Antwerp is great! It is one of those cities that is small, but won’t disappoint you. It is one of my favourite cities in my home country, Belgium. Antwerp is a mix of historical buildings and modern architecture, of cosy coffee bars and haute cuisine, and of small local shops and boutiques filled with high-end fashion.
1. Antwerp-Central
Let’s start with the station, many of you will start discovering Antwerp from this point. Antwerp-Central has been voted to be one of the most beautiful stations in the world. Even if you don’t get to the city by train, it is worth the visit.
2. Cathedral of Our Lady
One of the most famous buildings in Antwerp is the cathedral. You cannot miss it when visiting Antwerp. It is located in the old city centre, right next to the ‘Groenplaats’ and the city hall. Two places that should also be on your must-visit list.
3. Het Eilandje & the ‘MAS’
From the Cathedral it is a short walk to the neighbourhood ‘Het Eilandje.’ This is the area around the yacht port. Here, you will find some hip restaurants, fancy boats and the ‘Museum aan de Stroom’, better known as ‘MAS’. The MAS is a museum that has some long-term exhibitions about Antwerp, but also organizes new expositions that change regularly. A must-see is the rooftop on top of the museum. From here you can see all over Antwerp, from the big industrial port to the old city centre to’t Zuid, the new trendy neighbourhood.
4. The Port Authority
The Port of Antwerp is the second biggest in Europe. It is huge! Besides the gigantic ships entering and leaving the port, the Port Authority designed by Zaha Hadid is a remarkable building to visit. It is the headquarters of the Port Authority and consists out of an older and a newer part. The two architectural styles clash and immerse into each other at the same time.
5. ‘t Zuid
The most trendy neighbourhood of Antwerp at the moment is ‘t Zuid (the South). In this area, you find stylish shops, cosy coffee bars, pop-up markets, art galleries, and museums. The district got revived in the mid-1980s and is now home to various young artists and talents. This stylish but hipster neighbourhood is fun to visit when you look for some new and alternative restaurants or when you have already seen the older and more touristic part of the city.
What is your favourite spot in Antwerp?
Enjoy!
L. as Wilma
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