Art & culture – All our local tips

The Central Station in Antwerp is one of the most complete stations, I would say, in the world because it has gorgeous architecture, interesting destinations in Belgium and the Netherlands, travel and tour services, restaurants, souvenir, news papers, grocery, and diamond stores… everything you need actually. Yes, even bikes; underground you can rent a bike for a day or more.

Oh! I almost forgot the one thing that actually inspired me to write about this diamond piece: the free internet access. It might not seem much, but for people like me who need to stay connected constantly, having a free Internet spot means a lot.

So you can actually send that e-mail to your mum while you buy the wedding ring for your fiancé. Or you can check your favorite traveler’s site, Spotted by locals, to see what is new in Antwerp… well the only thing you need is a computer (big or small, size does not really matter).

And this takes me to the recommendation part: enjoy the train station.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Antwerp Central Station | Art & culture, Relaxing, Shopping
Koningin Astridplein 27 | Stationsbuurt
Daily

Just like any other big city Antwerp has its own exposition center. The variety of expositions and events provide to a wide range of visitors the opportunity to acquire different things: from particular services to renovation ideas, from hobbies to books, for babies, for adults, and the list goes on and on.

Although most of the events are focused on locals, some events are more welcoming to foreign visitors. Most of the expositors speak other languages like Dutch, French and English, but that is not it; themes like Mega Eroticabeurs , and Parascoop beurzen can be appealing to any traveler why not?

For more information on Eroticabeurs check their website. Who knows; this may become a learning experience. And if you are looking for the meaning of life, the Parascoop beurzen website can also be of great help.

Practical tips: Antwerp Expo is very easy to reach, just take tram 2 or 6 from the city centre. Otherwise jump on the bus 26, or 25 or 27. If you come by car be aware in the residential area you are allowed to park for limited time.

Mega Eroticabeurs | 13 -14 March 2010
Sat 14:00 – 01:00, Sun 13:00 – 22:00

Paranormale Beurs: Parascoop | 28 March 2010
Thu 10:00 – 18:00

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Antwerp Exposed | Art & culture, Festivals & events
Jan Van Rijswijcklaan 191 | Zuid
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 01:00

In one of my latest walks I ended up in the beguine convent of Antwerp. I noticed the outside walls several times while I walked through the nearby streets, but that there was a small village behind those walls never crossed my mind.

If you want an hour or two to escape from the city madness, take a book and place yourself on a bench somewhere in this little park.

Especially charming is the little chappelle in the back near the church, where people placed thank signs to god for their prayers being heard. Whether you are a believer or not, the thought alone makes me smile. Some signs go back to the end of the 1800s.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Beguine Convent | Art & culture | Free
Rodestraat, 39 | Eilandje | +3232028430
Sun – Wed 09:00 – 15:00

Ask any Antwerp local to name some typical things from the city of Antwerp and there will always be “De Koninck” in the answer. Brewery The Koninck was founded in 1827 and has been making great beer ever since. You know we Belgians know how to make beer… well our Antwerp beer is a great one! If you enter any pub and ask for “A Bolleke” you will get a “De Koninck”.

So if you like the beer then you should visit the brewery as well. They’ll guide you trough it’s rich history and brewery secrets. It’s worth a visit!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Brewery De Koninck | Art & culture
Mechelsesteenweg 291 | Zurenborg | +3232184048
Check Website

This magnificent Church was built between 1615 & 1621. The Hendrik Conscience Square faces this church. It just overwhelms you: the size, the details, the facade…

This church was built with paintings, architecture and sculptures designed by Pieter Paul Rubens. Although this is a very big church it’s not that easy to spot in the skyline of Antwerp. It’s a bit covered by more modern and bigger buildings. But once you arrive on the square you will understand the uniqueness of this “hidden” church.

