whole thing to then plunge themselves headfirst into the most obscure and forgotten depths of town (hey there, Merksem!). Just like Secret Santa at the office: there’s something for everyone. Now let’s get on with it, shall we?
1. Antwerp Central Station, the Diamond Quarter and Stadspark
Most travellers arrive in Antwerp through the glorious Antwerp Central Station. This marvellous building is officially the world’s most beautiful train station, so I guess there are worst places to start your trip. The monumental station hall opened in 1905 and was inspired by the Roman Pantheon. The almost 200-metre-long railway hall behind it on the other hand, served as a showpiece for the then very productive Belgian steel industry. “Fantastic building”, one would think, and yet it was very close to getting completely demolished not so long ago. This because the (much beloved, haha) National Belgian Railway Company decided they wanted to turn it into a transit instead of a terminal station, and they thought it too expensive to adapt the original building. Only an epic rage fit of then Antwerp Mayor Bob Cools managed to stay their hand – thanks Bobby! Here’s a small treasure hunt for keen eyes: a construction worker hid a random parrot somewhere in between the decorations in the main hall. If you can spot it and mail me a picture, I’ll mentally send you whatever imaginary reward you can think of.
Right next to the station lies Antwerp’s famous Diamond District. For five hundred years, it served as the main centre of the global diamond trade, but for tourists there’s actually not much to do or see (The DIVA Diamond Museum is located near the City Hall). Next to this area – squeezed in between the station and the beautiful Stadspark – lives the majority of Antwerp’s Jewish community. Some 20.000 Jews live in Antwerp, many of them Orthodox. This is why the city has its own eroey: a literal metal wire around the downtown, creating a symbolic “house” in which religious Jews are allowed to move freely even during Sabbath – not born yesterday, those guys.
2. Antwerp Zoo and the Queen Elisabeth Hall
The Antwerp Zoo is right next to the station, and was my favourite place in the entire city when I was a kid – I still eat my lunch here occasionally when the weather allows it. ZOO Antwerpen is one of the world’s oldest. It opened in 1843, and because of the many historic buildings and enclosures, it’s been a protected monument for decades. The place is continuously being worked on, and functions as a botanical garden as well. It’s full of old, impressive trees and is one of the city centre’s main green lungs. Despite its relatively small size, the majority of enclosures are now up to standard and you’ll see everything from elephants and lions to gorillas, koalas and even Komodo dragons. Dutchies with a subscription to Artis, Blijgaarde or GaiaZOO can enter for free – just saying. Next to the main entrance you’ll find A Room with a ZOO. This is a relatively recently renovated conference centre overlooking the zoo entrance. The main showpiece is the Queen Elisabeth Hall: a beautiful modern concert hall, among the absolute best in the world in terms of acoustics and architecture.
3. Zurenborg and the Green Quarter
For the sake of convenience, we’ll take a small excursion through the back of the train station and walk along the railway line towards Zurenborg. This neighbourhood is partly located in the District of Berchem, but a large patch of it is still Antwerp proper. Zurenborg is the main area where the stereotype of the leftwing Antwerp hipster riding a cargo bike originated, but more than that it’s a wonderful place to live. The beating heart of the neighbourhood is cosy Dageraadplaats. This is a nice square lined with bars and restaurants. Every evening after sunset, an artificial starry sky is lit for that extra romantic touch while you’re getting hammered. Another top neighbourhood nearby is ‘t Groen Kwartier on the other side of the tracks. This used to be the site of a huge military hospital, but was transformed into a green zone about ten years ago, offering a pleasant mix of living space, leisure and hospitality. Until recently, you could book a table in The Jane here – in my opinion the best restaurant in Antwerp – but for reasons we won’t mention, the place moved to the other side of town. Fortunately, there are many other fun and alternative venues to try out, including a cool microbrewery. Top attraction in the Green Quarter is PAKT: an old warehouse with a 2.000 square meter urban farm on the rooftop. Local residents can rent a wooden container filled with potting soil to grow their own vegetables in (or weed, who knows), and once you have one you can come and enjoy the view all day long – there are even some chickens clucking about. The rest of you can visit the rooftop with a guide at set times.
4. The Chinese Neighbourhood and De Coninck Square
Opposite the main station entrance – on the other side of Astridplein – is an impressive Chinese gate flanked by two great stone lions. One of them is sporting an equally impressive erection, and legend has it that if you rub it thoroughly between 1 and 6 pm, you’ll make a complete fool of yourself so don’t do it. The gate was actually made in China (as a gift) and grants access to Van Wesenbekestraat. This is Antwerp’s own Chinatown where you’ll find numerous Asian restaurants and shops, as well as a kung fu school, a Buddhist temple and Sun Wah: the largest Asian supermarket in the country (recently a very good competitor opened in Stadsfeestzaal as well). You can find ingredients here you’d otherwise have to search half the country for. Every year, Chinese New Year is celebrated with a colourful dragon procession here, which is quite spectacular to attend. Typical Belgian fact: the construction of the gate was blocked for years by the Panos shop on the corner. Apparently they wanted to keep the attention of passers-by on their soggy chicken curry sandwiches instead.
Next to the gate is Chocolate Nation: a museum all about Belgian chocolate. It’s surprisingly fun and interactive, and in the last room are several taps you can slurp liquid chocolate from (don’t actually do this you animals: you’ll get a spoon). The other end of the street opens up on De Concinckplein. For a long time, this was one of Antwerp’s most notorious squares, but although there are still some pretty wild druggies hanging out occasionally, a couple of nice coffee bars and restaurants opened up in recent years, as well as Antwerp’s main library.
5. Antwerpen Noord and Seefhoek
Behind the De Coninckplein lies the so-called Seefhoek. This is a working-class neighbourhood bordered by Park Spoor Noord and Carnotstraat. Antwerp North is often seen as one of the city’s main “problem areas”, but this doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see or do. The park and the area around it are especially pleasant. Park Spoor Noord used to be a sad and abandoned site where they parked old trains, but since they cleaned it up and sprinkled some grass over it somewhere in the late 2000s, the whole area brightened up with it. Now it’s a great place to sunbathe, skate or play some sports in, or you could just grab a lounging chair by the fountains at Bar Noord and have a drink instead. The Parkbrug, which will take you from the park to the much fancier Eilandje Quarter right over the main thoroughfare, quickly became one of Antwerp’s main photo spots. Other pleasant places in this area include the Art Deco swimming pool in Veldstraat, the area around Sint-Willebrorduskerk, the Panamarenko House where one of Antwerp’s most famous contemporary artists used to work and Offerandestraat (the more economic and colourful version of the Meir shopping street).
