Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

A couple of years ago the neighborhood around the falconplein was a different world. It was a square with dubious shops ran by the Russian mafia and Georgian gangsters. They say it was possible to buy grenades under the table, and the smuggling in fake products and girls from the east were big business then. The falconplein was/is also at the edge of the red light district.

When the city decided to ‘clean up’ the square in 2007 this was very successful. Not so adventurous anymore but today it is a more pleasant square where crime isn’t longer the most important thing.

On the first and the third Sunday of every month there is a market for biological products. And on the square you can find the nice café Bartilia. It is called Bartilia because of the former trees that stood on the square. They were all limetrees (‘Tilia’). When they redesigned the square all the lime trees had to go.

The owners of Bartilia wanted to make a statement and they named the cafe after the trees. Bartilia is a cosy cafe for young and old, but especially for the young. In weekends it can be busy but it is always nice to be there. It is allowed to smoke in there. The atmosphere is good.

On Sunday it is nice to combine the market with a coffee in Café Bartilia. But be careful, sometimes the café opens a little bit later than planned…

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Bartilia | Bars, Coffee & tea
Falconplein 43 | Eilandje | +32484157995
Autumn/Winter 15:00 – 03:00 daily | Spring/Summer 11:00 – 03:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

A couple of years ago, when I lived in the north of the city – which is a relatively 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?

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Pepto Bismo | Art & culture | Free
Sint Jansplein | Eilandje
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

Amidst the upcoming grandeur near ‘t Eilandje is a small restaurant that reflects everything the neighbourhood should be about: small, cozy environment with a touch of quality and finesse: L’ile d’ Anvers.

One thing is for sure, the guys who run this restaurant are passionate about their business, and that will be about eight years now. Anyway, I felt comfortable and relaxed from the minute I entered.

They have friendly service with a big honest smile. And the food is great! They serve the slightly better dishes here and charge the right price for that. After dinner you can enjoy the nightlife around the docks and yacht club.

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L’ile d’ Anvers | Restaurants (French/Fusion) | Meal € 30.00
Verbindingsdok, Oostkaai 3 | Eilandje | +3232269909
Tue – Fri 11:30 – 14:00 & 18:00 – 22:30, Sat 18:00 – 22:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko caignie

Located near Park Spoor Noord (check the Spoor Noord article) on the North side of Antwerp this is quite a new Bistro/Resto. It’s built in an old apothecary, but that is only the outside. Inside you’ve got a mixture of styles and different tastes. A bar, tables, some couches and even a room for kids. Many locals visit “De Caravan” on the weekend, for brunch or lunch on their way to the park or on the way back.

You can go for a quick coffee or a good meal with friends. And even better, you can come and fetch a genuine picknick basket to have a picknick in the nearby Park. How cool is that!

Anyway, it’s a cozy place and you’ll be served by two very nice ladies who run their place with great passion! Just go there and enjoy!

They organise a lot of thematic evenings and parties every month. More about that on the Facebook page (below) and soon to be launched website.

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Caravan | Snacks | Ael € 15
Damplein 17 | Eilandje | +3232976852
See website under info

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

One of the things that makes Antwerp attractive is the river “Schelde” which runs on 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 fine 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 river bank. You’ll see Antwerp in all of its aspects.

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

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 alongside 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 look 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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

In one of my latest walks I ended up in the beguine convent of Antwerp. I noticed the outside walls several times before, while I was walking 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.

Particularly charming is the little chapel in the back near the church, where people placed thank you 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.

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Beguine Convent | Art & culture | Free
Rodestraat, 39 | Eilandje | +3232028430
Sun – Wed 09:00 – 15:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

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 is the MAS, Museum aan de Stroom (Riverside Museum). Planning was scheduled to be finished in 2010, but it was completed in May 2011, typical Belgian planning style! This is a centre for art and expositions, … Check them out on the website.

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

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MAS | Art & culture
Rijnkaai | Eilandje | +3233384434
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Igor Daems

Antwerp has the second largest port of Europe and that’s one of the reasons why there are more than 140 nationalities living in the city. That’s more than in New York, believe it or not. In Antwerp North, the Portuguese community is quite important. There are many bars and restaurants on and around Sint-Jansplein and they become very visible on the square when Portugal is playing an important soccer match.

If you like Portuguese food, this is my tip: Estrela Do Mar. Don’t judge this place on the looks from the outside. I guess that 99% of all people just pass by without knowing what a gem this place is. Go inside and ask for a table. You will be led to the back, to a very simple interior, almost cantine-style. The menu is very limited which I believe is a good sign. The gambas (prawns) and the bacalhau (cod) are both extremely tasteful. Have the white wine of the house and you’re all set for a perfect meal.

That’s not all: if you want to try something very different, move back to the front after dinner and have a Portuguese beer while you wait for the karaoke to begin. Yes, if you’re lucky the owner will grab the microphone and sing some beautiful Portuguese songs. Don’t be shy and sing along. This is so much better than the karaoke bars you can find in the tourist part of town.

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Estrela Do Mar | Restaurants (Portuguese) | Main meal from € 15
Ellermanstraat 96 | Eilandje
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Igor Daems

After having been the barwoman in café De Welkom, Femke decided to do something completely different. A few steps away from Park Spoor Noord (see the article) she opened a new place and she called it ZUM. In a fastly changing neighbourhood, ZUM for me is the ideal place for breakfast or lunch. I like the personal details here: the little chocolate balls you can add to your cappuccino, the cool postcards on the wall, the homemade muffins and pies, the smiling faces of the people serving you …

If I need a place to spend a lazy afternoon (like the day after a wild party), I come here and order the antiox Arizona iced tea and a blueberry muffin. If I’m not meeting friends, I bring a book and install myself for a good read. ZUM has free wifi so sometimes I even get some work done.

If you’re hungry try the “bokes”. Slices of freshly baked bread with all kinds of toppings, the yummie Belgian way to eat bread. Be careful, if you don’t keep an eye to the beautiful clock hanging on the wall, you might end up spending the whole afternoon here.

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ZUM | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Breakfast&Lunch) | Main meal from € 10
Viaduct Dam 1 | Eilandje | +323450336
Tue – Sun 09:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp