Relaxing & parks – 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.

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Antwerp Central Station | Art & culture, Relaxing, Shopping
Koningin Astridplein 27 | Stationsbuurt
Daily

As mentioned before, there are a lot of different aspects in Antwerp, even contradictions and that’s why I love this city.  There is no better place to perceive them all than on the outer limit of the city near the river Schelde. This is a little green point in the corner of the river. You’ll find little boats there, some old wooden docks for ships, … it looks like the city has forgotten about this place in the last 20 years.

But from this point you can see Antwerp stretch along side and across the river. A bit further to your right you’ll get a glance at the chemical factories and their high, always burning flames.

Really, in one eye glance you can see the river that built the city, the way it stretched along its vein, and expanded over it, a great city to live in, with the high cathedral and many other historical buildings, and the current economical heart by the big port of Antwerp. How’s that for a view!

And on a hot summer night, I love to have a picknick here with my girlfriend. There are not many people around and the ones that are will not bother you: they are here for the same reason… relaxing!

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Antwerp contradiction | Relaxing
Sloepenweg | Eilandje
24 hours daily

Just a little bit outside of Antwerp, 10 minutes by metro, this little park can be found.

This park is very well maintained and has lots of activities inside. There is a free swimming lake, a volleyball field, a tennis field, … and most of all it’s just nice to walk there and escape from the busy city for a while.

There is also a small natural historic museum inside. (€ 1.00 entrance fee)

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Boekenbergpark | Relaxing | Free
Gouverneur holvoetlaan | Zurenborg
08:00 – 22:00 daily

Not so long ago I was a passionate skateboarder, but then real life, body weight and other stuff kicked in. So my favorite sport got a bit behind… but that doesn’t stop me from visiting the skate-parks I used to hang out.

So if you are enjoying a stroll in the Antwerp City park make sure you make a stop at the north side of the park where a fine skate-park is located. Take a sit next to the ground and watch a variety of skaters an BMX’ers showing of their skills. It’s worth a little stop, especially if you’re into this kind of sports.

more pictures – full screen

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Live To Ride | Relaxing | Free
Quinten Matsijslei Antwerp | Meir
24 hours daily

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.

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Middelheim Museum | Art & culture, Relaxing
Middelheimlaan | Zurenborg | +3238271534
Winter 10:00 – 17:00 daily, Summer 10:00 – 20:00 daily

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!)

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Museum square | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Leopold de Waelplaats | Zuid
24 hours daily

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.

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Outpost | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing
Beggaardenstraat 6 | Sint Andries
From 11:30 daily

One of the things that makes Antwerp attractive is the river “Schelde” who runs at the side of the city. Seen from a historical point of view, this river has been the vein that kept Antwerp alive. And it still is, but it’s not only functional it also provides some nice views over the city: Antwerp is located in a curve of the river.

Whenever there is sun you can find lots of people here: enjoying the view, some wine or beers, the sunset over the water, the sound of the wind. Although they are not allowed, bbq’s happen very often… and apparently no one has ever got a ticket for that!

So after you shopped all day, had a nice dinner somewhere and before you’re ready to step into the nightlife: come for a walk and enjoy the sunset at the riverbank. You’ll see Antwerp in all of it’s aspects.

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River bank | Relaxing
From De Gerlachkaai to Rijnkaai | Eilandje
24 hours daily

Spoor Noord is a brand new park in Antwerp. It’s located in the North of the city centre. Spoor Noord is a contemporary urban landscape park. It combines nature, light, space, relaxation, culture, sports and events.

The western section of the park includes a number of play areas, a bmx and skate park and in summer a summer terrace (Cargo). Next to Cargo you find playgrounds for kids, two of them are Water Playgrounds (only in spring and summer) with fountains. So you can watch your kids playing while enjoying a cocktail.

The other part of the park includes football and basketball terrains. It also has a summer bar: Usuma Express. A quiet, relaxed place where you can drink the best bio lemonades and even a bio beer. We always go to Usuma Express when we don’t have kids with us or when we are not in the mood for the crowd at Cargo.

The entire park has a lot of free space to sunbath, picknick or relax.

Viva the sun & Spoor Noord! Spring & Summer we are waiting for you!

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Spoor Noord | Bars, Relaxing | Free
Viaduct Dam, Noorderlaan | Eilandje
Daily

The Botanical Garden and its 2000 noteworthy plants have their origin in the herb garden belonging to the medieval St. Elisabeth Gasthuis, which is still a hospital today.

I often have to go there for my work and I don’t mind that at all. The Botanical Garden is situated in the shopping heart of the city (behind the Meir, Huidevetterstraat, Schuttershofstraat) and gives you the opportunity to step out of the busy shopping area into a quiet, calm world of plants and flowers. People of Antwerp often go there to eat their sandwiches or read the newspaper. Even now in winter, it’s lovely to just walk through the garden to escape from your busy Christmas shopping. And don’t forget to drink a coffee in ‘het Gebaar‘, the establishment in the garden that won a lot of patisserie prices!

It’s a hidden treasure and my favourite spot in Antwerp.

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The Botanical Garden | Relaxing | Free
Leopoldstraat 24 | Meir
08.00 – 18.00 daily

If you are tired of the classic tourist bus, I can recommend a safari trip with tram 12. There are eleven trams in Antwerp and most of them are nothing special, but this one shows you a lot of aspects of this town.

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

So you start at the trendy South, 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 addicts and tramps gather. Behind the glass you are safe!

Tram 12 goes on through the poor part of Antwerp where 181 different nationalities live! Eventually you’ll get to the Sportpaleis, the big arena for events (Proximus Diamond Games, concerts, with almost 20 000 seats… ). On its way back tram 12 also shows you Chinatown and a 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.

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

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

I have no idea of how many professional swimmers will have the chance to read this, but I hope there will be a lot because I want to give this message: you do not have to stop practice while you are on holidays; here in Antwerp swimming pools are open to the public, except when there is competition, naturally.

Now going back to my less sportive readers, you do not need to be a professional swimmer to stay in shape. If your idea of moving your body goes beyond shaking your bootie on the dance floor, swimming is a great idea after you consider all the benefits: wear your bikini even in the middle of the winter (or watch girls wearing bikinis), burn calories, refine your cardiac rhythm, strengthen flaccid zones, etc, etc. Plus benefit: it is fun!

Tariffs may change but the normal price for an adult is 2 euro. You can also buy a pass for 12 times at discount.

Just like any other great attraction in Antwerp, it is very easy to reach by public transport. Take tram 2 or 6 from the city centre, direction to Hoboken. If you go by car public parking is available.

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Wezemberg | Relaxing | Entrance adults € 2.00
Desguinlei 17-19, 2018 | Zuid | +32032592311
Mon-Fri 7:00 – 21:30, Sat – Sun 8:00 – 13:00