6. De Keyserlei, Meir and Boerentoren
Enough side quests for now: let’s start moving towards the old town. When you leave the Central Station on the side of De Keyserlei, you’ll pass UGC Cinema and the beautiful Opera House to eventually end up on the Meir. This is Antwerp’s main shopping boulevard, which will soon be completely redone. The Meir is full of impressive buildings, but three of them truly stand out. The magnificent Stadsfeestzaal stood empty for years after a fire, but was restored to its former glory and is now one of the prettiest shopping malls in the country. Paleis op de Meir is a city palace that was once bought by Napoleon – who then never actually got to visit it (Waterloo baby!). You can only see the luscious upstairs halls with a guide, but downstairs you’ll find The Chocolate Line: one of the best praline shops in Belgium. Near the end of the Meir, another fantastic building was saved from demolition. Handelsbeurs is a monumental old stock exchange that stood crumbling for years and was supposed to be bulldozed in the 2000s. After what was probably Antwerp’s first massive Facebook protest, plans were changed and the building was renovated. It now serves as an event space and with Fiera it houses one of the city’s most gorgeous restaurants.
Walk the whole Meir towards the centre, turn left and you’ll end up in De Wilde Zee. Despite its name, you’ll most likely won’t see any pirates here. It’s just a couple of pedestrian streets with a selection of smaller and more intimate stores. Looking out over the Meir is Boerentoren (“Peasant Tower”). This was Europe’s first skyscraper and it’s about as old as the Empire State Building in New York. Recently, the entire building was bought by a private investor. He’ll have the tower restored, mount a viewing platform on top of it – including a champagne bar – and will open up a rooftop garden on a lower part that can be freely entered. Inside will be a major art museum and as icing on the cake, a real T-Rex skeleton with be guarding the main hall. Do you have your own T-Rex, Ghent? Didn’t think so.
7. Wapper, the Theatre Quarter and Mechelseplein
Turn left just before Paleis op de Meir, and you’ll end up on Wapper. This is a square full of restaurants where you’ll find the Rubens House: the former atelier/residence of Antwerp’s greatest painter. It’s an interesting museum, but it’s being expanded and refurbished as we speak so you won’t be able to visit for a while. The garden is already finished and open for business though, and it’s looking quite splendid (you can enter from around the corner). Cross Wapper towards Theaterplein and you’ll find yourself in the – surprise – Theatre Quarter. Several large venues are located here, like Stadsschouwburg, Het Paleis, De Bourla and Arenbergschouwburg. This is the square where the famous Vogelenmarkt (“Bird Market”) is held every weekend. Birds or other animals are no longer for sale, and over the years it became more of a social meeting spot with lots of food and drink stalls. Nowadays you’ll see more people drinking cava in the morning sun than folks buying any actual groceries – but it’s still very cosy.
Walk from the market through Arenbergstraat and you’ll end up at the small but lovely Botanical Garden. A couple of years ago, Botanic Sanctuary opened up next to it: the most expensive and luxurious hotel in the city. Take a look at the link: it’s pretty cool. Walk past it through the little gate and you’re on Mechelseplein. This is where the former Studio Herman Teirlinck acting school was located (now simply called De Studio and a location for parties and events) as well as a number of pleasant bars that stay open late. You might see some local celebs “powder their nose in the toilets” here if you’re lucky. Don’t mind them.
Tip: two great museums can be visited near Mechelseplein: Maagdenhuis and Museum Mayer van den Bergh. The latter has the recently restored Dulle Griet by Pieter Bruegel on display – in my opinion the greatest Antwerp masterpiece not in KMSKA or one of the large churches.
8. Grote Markt and the City Hall
Walk down the Meir and past Boerentoren, and with a bit of luck you’ll end up on Grote Markt. In my grotesquely immodest opinion, this is one of the most beautiful squares in the country, and it sports one of its most iconic statues to go with it. It’s called Brabo, and pictures a legendary (and of course completely fictional) Roman soldier who had enough of the annoying giant Antigoon terrorizing the riverside. He swiftly beat him up, cut off his hand and threw it into the river for good measure – job done. The legend dates back to the Middle Ages, but contrary to what many people think, it has nothing to do with the name Antwerp*. The city wasn’t named after “hand werpen” (“throwing a hand” in Dutch), but from “anda verpa“, which is Latin for the raised ground near the Scheldt where the first settlement was founded. This of course sounds much less cool than beating up a big old giant, but it is what it is. Behind Brabo is the now 450-year-old City Hall. It was recently renovated as well, so it now looks great both inside and out. The halls on the so-called “Schoon Verdiep” (“Beautiful Floor”) are especially worth seeing, but you can only get in with a guide. Tip for my Dutch fans: sneak into a wedding ceremony on Saturday morning and pretend you know the couple: there you go, saved you a few bucks again you cheap bastards.
*Whatever the internet tells you: the Antwerp hands have nothing to do with the horrors that were inflicted in Congo by King Leopold II and later the Belgian government. There have been hands on the Antwerp coat of arms since the 16th century.
Tip: a few steps from the City Hall, you’ll find the virtually unknown Hofkamer: an old merchant’s house with one of the most glorious ceilings in Antwerp, as well as a strange toilet disguised as a library.
9. The Antwerp Cathedral
Looking down on the town hall from behind a couple of old stepped garbles is the elegant Cathedral of Our Lady. This is without a doubt the greatest architectural icon in Antwerp, as well as the country’s tallest church spire. It could even have had the two tallest spires, because the southern tower was initially going to be the same height but was never finished. Strange, because they sure took their time to build the church. They were done in 1521 and it took them 170 years. This means that even the grandchildren of the original architect never saw the finished building, and that if they’d started construction when Belgium was founded in 1830, they would’ve celebrated the opening around Y2K. In short: construction took a while, but the result is impressive. The whole church is a work of art, with beautiful stained glass windows, a carved wooden choir and pulpit and some gorgeously decorated niches behind the altar – you can even visit the foundations of an older church in the basement. There’s a lot of actual art on display as well: from some of the most famous works by Rubens to a modern sculpture by Jan Fabre who – a very modest man – delivered a gold-plated statue of himself balancing the cross of Christ (and thus all of humanity’s sins) on the palm of his hand as if it were nothing. What a guy.