The square in front of the church is very relaxing as well. Usually a lonesome violin player is playing his instrument, bringing a calm, relaxing atmosphere over the area, and that only adds to the “grandeur” of the church.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Carolus Borromeus Church | Art & culture
Hendrik Conscience Plein | Meir | +3232313751
Mon – Sat: 10:00 – 12:30 & 14:00 – 17:00, Sun before Church service

One of the city’s proud is city hall. This renaissance building is a part of the Unesco heritage. In Antwerp we reffer to it as – ‘t schoon verdiep – (the beautiful floor) referring to the beautiful first floor. This is where the mayor of Antwerp has his office. All official city receptions are held here as well like weddings etc.

In front of the city hall you’ll see the statue of Antigone trowing away a hand from where Antwerp got its name. Hand Werpen (Trowing hands) –> Antwerpen

Antigone guarded the city port, boatsmen who refused to pay taxes got their hand cut. The hand was then tossed in the river Schelde.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
City Hall | Art & culture
Grote Markt | Meir
For opening times see tourist office

When you are wandering through Antwerp you’ll notice that there is wide variety of architecture and styles. You can find old and authentic houses next to the most modern structure imaginable. But… there is one neighbourhood and especially one street where almost all old houses are in their original form or restored in the original form.

On a beautiful day it is interesting to walk from the train station in Berchem (outer city) towards the Draakplaats, a square with several restaurants and café’s. The development of this neighbourhood coincided with the peak of Art Nouveau popularity and has some other influences as Gothic Revival, Neo-Renaissance, Greek Revival, Neoclassical, and the “cottage style” that coincided with British Tudorbethan architecture…

Anyway… despite all this culturally loaded architectural info… it’s just a nice walk with great bombastic houses from another era. Wander around in the nearby streets as well… and take your time to absorb the details of these magnificent buildings. Even I still find new things every time I pass  there . And you can end with a nice breakfast or lunch at café Wattman.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cogels Osylei | Art & culture
Cogels Osylei | Zurenborg
24 hours daily

Whenever you think of Belqium, you will think of chocolate, diamonds, fashion and … comics!  Just think of the worldfamous Tintin or Lucky Luke.

In Antwerp there are some wonderful comic walls! They spice up a district and let the people enjoy a giant piece of art. Several items you can discover around the city.

Feel like seeing them with a guide?  Book your personal tour and get to know all the secrets of cartoons & comics…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Comic Tour | Art & culture | Two hours tour from € 95.00
Steenplein | Sint Andries
10:00 – 21:00 daily

In Antwerp we have a controversial building at the outskirts of town: The Law Courts. In Antwerp we call it also the ‘Vlinderpaleis’ (Butterflypalace) because it has strange ‘wings’ on the roof. A sweet ‘light’ name for such a big building.

It was designed by the famous architect Richard Rogers (who also designed the Centre Pompidou and the Millennium Dome). When it was finished in 2006 everybody spoke of the courthouse in Antwerp. Some people found it very ugly, others thought it was a spectacular beauty. It cost a fortune and it took years to build it. The roof is made of stainless steel and looks like shark fins or waves. From a lot of places in the city you can see the threatening rooftops.

There used also a lot of glass. ‘They’ say they want to make every visitor at ease by the glass and the open character of the building. I don’t find it a reassuring place. It looks dangerous and impressive on the outside. The hall is enormous and indeed impressive and it almost takes you breath away. The roof is also from the inside something very special.

But I go there sometimes for my work (Juvenile Court). Behind the glossy facade it is a sad place where they made some crucial errors in the design and they forgot the people who have to come there for unpleasant business. It can look like an unfinished building site. By the way: You can not get coffee in the building. People sometimes have to wait for many hours.

I live very close to this building. When I look out of my window I can almost look inside. I see it everyday. At night it can be special – like a big dragon in the dark. I love also the hall with all the glass and the stairs. It is great for photographers. I can recommend everybody to pass by, to look inside, but remember: in the belly of the dragon there is mostly misery.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Court house of Antwerp | Art & culture
Bolivarplaats 20 | Zuid | +3232578011
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 12:30 & 13:30 – 16:00, closed on holidays

When you are in Antwerp on a Friday morning, it is something you really have to see: the strange and famous ‘Vrijdagse Markt’. Go there!