Tip: there are a number of nice bars around the Cathedral: I can occasionally be spotted in Paters Vaetje or Kids Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Kaffee. Please give me beer. Looking for a good pub crawl? Either talk to me or join this one.
10. Suikerrui, Oude Koornmarkt and Vlaeykensgang
Walk past the town hall on the left and you’ll end up on Suikerrui, of which Oude Koornmarkt is the extension. These are two cosy streets full of terraces and restaurants, where my favourite bar in Antwerp is located. Tram 3 is hidden on the first floor of a historic building. In the afternoon you can enjoy a coffee on the rooftop terrace, but at night tables and chairs are put aside to get the dance floor started. Also accessible from Oude Koornmarkt – through the little gate at number 16 – is Vlaeykensgang. This is one of the only remaining medieval working-class alleys in Antwerp. Anyone stepping through the gate will feel the hustle and bustle of the city disappear and imagine themselves back in the 16th century. Antwerp used to have many of these alleys, but because poor people lived there things like drainage and ventilation were not seen as necessities, so they were eventually all demolished under the guise of modernisation. Vlaeykensgang would have suffered the same fate, but antique dealer Axel Vervoordt bought and restored the whole alley in the sixties. Today you’ll find little art galleries, studios and a couple of great restaurants in here. A recent addition is Tazu: one of the best (and Japan-inspired) cocktail bars the city has to offer – and since Vervoordt is an interior architect as well, he actually designed the place.
11. Ruihuis and Antwerp’s underground labyrint
Another great attraction on Suikerrui – and one that many Antwerp residents have never visited – is Ruihuis. This building gives access to the Ruien: an underground maze of tunnels spread out under the old city centre. In the past, all of these tunnels were canals. Yes, Antwerp once looked like Amsterdam or Bruges, but because everyone kept pouring their shit buckets into the water, they were all eventually covered up. Every street with a name ending in -rui, -vliet or -vest used to be such a canal, but nowadays you’ll have to explore them underground accompanied by a guide and a tablet. Some of the tunnels are quite impressive, and all of them are marked with the names of the streets running above them, so you’ll know exactly where you are at all times. Exploring the Ruien is one of the most unique experiences you can book in Antwerp, but it’s not for the squeamish. They’ll give you a pair of rubber boots and a hazmat suit, but you’ll still have to wade through some suspicious looking water here and there, and there’ll be occasional sewer rats skittering away when they spot your flashlight, but the experience is more than worth the minor trauma. After a couple of wild stories and a mile of walking, you’ll return to the surface in the middle of the red light district. Please take at least a shower before trying your luck.
12. Steen, Vleeshuis and the Scheldt Quays
Walk towards the Scheldt River from Suikerrui, and you’ll soon see Het Steen popping up. This is a small but lovely castle that was originally part of the medieval city walls, and is now the oldest building still standing in all of Antwerp. A few years ago they decided to turn it into a cruise terminal/visitor centre, and a modern extension was built against the old walls. The result (mainly from the outside) looks like an Aldi and is quite ghastly in my opinion, but The Antwerp Story – an exhibition inside – is actually a nice introduction to the city. The new tower also gives you a great view on both the old town rooftops and the riverside. On the platform behind the castle you can take a ferry to the Scheldt’s left bank. This is completely free and the ship goes back and forth every 30 minutes – feels like a five minute holiday.
Near Steen Castle is one of Antwerp’s other oldest buildings. Vleeshuis used to be the butchers’ guildhall, but has served as a museum for musical instruments for many years now. The collection is impressive, but the actual building is the main star here. Unfortunately it will be closed for a few years because of a thorough renovation project, so you’ll only be able to admire it from the outside for the time being. Also completely remodelled and almost finished are the Scheldt quays. Stretch by stretch of the riverside was redone in recent years, and now only the small part with the raised walkway across from the old town needs to be finished. You can walk all the way from Het Steen to the south side along the water now, and instead of dirty old hangars, you’ll now have sports fields, skate ramps, parks and playgrounds to enjoy. There are also plenty of places to just sit your ass down and watch the sun sink into the river while you sip from your night shop beer – there are worse ways to spend an evening.
13. Groenplaats and the Antwerp Fashion Quarter
Groenplaats – on the other side of the Cathedral – is probably the most famous square in Antwerp after Grote Markt. It’s surrounded by a bunch of bars and restaurants, and in summer lots of markets and events are organized here. At the moment it looks a bit messy, but don’t worry: this square will soon get a facelift as well. Give it a few years and the Rubens statue looking out over it will once again be able to stand on its pedestal without shame. Beyond Groenplaats lies Nationalestraat. Together with Lombardenvest and Steenhouwersvest, it forms the heart of Antwerp’s fashion quarter. Here you’ll find most brand boutiques à la Dries Van Noten and Stephan Schneider. The Fashion Museum (MoMu) is located here as well. The building’s interior is wonderfully designed and in 2026 it will finally hold a major exhibition focused on The Antwerp Six. These are six Belgian fashion designers who graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the eighties to then put the city on the map as an international fashion hub. The Academy is still here and located in Mutsaardstraat in the university quarter. It has a beautiful garden that can be visited freely during business hours.
14. The Pedestrian Tunnel and the Left Bank
Between Hoogstraat and Kloosterstraat you’ll find the entrance to the Sint-Anna Tunnel. This classic pedestrian tunnel is over 500m long and is the most unique way to cross the river: you’ll literally walk right under it. It was built in the early thirties and is thus approaching its centennial anniversary. The escalators and elevators are still authentic – which is perhaps why they don’t work half the time – and especially the former are quite photogenic. Antwerp’s Left Bank (“Linkeroever”) is a place many tourists never visit. This is a shame, because for me the other side of the river feels like having a small holiday from the city centre. Next to the tunnel is a minigolf course and the Boeienweide, which offers a view of the skyline across the water. Walk to the left with your back to the tunnel and you’ll eventually end up at Galgenweel: a man-made lake next to the Scheldt where you can go wakeboarding or sailing. Walk towards the other side and after a brisk hike through a surprising amount of greenery and playgrounds, you’ll find yourself at Sint-Anna Beach. Indeed: Antwerp (again in stark contrast to measly Ghent) has its very own beach, and although you shouldn’t swim in the river (dangerous undercurrent: you might just die) it’s quite pleasant to spend some time here in summer – with the harbour lights as a backdrop. There are several mussel-restaurants flanking the beach as well as an outdoor swimming pool called De Molen. A little further on you’ll find Sint-Anna Forest and Blokkersdijk Bird Sanctuary, as well as a pleasant cycling lane to get a glimpse of the Port of Antwerp.
15. Vrijdagmarkt, Kloosterstraat and Sint-Andries
Close to Groenplaats is another cosy square called Vrijdagmarkt. Public furniture and antique auctions are held here every Friday morning, and it’s home to the only museum in Antwerp that was proclaimed UNESCO World Heritage (it was even the first museum on the list). Museum Plantin-Moretus is an original and exceptionally well-preserved printing house from the 16th century. Inside you’ll find the two oldest printing presses on the planet, as well as an entire workshop full of metal printing letters, lots of historical manuscripts and a few original rooms lined in gold leather. Outside is possibly the most beautiful courtyard in Antwerp – which you can visit for free if you ask the nice people at the counter.
Behind Vrijdagmarkt lies Sint-Andries Quarter, better known as the “Parish of Misery”. This is a name that never made sense to me, because I think it’s one of Antwerp’s nicest neighbourhoods to live in – it feels like a village in the middle of the city centre. Especially the area around Lange Ridderstraat and Sint-Andriesplaats exudes this feeling. In Hoogstraat (just outside the district) you’ll find De Zwarte Panter: the oldest art gallery in Antwerp. You can enter for free and the building is lovely. Kloosterstraat on the other hand, has dozens of antique and furniture stores waiting for you. Near the end of that street is a statue of Peter the Great. In recent years it grew into a pilgrimage for Russian expats honouring Alexei Navalny. Since his death (obviously not at all suspicious), new flowers are left here every week. Also in Sint-Andries and almost completely unknown: Paardekensgang. This is another working class alley like the aforementioned Vlaeykensgang, albeit a little less idyllic and still inhabited. You can have a look by entering under the horse’s head above Willem Lepelstraat 12.
16. Antwerp South and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts
Walk out of Kloosterstraat or Nationalestraat (the latter will take you to Volkstraat: crammed full of nice restaurants) and you’ll end up in ‘t Zuid. This is Antwerp’s South District and one of its main “fancy” areas, which recently got some extra attention through a number of finally finished projects. The biggest attraction here is the KMSKA or the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. It stayed closed for over ten years while it got completely remodelled and expanded, but since the reopening it’s once again the most prestigious museum in Antwerp, and perhaps the most important art museum in the country. Numerous works by the triumvirate of great Antwerp Baroque masters (Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck) are showcased here, but several rooms were dedicated to more modern artists like Ensor as well. Keep your eyes open and you’ll spot works by Dali, Van Eyck, Magritte, Bruegel, Rodin and Van Gogh – just a couple of big names among many. KMSKA is a fantastic museum in an architectural gem of a building. On Thursday evenings it stays open until 10pm, so you can enjoy a cocktail or cava in the monumental entrance hall after your visit.
There are a couple of interesting restaurants and bars around the museum, but the circular Marnixplaats is the main nightlife spot in ‘t Zuid (as well as one of the places where Antwerp got its name as the Coke Capital of Europe, but keep it quiet). Walk from the museum to the river and you’ll come across the newly finished Zuidpark on the way (I still think they should’ve just called it South Park as a meme and be done with it). A long time ago, this was a harbour dock and until recently it was an ugly parking lot where they put the big carnival every summer. Today, it’s a beautiful open park full of benches and playgrounds, which revived the entire neighbourhood around it. I’m often quite critical of Antwerp’s public planning policy, but they did a damn good job here. Located around the park and definitely worth a visit: FOMU (Photography Museum) and M HKA (Modern Art Museum). Behind Zuidpark lies Nieuw Zuid. This is a brand new neighbourhood full of modern high rise buildings, right next to the iconic Palace of Justice. It’s probably a great place to live, but apart from the occasional art gallery, there isn’t that much to do or see for tourists.
17. Carolus Boromeus Church and the Heritage Library
Let’s retrace our steps back to the city centre and explore the other side of downtown Antwerp. The first place you should definitely not miss is right next to Grote Markt. Hendrik Conscienceplein is one of Antwerp’s most beautiful squares and home to two architectural wonders. Carolus Boromeus Church is the only true baroque church in Antwerp. The interior looks fantastic and is reminiscent of Rome, and the church has its own entrance to the underground Ruien – legend has it that the priests used to row their little boat all the way to the Red Light District from here. The Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library can be found on this square as well. Its Nottebohm Hall is the showpiece of the building: a wonderful old library room full of dark wood, creaking floors, marble globes and old leather book spines reaching up to the ceiling on all sides – it feels like walking through a Harry Pottermovie. Two pleasant nearby streets should be visited as well. Lange Koepoortstraat is a pedestrian street full of great shops and restaurants, and Wijngaardstraat houses Dogma: most likely the best cocktail bar in town.
18. The University Quarter and the UAntwerp Campus
The Student Quarter surrounding the University of Antwerp’s Stadscampus, is the area I’ve been calling home for over twenty years now – and I still love being here. The oldest part of the University was built around Hof van Liere, which you can enter through the main gate on Prinsstraat. This gorgeous, pillared courtyard is not very known among non-students, but it’s probably the most beautiful campus in the country. I ate countless sandwiches on this lawn in the early noughties, and every time I return here – I still work for UAntwerp as a photographer – I feel a little nostalgic. I spent even more time on the recently renovated Stadswaag. This used to be one of the main student squares in Antwerp. It’s a bit more quiet and residential now, but still very cosy and the only Scottish pub in town is here. Ossenmarkt – near Rooseveltplaats – is where most university students get their booze on these days. Kassa4 is a fantastic hipster bar, where everything looks exactly as it did when I first ordered a beer here somewhere in September 2001 – I hope it will still look the same in 2050.
A side street of Ossenmarkt hides another gem from most tourists. Here, a large wooden gate opens up on the Antwerp Beguinage: surprisingly unknown, but a real oasis in the middle of the city, with a beautiful sculpture garden circled by cute little stepped garble houses. All of the beguines are long gone these days, and their little homes are now rented to regular people, but you can still visit the place freely until 5pm when the gate closes. The same street is home to the University’s R-Building. It has the ugliest classrooms on the entire campus, but with Museum To Scale it also houses the literal smallest museum in Antwerp: a hundred miniature halls worked into the walls of the ground floor, some filled with works by pretty famous artists. On Sint-Jacobsmarkt behind Ossenmarkt, three interesting niche businesses are right next to each other. Mekanik Strip is the oldest comic book shop in Antwerp; The Rocking Bull is a fantastic record store for all rock and metal fans and The Geeky Cauldron is a themed bar for geeks with a room in Harry Potter and one in Star Wars style.