It’s great and it’s so typically Antwerp. It’s a little adventure on a Friday morning. It’s a second hand market but what it makes different is the way of selling: it ’s an auction, they talk really ‘aantwaarps’ and sometimes you think they will be fighting soon because people get all incited.

They mostly sell furniture and bicycles but it is incredible what else you can buy there: a box with toothbrushes made in 1963, a complete correspondence between a mother and a son over twenty years, a broken toaster, dirty teddy bears, etc. Sometimes it is real rubbish and sometimes it is a treasure. A lot of the things come from old people that died, shops that went bankrupt.

It starts at nine in the morning and it finishes at one o’clock in the afternoon. The garbage car comes between one and two and cleans the whole square. And that’s necessary. All the things that nobody wanted are left behind.

I don’t know how long it already exists, but I guess it was always there. I’m mostly working on a Friday morning and i don’t go there often, but when I have the chance i don’t want to miss it, this special market, so lively, so energetic.

And maybe nice to know: the museum of Plantijn en Moretus is on the same square…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Friday Market | Art & culture, Shopping, Festivals & events | Free
Vrijdagmarkt | Meir
Fri 09:00 – 13:00

Near “Het Eilandje” life is changing, this used to be a forgotten neighborhood, but recently activity is increasing. Business – Leisure – Living – Culture, all these aspects live peacefully next to each other.

Centre piece will be the MAS, Museum aan de Stroom (Riverside Museum). Currently it is, as you can see, under construction but it is estimated to be finished somewhere in 2010.

Also the surroundings of the MAS are very nice to walk around with a lot of bars and restaurants. Just looking at this strange but impressive building and it’s reflection is worthwhile.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
MAS | Art & culture
Rijnkaai | Eilandje
24 hours daily

The largest worldwide collection of comics in Europe: Mekanik Strip has been the leader for 25 years already!

You can find any comic book, and many gadget, postcards, t-shirts and dolls in here. If you don’t find it here, probably you won’t find it anywhere…

On the first floor you can visit an interesting artgallery, entrance free!

The two owners of the shop, Lin & Jan, will help you like no one else. Her profound knowledge of the comic-universe will guide you to that one thing you badly want to find.

We have several comic-walls in the city, all because of her! Go and visit the shop, you’ll be surprised by all the toys!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mekanik Strip | Art & culture, Shopping | Comics workshop € 15.00
Sint Jacobsmarkt 73 | Meir | +3232342347
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 18:30, Sat 10:00 – 18:00

It’s a park… no it’s a museum… no it’s a park… anyway, who cares! This park is a museum as well. Throughout the park you will find many statues of famous and less famous artists. So while you are walking through the park you can enjoy a wide variety of statues.

Statues aren’t really my cup of tea so whenever I’m there I just look at the trees and enjoy the nice environment.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Middelheim Museum | Art & culture, Relaxing
Middelheimlaan | Zurenborg | +3238271534
Winter 10:00 – 17:00 daily, Summer 10:00 – 20:00 daily

Antwerp is the fashion heart of Belgium and more and more of Europe.

Since 2002 we have this nicely designed ‘Fashion museum’ called MoMu.

Bernard Willhelm, Veronique Branquinho, Martin Margiela; they all had an exhibition here.

Soon there will be a new exciting exposition Black, Masters of black in fashion & costmues. Starting from 25th of March till August 8th 2010.

In that same building the Academy of Fine arts Antwerp, departement fashion and the FFI (Flanders Fashion Institute) are both located.

If you’re under 26, you just pay ONE euro.