19. Saint-Paul’s Church and the Red Light District
*The Schipperskwartier picture (top right) was taken during a covid-lockdown when there were ladies nor clients present. Didn’t want to ruin any marriages.
Schipperskwartier (“Sailors’ Quarter”) is the area between the old city centre and ‘t Eilandje. This used to be the place where sailors would come ashore to waste their money on games, girls and booze, so the name was quickly associated with the prostitution area near Falconplein. This part of the neighbourhood could be compared to Amsterdam’s Red Light District – it’s the only place in the city where window prostitution is legal – but it doesn’t have the same tourist appeal. I personally think it’s better this way, because at the end of the day we’re still talking about something that is basically human trafficking. Take a look if you want, but it isn’t the most uplifting couple of streets. More innocent but very important is Koffieklap: a nearby coffee bar serving as both a refuge and a training centre for sex workers who want to quit the industry. The biggest attraction for tourists in Schipperskwartier is St. Paul’s Church on Veemarkt. This is a gothic building with a baroque interior and an impressive calvary garden outside – filled with statues picturing the crucifixion of Christ. It’s also the only church in Antwerp where works by all three of the great baroque masters are still in their original place. We have the prostitutes and sailors to thank for this by the way, because they’re the ones who carried the paintings out of the church during a fire in 1968 – thanks girls. Tip for my LGBTQIA+ (that’s all of them right?) readers: Red&Blue Cargo Club and Hessenhuis are two of the main party venues where you’ll want to go for a good time.
20. ‘t Eilandje and the MAS Museum
Today ‘t Eilandje, together with ‘t Zuid, is one of the hippest and most expensive Antwerp neighbourhoods to live in, but in the nineties this seemed like a distant dream. This used to be where the main commercial part of the Port of Antwerp was located, but as the years and centuries passed, more and more port activity was pushed out of the city centre. Around the turn of the millennium this area was no more than a run-down entertainment district. This all changed when they constructed the MAS Museum in 2011. The completion of this now iconic building was the push the whole neighbourhood needed to transform itself. The MAS is mainly a museum about Antwerp as a city, but its enormous collection is a bit of a mishmash because three other older museums found refuge here. You’ll see everything from classic paintings and miniature ships to African masks and Japanese Samurai armour. Just want to admire the building and the view from the sixty-meter-high roof? You can still take the escalators to the top long after the museum itself closes. Until Boerentoren is finished, this is probably the best view over the city you can get. Want to spend some serious dough? The top floor houses Zilte: the only three-star restaurant in town.
Another architectural gem is Felix Pakhuis opposite the museum. This old warehouse is home to the city archives, and in 2024 WOLF opened here: the only real food hall in the whole city. Ten different restaurants and three bars are here to serve you. Several other attempts at opening a food market in Antwerp failed miserably, but this one seems to be doing quite well. Two other venues deserve a visit on ‘t Eilandje. The Red Star Line Museum is an interesting and narrative museum about migration and how a hundred years ago two million Europeans moved to the US and Canada from here. The Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie is one of just two major city breweries (this is where Seefbier is made) and regularly organizes comedy nights.
21. The Port Building and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Go past the MAS Museum, cross the London Bridge (a different one), walk along Kattendijk Dock – past Bar Paniek’s cosy terrace – and you’ll eventually find yourself in front of the glorious new Port House. This is Port of Antwerp’s main administrative headquarters, designed by Zaha Hadid and one of the city’s modern showpieces. Because the new glass structure – reminiscent of both a ship and a diamond – was built on top of a historic fire station, the building caused some controversy here and there. Personally I think it’s gorgeous (no one used to come here anyway so who cares) and definitely worth a visit. In the large entrance hall, a huge satellite photo of Antwerp and its port (which is many times larger than the city centre) was incorporated into the floor, and they have a coffee bar as well. You can venture into the actual port by yourself or via all sorts of bus and boat tours. My preference goes to the bike tour organised by my friends at Cyclant. In the port, you’ll see everything from surprisingly large patches of nature to tiny hovels, various military forts, completely unknown works of art, lone church towers surrounded by containers and of course the (now ex-) ghost town of Doel – which is actually located in East-Flanders, not Antwerp. The area around the Port House will be further cultivated in the next few years. One of the first results is Droogdokkenpark along the river. Opposite from it is Stormkop: a creative centre in an old hangar next to the impressive dry docks. All kinds of things are organised here.
22. Brederodestraat, Kiel and the Exhibition Quarter
Now that we’re done with the city centre and before heading into the districts, let’s focus on a few more distant neighbourhoods. These are mainly areas I couldn’t really fit in anywhere else – apologies. Cross Amerikalei near the Palace of Justice on the South Side, and you’ll end up in the Brederode Neighbourhood by passing the lovely Troonplaats. The Den Bell Tower is in this area, housing most of the city’s administrative services and Antwerp’s most photogenic stairwell, but it’s mainly Brederodestraat itself which is most interesting. This is where the city’s biggest Turkish community lives, which is reflected in a whole bunch of authentic restaurants that go beyond the rest of the city’s kebab shops – order a mixed plate for two in Konya Sofrasi and watch yourself get a double indigestion in the tastiest way possible. From here, cross the Singel to end up in the Exhibition Quarter. The World Expo took place here in 1930, and today there are still exhibitions and major events held in Antwerp Expo. The Music Conservatory is here as well, and Mastvest Park might be one of the city’s least known green spaces.
Between the Exhibition Quarter and the District of Hoboken lies Kiel: one of the most multicultural areas in Antwerp. Beerschot’s Olympic Stadium is here, but Abdijstraat is the most fun for a walk: a lively street full of shops and restaurants. At the end of the street you’ll find Den Tir: an impressive building that now houses a mall but used to be the Municipal Shooting Range. Many Antwerp residents hardly ever come to Kiel, and I think that’s a shame.
23. Nachtegalenpark and Kasteel Den Brandt
Behind Antwerp Expo and near Kiel – ironically one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Antwerp – lies the richest area in the whole city. The monumental villas in and around Nachtegalenpark speak for themselves. “Nachtegalenpark” is actually a collective name for three separate parks located next each other. Together they cover almost 100 hectares of green space. Park Den Brandt is a beautiful park laid out around the castle of the same name. In a corner of the lush garden stands an impressive life-size replica of Michelangelo’s David (covered up by an unfortunate fig leaf – different times). It was made for another World Expo – this one in Brussels in 1910 – and most Antwerp residents have never seen it. Also in the park: the Bunker Museum. This is an underground bunker system the nazis used to control a large part of the Atlantik Wall from during WWII (guess someone fell asleep on D-Day). You can visit the bunker – which is fully furnished and quite interesting – the first weekend of every month. Park Vogelzang is a large wooded park across the street, with a playground, a deer enclosure and a nice brasserie. The biggest tourist attraction of the three is Middelheim Park, located right next to it. This is officially both the largest and greenest museum in Antwerp, as it’s a vast 30 hectare sculpture park. More than 200 works of art are showcased along various footpaths and under century-old trees. A visit is completely free of charge and you can get a nice lunch in the little castle near the entrance.
24. Harmonie and De Koninck brewery
Between the Brederode neighbourhood and the Green Quarter lies Harmonie. The heart of this area is the park of the same name and the adjacent King Albert Park. Harmoniepark is where Antwerp’s beautiful District House was moved into a renovated party hall, and where you’ll find Nives: the coffee bar/bakery with the best terrace in town. Nearby is another recent modern building. The new Provincial Government Building divided opinions even more than the Port House, but while I don’t think it’s as genius as Zaha Hadid’s masterpiece, I still like the way it looks. Opposite the park on the other side of Mechelsesteenweg, is the oldest and most famous brewery in Antwerp. Brouwerij De Koninck used to only offer a traditional tour and tasting, but about ten years ago the entire site was given a makeover. Today it’s a hub of activity. The brewery now comes with an interactive multimedia tour (tickets here: you can even take your beer through the exhibition) and the premises are home to several other businesses. Van Tricht is a cheese refiner supplying almost every top restaurant in the country, Black Smoke is probably Antwerp’s most famous steakhouse and The Butcher’s Son even has a Michelin star. Last but not least: Speakeasy 1833 is an atmospheric cocktail bar in the brewery’s basement.
25. The District of Berchem
Antwerp as a whole is made up of ten different districts, and the only one we’ve seen for now is the District of Antwerp proper. The others used to be independent towns that were administratively swallowed by the city throughout the years (most of them in 1983). Just two of them – Berchem and Borgerhout – are partly located within the ring road and thus part of what feels like the city centre. Let’s start with them. Leave the brewery we just covered through the exit on Boomgaardstraat and you’ll suddenly find yourself in the District of Berchem – congratulations. The Antwerpen-Berchem train station is what most travellers coming from Brussels see before they enter the city. There’s a whole lot of street art to spot in and around this station (but the largest collection of walls can be found in Minkelersstraat). Fifty meters from the train tracks is one of the least known patches of nature in all of Antwerp. Wolvenberg is squeezed in between the Singel and the Ring Road, and is the only official reserve within the historic city walls: a beautiful piece of natural forest with a large pond in the middle. With some (a lot) of luck, you can spot foxes, martens, kingfishers and a bat colony here. Brilsschanspark is another large park nearby.
Near the station but on the other side of the square, you’ll find Cogels-Osylei: architecturally the most beautiful street in all of Antwerp. It’s located in the Berchem part of Zurenborg, and dozens of impressive Art Nouveau mansions line its sidewalks. It would be a picture perfect setting, were it not for the fact that some absolute moron was granted permission to build a modern villa on number 29. Whoever is responsible should be publicly tarred and feathered. Also close to the station is Statiestraat, running right through Old Berchem. This is a lively and multicultural shopping street full of pleasant stores, restaurants and coffee shops – Cultuurhuis Corso is also located here. Boomgaardstraat runs from the brewery to the station and has plenty of nice little businesses to visit as well. The whole area between these two streets is quite fun to discover and feels like a small town, but most of the district lies beyond the Ring road. There’s a little less to visit here for tourists, but a very special museum can be found on Diksmuidelaan. The Flemish Tram and Bus Museum has a collection of more than 50 old trams and buses in a historic hangar – some of them more than a century old. Interesting visit, and many of the trams can still be boarded. The museum is only open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons
26. The District of Borgerhout
Recently, Borgerhout was voted the second coolest neighbourhood on the whole damn planet by TimeOut Magazine – just ahead of Jinbocho in Tokyo – and who am I to contradict these people? This said: there’s not that much to do or see in Jinbocho – check my Tokyo articles for alternatives. The magazine has a point though: BoHo is not only one of the youngest and most diverse neighbourhoods in Antwerp, in recent years it grew into one of the hippest as well. The always chaotic Turnhoutsebaan is the district’s main artery. The whole world is for sale in its many shops, and with De Roma it’s home to one of the most beautiful concert halls in the country. Have dinner in Falafel King before attending a show: best falafels in the city and an extremely friendly owner. There’s quite a bit to discover in the streets around Turnhoutsebaan as well. Several pleasant businesses opened on Moorkensplein around the district house, and Café Mombasa is a wonderfully old fashioned bar focused on cycling. Laar has some fun bars as well, there are art galleries to visit here and there and the so-called Centers under the train tracks house a bunch of alternative shops and businesses like the Cabardouche Microbrewery.
Like your music a bit more alternative? Trix – a concert hall on the Singel road – hosts some of the most varied bands in Antwerp. Many people don’t know this, but you can co-work here during the day as well – they even have a nice garden to enjoy. One of the only patches of green in Borgerhout within the Ring road is Krugerplein. The terrace of Bar Leon is the perfect place to spend a sultry summer evening here, Borgo Gelato is one of the city’s best ice cream parlours and Frituur Tina was voted best chip shop a while ago. Park Spoor Oost is a little further away. This is where the big Sinksenfoor Carnival is set up for six weeks starting early June. Want to experience Borgerhout at its absolute best? Visit Borgerrio in June. This one-day event turns the entire Turnhoutsebaan into a huge multicultural market with a parade featuring dozens of dance groups in Rio Carnival style as the main highlight – not to be missed.