Info & booking for a guide: info@tanguyottomer.com

Details about this spot (Show on map)
MoMu | Art & culture | Entrance < 26 € 1.00
Nationalestraat 28 | Sint Andries | +3234702770
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00

The Museum Plantin Moretus has an extraordinary collection of typographical material, has a beautiful library and a fantastic interior (with golden leather!!). But this is not why I love this museum so much…

I love it because of it’s fantastic garden or courtyard to be exact. You can see it on the picture above… It’s so calm and quiet… the perfect place to hide from the busy city once in a while. It is situated on the lovely Friday Market, which has a few very nice cafes.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Museum Plantin Moretus | Art & culture | Adult € 6.40
Vrijdagmarkt 22 – 23 | Meir | +3232211450
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00

The museum (see the Royal Museum of Arts article) is very interesting to visit, but I must confess that I almost never do that (but it is definitely worth it!).

What I do a lot is relaxing at the square in front of the museum. During spring and summer you can play ‘petanque’ there, relax, read a book or drink some wine with friends on the stairs or next to the fountain.

A friend of mine lives right across the museum and often we take chairs, tables and food to the square and have diner there.

The entire afternoon, the sun shines on the square. Believe me, it’s fantastic! (So let’s all hope these cold days will end soon!)

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Museum square | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Leopold de Waelplaats | Zuid
24 hours daily

Antwerp hosts many libraries, some of them practical, some big, some renown and some of them are not accessible for public visits. The Nottebohm Library is one of those closed libraries. Only once or twice a year the public is allowed to have a peek at its rich and beautiful content.

Today i was lucky to enter the library and view it in his full glory. I was amazed by the massive old books stored there (over 35 km if placed next to each other) and this all in a great historic room. It opens occasionally – check the website for opening weekends. It’s definitely worth a visit.

More pictures here – full screen

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nottebohm Library | Art & culture | Free
Hendrik Conscienceplein 4 | Meir
Check website for opening times

I have always thought geeks were antisocial, but I was rather wrong. Let me first include the Marriam-Webster dictionary definition of geek: “is a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, etc.”

Fortunately in Antwerp there is a place for those obsessed characters, and they all gather at the Outpost, which for me it is the coolest place to play. First of all it opens at noon and closes when the last person finishes playing, so it can be very late. Do not get me wrong, this is a store but a very special one.

The atmosphere is quiet nice. The tables are usually full with people playing ‘Magic’, or some other card game; you can also play online in one of the computers at the back. Drinks and snacks are available at decent prices and you can socialize with other players. Another advantage? the language barrier is not a problem because all the people playing here master English and most of them are really friendly.

In short: this is like the play room of a Japanese kid filled with games and people sharing snacks and drinks served by the always friendly staff.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Outpost | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing
Beggaardenstraat 6 | Sint Andries
From 11:30 daily

The City of Antwerp is actually divided in two by the river Schelde. If you want to go to the left side of the river (Also called: Linkeroever) you can take the car and drive around the city, take the motorway to get there. Or you take the tunnel that starts almost in the centre of town and walk to the other side of the river.

The tunnel was built between 1931 and 1932 and that style is clearly reflected in the 572 meters of its length. It feels like a walk back into the Belle Epoque era. You can see some more pictures here.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pedestrian Tunnel | Art & culture | Free
Sint Jansvliet | Sint Andries
24 hours daily

A couple of years ago, when I lived in the north of the city – which is a relative poor part of the city – there was one specific object that stole my heart. It was Pepto Bismo…

This extraordinary nice ‘Panamarenko’ lands on the corner of the Sint-Jansplein, which is the biggest square in Antwerp. Pepto Bismo is a statue of the strange Belgian artist Panamarenko, who’s called a great visionary. He was born in 1940 as Henri Van Herreweghe and choose his artistname from a combination of the Pan American Airlines and the Russian ending -enko.

Panamarenko is world famous for his scalemodels and drawings of bizarre spaceships, aircrafts and submarines. He donated Pepto Bismo in 2003 to the city and Pepto was placed in this poor neighbourhood where Panamarenko lived almost all his live.