27. The District Merksem and Luchtbal
When I posted a poll on my Instagram account a few years ago asking which district of Antwerp was the ugliest, Merksem came out as the big winner in no time. I think this was mainly due to the somewhat messy Bredabaan and the industry on the Albert Canal many identify the district with, but there’s actually quite a bit to do and see here. The biggest concerts in Antwerp, for example, because both Sportpaleis and Lotto Arena are in this district. Bredabaan – which starts its tour of former glory just past Sportpaleis – might be a tad ugly, but it’s home to Antwerp’s most unique district house. It was built in the sixties – you can almost literally smell the decade – and the main council chamber resembles the headquarters of a Bond villain lair to such an extent it’s been used as a film set several times. A little further on Bredabaan is the entrance to Bouckenborghpark which sports a castle of the same name. The Municipal Park across the street and Runcvoort Park right next to it are nice for a stroll as well. There’s a whole street art trail to walk in Merksem, and the Mineralogical Museum on Frans de l’Arbrelaan has a vast collection of minerals and fossils – including a dark room full of psychedelic luminous stones (only open on Saturday afternoons). You can take a two-year course to become a gemologist here as well – perfect for those of you looking for a new strange hobby.
Not in Merksem but nearby and visitable in one go: Luchtbal. This is a narrow neighbourhood squeezed in between Kinepolis, the Port and the E19 highway. Stretched out along Noorderlaan – the only road in the world where everyone is perpetually cycling against the wind at all times – are a number of sad looking residential towers. Venture into the neighbourhood a bit further and you’ll discover more positive signs. Social cohesion is real here, all kinds of activities are organised and there are even communal vegetable gardens in between the towers. There’s ample street art here as well, JOYT is the only place in town where you can book your own karaoke box like in Korea and when you’re done with everything you can still catch a movie across the street.
28. The District of Deurne
Deurne is a district in the east of Antwerp, and with almost 80,000 inhabitants it’s larger than cities like Hasselt or Sint-Niklaas. With Rivierenhof it’s home to the largest – and perhaps most beautiful – park in Antwerp. In this vast stretch of nature you’ll find everything from castles and playgrounds to a petting zoo and a little traffic park (everyone who was in primary school near Antwerp learned the traffic rules here). Sportoase Groot Schijn is right next to this park: the largest ice skating rink in the country. The showpiece of Rivierenhof is the magnificent Openluchttheater: an outdoor theatre where major concerts take place every summer. Another great park is Boekenbergpark in the south of Deurne close to the airport. The Deurne Ice Swimmers enjoy the freezing water here every winter, and it houses the strangest museum in the whole city. Natuurhistorisch Museum Boekenberg is a small but surprisingly varied natural history museum set up in a big artificial cave. It was once built for a baron to row his little boat in, but now you can come take a look at whole fossil collection and even a caveman skeleton here. Fun fact: the museum closes every winter because a colony of endangered bats hibernates here – I guess it’s quite a realistic fake cave. The entry fee is only €1 by the way, so don’t lose your sleep over it. The north of Deurne is home to Bosuil. This is the mythical stadium of Royal Antwerp FC: Belgium’s oldest football club. Until recently it also looked like the country’s oldest and most decrepit stadium, but this was recently fixed by a big bag of money from the new owner. Finally: if you want to see how a dystopian cheap housing neighbourhood looked in the sixties: visit the area around the Arena swimming pool. Afterwards you can grab a bite on Herentalsebaan: this area’s main shopping street, with a bunch of interesting little restaurants.
29. The District of Hoboken
Walk all the way down the Scheldt quays past ‘t Zuid and you’ll eventually end up in Hoboken. The first thing you’ll encounter along the way is Hobokense Polder – one of the “wilder” nature reserves in Antwerp. It’s a fairly extensive combination of forest, meadows and ponds, where foxes and roe deer roam, but you’re more likely to spot the herd of Galloway cattle keeping the grass in check. The centre of Hoboken is located around Kioskplaats. Close by are three green parks with a couple of little castles: Park Sorghvliedt, Park Broydenborg and Meerlenhofpark. Walk a little further and you’ll arrive at the main entrance of Schoonselhof. This is the biggest and most beautiful cemetery in Antwerp and is often considered the city’s Père-Lachaise. No less than 85 hectares of deceased love ones are enjoying their hopefully eternal slumber under the trees here, which makes for a both peaceful and pensive walk. A large part of the cemetery is actually in the District of Wilrijk by the way, so it could be mentioned under both titles. A completely different but equally interesting spot in Hoboken is Blikfabriek. This is an old factory that now houses a bunch of creative entrepreneurs and organizations. You’ll find everything from a neighbourhood bar to a skate hall, several art studios and room for dance classes. The last time I was working as a photographer here, they’d installed a whole sauna experience on the rooftop.
The strangest tourist attraction in Hoboken is the tiny statue of Nello and Patrasche near Kioskplaats. These are the main characters from the children’s book “A Dog of Flanders” written by British author Ouida near the end of the 19th century. It’s about a poor artist from Hoboken who collapses in the Antwerp cathedral on Christmas Day and dies with his faithful dog in his arms. The story is not that well known in Antwerp, but for some reason it’s insanely popular in Japan and Korea – I guess they have to read it in school. This caused whole buses full of Asian tourists to drive all the way here just to take a picture. “Great idea”, they thought in Antwerp, before putting a bigger statue of the duo right in front of the cathedral – no more tourist money for you, Hoboken.
30. The District of Wilrijk
The District of Wilrijk lies south of Hoboken and Kiel, and most people will know it from the A12 highway towards Brussels running right through it (with the inevitable IKEA as a main stop). University students are very familiar with the district, because Campus Drie Eiken (where a lot of the “hard” sciences are taught) is hidden among the trees here, and next to Middelheimpark are two other smaller ones (like the park these are technically still in Antwerp, but everyone calls them the “Outside Campuses of Wilrijk”). The centre of the District is probably the square called De Bist and Heistraat leading to it. Many events are organised here, and there’s a theatre building and a youth centre nearby, as well as a wonderfully old fashioned mall. Both Heistraat and nearby Jules Moretuslei offer plenty of shopping opportunities. Near De Bist is another nice park called Steytelinckpark, and on the other side of A12 are two other green areas with Fort 7 and the aforementioned Schoonselhof. Wilrijk’s most unique attraction however, is located on Krijgsbaan. Here, you’ll find the largest Jain Temple in Europe, seemingly teleported straight out of Delhi. This gorgeous marble building was only finished in 2010 and is officially called the Shankheshvar Parshvanath Mandir. Visits are possible, but only by appointment.