A lot of people were surprised that a such a nice statue was placed in this ‘ghetto-area’ of Antwerp. And it was also placed on a low socle. Everybody thought that Pepto would be molested very soon.

But today he is still there. Shiny and unharmed. Pepto Bismo is a wonderful statue. He makes me happy. In the time I lived there, I had to pass Pepto Bismo every time when I went to the shops. I looked up to him many times. For me he represents believe and hope.

And what do you think… Is he taking off or landing?

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pepto Bismo | Art & culture | Free
Sint Jansplein | Eilandje
24 hours daily

The renewed museum opened its doors in 2004 (after being closed for three LONG years) and it looks great.

It’s my favourite museum because they always have different collections and exhibitions at one time. There is a permanent History Collection and the exhibitions. I go there once every two months. Just to wander around, drink a coffee in the lovely bar, find books in their library or buy stuff in their shop.

The shop is great, you find a lot of Photography Magazines, books and funky photography stuff. The perfect place to hide from the busy museums and the perfect place to buy a cool gift for someone.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Photomuseum | Art & culture, Coffee & tea | Entrance € 6.00
Waalse Kaai 47 | Zuid | +3232429300
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 18:00

When you’re walking around in the area of ‘Het Zuid’, the one beautiful palace in the middle of it is the wonderful museum!

Built at the end of the 19th century, it was already one of the leading museums of the world.

They have an incredible large collection of Rubens, Jordeans, Van Dijck, Ensor and Magritte.

There are audio-Guides in Dutch, English, French and German.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Royal Museum of Fine Arts | Art & culture | Entrance < 26 € 1.00
Leopold De Waelplaats | Zuid | +3232387809
Tue – Fri 10:00 – 17:00

When you walk from the south to the city centre, or the other way around, you have to walk through the Volkstraat. In this street, you can find this beautiful building.

This is one of the finest ‘Art Nouveau’ buildings of Antwerp. City Architect Bob Van Reeth rebuilt the inside, but the outside stayed original. Now it’s a Steiner (Waldorf) school.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Steinerschool | Art & culture
Volkstraat 40 | Zuid
No entrance possible

Deeply hidden in the the beautiful Belle Epoque neighbourhood of Antwerp is a little gallery inside a house. This gallery is owned by a passionate photographic enthusiast who wants to enable young photographers to display their work. He goes around the world to find them and offers them a jump to Europe/Belgium.

It felt really strange to just walk up to a house, ring the bell and then enter some-one’s house to see an exhibition. But it also adds charm and value to the concept. Take your time to look at the displayed work and talk to the  friendly owner of the gallery. He can tell you an awful lot about the displayed artist and work.

So keep an eye on the website and whenever there’s something that you like, don’t hesitate to check it out. It might be a nice alternative an a rainy day. It’s not big, so you’ll be in and out in about 45 minutes. I really liked it!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Stieg Litz 19 | Art & culture
Arthur Goemarelei 19 | Zuid | +3232484931
For opening times check website, depending on exhibition.

If you are tired of the classic tourist bus or the typical coach with horses that drives you through the city, and you are in for something different I can recommend a safari trip with tram 12. There are eleven trams in Antwerp and most of them are nothing special, but tram 12 is a tram line that shows you a lot of aspects of this town. In my life I spent many hours on this tram and I have a special bond with it. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.

Tram 12 has its terminus at the famous Antwerp courthouse (check the Courthouse article) and when you get in at the terminus you are sure of a seat…

So you start at the trendy South, where rich people live and where you can see Antwerp in all its glory. Tram 12 drives you over the Leien (also called ‘den Boulevard’), the former ramparts of the city. You see the nice building of the National Bank and also by the beautiful opera building on the Amerikalei. You’ll see the impressive Central Station.

By now the tram is probably full of people with of all kinds of colours. And then you travel straight into a different world. First: the notorious De Coninckplein. On this square (not always but most of the time) addicts and tramps gather. You are safe of course behind the glass of the tram!

Tram 12 goes on through the poor part of Antwerp. In that area live 181 different nationalities, they say…Pepto Bismo (see the Pepto Bismo article) is close but you cannot see him when you don’t get off the tram. Eventually you’ll get to the Sportpaleis, the big arena for lot of events (Proximus Diamond Games, concerts etc. It has almost 20 000 seats… ). On its way back tram 12 also shows you Chinatown and a little piece of Africa…

Tram 12 doesn’t travel through the old city centre but it shows an interesting part for the visitor that wants a deeper insight into Antwerp.

So if you are lazy but want to see the real Antwerp you know what to do!

With a 10-ride card (8 €) you can travel 10 times with all the trams in the city for 1 hour)

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Tram 12 | Art & culture, Relaxing | Ticket (in tram) € 1.60
Bolivarplaats – Schijnpoortweg | Zuid
05:40 – 00:40 daily (every 10 or 20 minutes)

Usawa is a non-commercial coffeehouse with an atmosphere of a living room and – most important – it is honest. Usawa means ‘honest’ in Swahili and that’s what this place is all about.

The concept is that you can eat soup or a fresh salad and you can buy almost everything that you see. Do you like the lamp in the corner? Check out the menu and you’ll find the price and you can be sure that it is fair trade, made in Africa (for example) and the person that made it gets an honest share. Do you love the little basket where they put the sugar in? Let’s buy it! They sell wonderful recycled toys, nice jewelry, djembes, African masks, art, furniture, etc. And for the moment they also sell paintings from Ine Van Wesel.

They have great ginger tea and when I’m there I always walk around in the place, looking at things, feeling at home, talking to the owner, a nice woman with a relax attitude.

It’s a funny combination of a shop and a coffeehouse. Not fancy or modern, but honest and cosy. And the owner is a great girl…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Usawa | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping | Breakfast € 7.50
Kasteelpleinstraat 53 | Zuid | +32497734183
Sun – Fri 10:00 – 18:00

A five minutes walking distance from the Antwerp Central Station take you to the Van Wesenbekestraat. This is the street with the biggest concentration of the Chinese community in Antwerp, and of course this is the place to eat the most sincere Chinese food in the city.

But restaurants are not the only good thing you will find here, there are also big grocery stores with Asian products: from tea to candies, games, magazines, newspapers, DVDs… Most of the merchants speak English so it is relatively easy to find your way.

It is indeed one of the busiest places in Antwerp and I strongly recommend it to adventurers who like to experience and taste something different.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Van Wesenbekestraat | Art & culture
Van Wesenbekestraat | Stationsbuurt
Daily

The Zwarte Panther (Black Panter) is a famous art gallery in Antwerp where I walk in from time to time. In the Hoogstraat, a small street where no cars are allowed, you wouldn’t expect this interesting complex building with nice spaces, a cute inner court, a chapel, a cellar and a little house behind the chapel.

In 1303 it was a little guesthouse (Sint Julianus Gasthuis) where poor pilgrims could stay a while. In 1968 the gallery opened. They say it is the oldest gallery in Flanders and the second oldest in Belgium for contemporary art. Adriaan Raemdonck, the gallery owner is passionate and takes his job very seriously.

There are almost permanently exhibitions by famous artists like Fred Bervoets, Jan Cox, Pjeroo Roobjee, Sam Dillemans, Jan Vanriet and many others.

I find it a an interesting place, not only because of the great art you can find there, but also because of the location from the Middle ages. The chapel (restored in 1956-1958) is simple but beautiful, the art in it is special. The inner court is idyllic, the rooms upstairs are light and pleasant. The art of Fred Bervoets is impressive.

Once in a time I walk in, and enjoy this oasis in the city. It is a spot where art meets history and that’s a good marriage.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Zwarte Panter | Art & culture | Free
Hoogstraat 70-72-74 | Meir | +3232331345
Thu – Sun 13:30 – 18:00