31. The District of Ekeren
All the way on the other side of Antwerp – past Luchtbal – lies Ekeren, and those who cycle there (mind the headwind: Noorderlaan) will first end up in Oude Landen. This is a nature reserve very similar to Hobokense Polder, albeit usually a little drier. They even have their own herd of Galloway cows, but these ones trampled a probably very surprised old man a couple of years ago (he survived, don’t worry) so don’t go bugging them. Ekeren feels more like a stand-alone town than a part of Antwerp, and is best known for its many beautiful parks and nature reserves – in another poll on my Instagram account, it was voted Antwerp’s prettiest district. Veltwijckpark, next to the Oude Landen, used to be home to the Germinal Ekeren football stadium. But since this former first division club ceased to be, it’s been demolished. A castle of the same name still stands though – it serves as the district house – and is one of Antwerp’s most beautiful. A little further from the town centre – near the border with Brasschaat – is another large park called Hof De Bist. It comes with a castle as well in which you’ll find Cultuurhuis Hof De Bist. They offer cultural performances and exhibitions all year long. Hagelkruispark is a bit more focused on sports and can be found near the centre. Closer to the harbour docks and the highway are two more nature reserves called Bospolder and Put van Ekeren – the latter is used for diving lessons (there were a bunch of creepy statues installed on the bottom of this surprisingly deep pond – go take a look at them while you’re down there. Opposite Oude Landen and bordered by the A12 is the Rozemaai neighbourhood, which was recently transferred from the District of Antwerp to Ekeren. To celebrate the occasion they got a brand new and well-landscaped park as well. Yes, Ekeren is most likely the city’s greenest district.
32. The District of Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo
Not that many people realise Antwerp reaches all the way to the Dutch border. This is because the port is enormous and the entire right bank of the Scheldt is full of huge docks and container terminals. This expansion led to the disappearance of most of the area’s historic polder villages: only a couple of lone church spires were left standing as forgotten witnesses. The northernmost part of the port on this side of the river is located not in Antwerp, but in the District of Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo. Once these were independent villages, but they were added to the city in 1958 and became their own separate district in 1983. So all of this is now Antwerp, but you’re a 20 kilometre drive away from the old town. With Reigerbos, Galgeschoor, Opstalvallei and the hiking area along Zoutedijk, there’s a lot of nature to explore here, but for tourists Lillo-Fort is the most unique visit – you can get there on the Waterbus leaving from Steen Castle. Lillo-Fort is a tiny hamlet within the foundations of an old military water fort. It used to be part of a much larger municipality, but it’s the only part of town that survived the port expansion. Tragic in a way, but the result is enchanting at the same time. You’re literally in the middle of a gigantic industrial port, but when you’re in the actual village you’ll never notice. You’re almost completely shielded from the outside world and it’s like you’re strolling through some peaceful painting. A few picturesque streets, a tiny marina, a church, an artisanal museum, a small theatre and a tavern or two: that’s all there is. Literally fifty people live here. Not exactly a place for nightlife lovers, but for young kids growing up it must be fantastic. This is without a doubt the most picturesque place in Antwerp. This peace and quiet briefly came to an end in 2016, when Pokémon Go came out and there were apparently rare specimen to capture here. Suddenly poor Lillo was flooded with neckbeards stalking the village until well after midnight, to then shit in people’s front yard because of course nothing was open. Fortunately the initial craze was short-lived and the town could soon continue its quiet ways.
33. The District of Borsbeek
Rejoice everyone, because on January 1, 2025, Antwerp got itself a tenth district – and it’s the place where I spent most of my childhood nonetheless (it even has a street named after my great-great-grandfather). Poor Borsbeek: for years and years it was a peaceful little town bordering Deurne, but because its coffers eventually emptied it was swallowed by Antwerp against its will. Despite the fact I get slightly nostalgic every time I pass through it, I had to think for quite a while to come up with things tourists could actually do and visit here. Unfortunately for everyone, the list is not very long. Borsbeek is a pleasant town to live in, with a nice park behind the primary school where I learned to read and write, and a former military fort full of trees, hangars and skateparks where I went to art class. There’s a huge hypermarket on Frans Beirenslaan where I worked my first student job, and somewhere across from the entrance used to be a now long gone playground called Tirolerhof. In the nineties, it had a ten meter high, rickety, splintered wooden slide you could kamikaze yourself off from with a burlap sack under your ass. There was close to no protection on the sides, the speed you could reach was insane and you’d eventually hit the ground on a patch of dirt so hard it might as well be concrete: good times indeed. This is where real men were made, kids. Talking about real men: across from the church is Mask’Ara, where you can attend one of the longest-running drag queen shows in the country – lots of fun. There, those are all of the highlights. Borsbeek isn’t exactly Paris. But who knows: I might get hit by a bus tomorrow, causing this blog to go viral due to my untimely demise. Someone with more time than friends might organise a little guided tour tracing my Borsbeek footsteps. If you don’t want to wait for me to croak, feel free to share the article now.
Extra info for your Antwerp trip: hotels, tours and other activities
** Disclaimer: This article contains a number of (useful) affiliate links. This means that if you book a hotel or tour through a referral on this page, I’ll receive a small compensation for it. It won’t cost you even an extra cent, so no need to hesitate. Thank you in advance! (Pictures by Booking) **
There’s a whole bunch of bookable activities and tours in Antwerp on GetYourGuide and Viator. Here are some suggestions:
-a guided bike tour by Cyclant to some of Antwerp’s main sights and hidden gems
-a guided ride in a sustainable tuktuk
-a tour through the Jewish quarter near the central station
-a food tour with five different stops
-a boat tour through the Eilandje quarter and a bit of the port including food and drinks
-a beer tasting session led by an expert
Looking for a specific hotel in Antwerp? These are some of my recommendations in different price ranges.
-On a budget and fine with a hostel? Pick Hostel Pulcinella in Sint-Andries Quarter or The ASH on Italiëlei near the university. Don’t mind staying a bit further from the centre? YUST behind the De Koninck Brewery is a hip alternative.
–Motel One is a brand new hotel right in the centre, near the pedestrian tunnel running under the river and the Kloosterstraat antique shops. Stylish place and probably the best value for your money you will get in this city.
–Hotel FRANQ is in a higher price range and is housed in a wonderful old bank office. It comes with an inhouse Michelin restaurant, which means you don’t even have to leave the building to try some fantastic food.
–Sapphire House Antwerp is a five star hotel right next to the old stock exhange and the Meir shopping street. It’s marvellously decorated and comes with a great restaurant. Compared to some other luxury hotels in Antwerps, rates are quite reasonable.
Fancy some tasty Antwerp food? Read my articles on the best Italian, Asian, Middle-Eastern, Vegan or Burger places in Antwerp. Thirsty? Check out the best cocktail and coffee bars in Antwerp.
Would you prefer going to another Belgian destination? Read my pieces on Gaume, The Zwin, Leuven, Spa and Liège.
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