Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

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.

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Zwarte Panter | Art & culture | Free
Hoogstraat 70-72-74 | Meir | +3232331345
Thu – Sun 13:30 – 18:00

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Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

At a stone’s throw of the big market you can find the delightful peace of the ‘Conscienceplein’. It is a small square with a big baroque church (check the Carolus Borromeus article by Niko) that on one side overrules the square, but on the other side you don’t notice the church and you see only the cute square with the white stripes on the ground and the strange fountain and the tree.

For me the ‘Conscienceplein’ is the square I spent the first years of my life. I fell in the fountain under the statue there when I was three and almost drowned. I made my first snowman there. As a kid I ran over the stripes like they were bridges over a cliff.

Now I love especially the quietness and friendliness of the place – it is an oasis in the middle of the city center.

The fairy-like tree puts you in the shadow when it’s hot and gives you shelter when it rains, and the ‘writer on his chair’ (Hendrik Conscience) is always watching over you. And under the square is the biggest and oldest library in town.

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Hendrik Conscienceplein | Art & culture, Relaxing
Hendrik Conscienceplein | Meir
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

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

It’s great and it’s so typically Antwerp. It’s Friday morning adventure. A second hand market but as an auction: they talk really ‘aantwaarps’ and sometimes you think they will be fighting soon because people get all excited.

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, 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 has always been 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.

Tip: the museum of Plantijn en Moretus is on the same square…

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Friday Market | Art & culture, Shopping | Free
Vrijdagmarkt | Meir
Fri 09:00 – 13:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by NIko Caignie

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.

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Carolus Borromeus Church | Art & culture
Hendrik Conscience Plein | Meir | +3232313751
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 12:30 & 14:00 – 17:00, Sun before Church service

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

One of the city’s highlights is its city hall. This renaissance building is a part of the Unesco heritage. In Antwerp we refer 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 as weddings etc.

In front of the city hall you’ll see the statue of Antigone throwing away a hand, this is where Antwerp got its name. Hand Werpen (Throwing hands) –> Antwerpen

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

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City Hall | Art & culture
Grote Markt | Meir
For opening times see tourist office

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Niko Caignie

Antwerp hosts many libraries, some of them practical, some big, some renowned 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 enough to enter the library and view it in its 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

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Nottebohm Library | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Hendrik Conscienceplein 4 | Meir
Check website for opening times

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Igor Daems

When I was a little boy, my mother took me to the city and I remember standing at the Cathedral which, at the time, was completely covered in scaffolding. In 8 years time the whole church will be renovated, my mother said. That seemed like an unbelievable amount of time and work. And then, finally, in 1993 the work was done and the church was there again, towering majestically over Antwerp.

It’s thé symbol of our city and an absolute must-see. You can go to the left bank (through the pedestrian tunnel) and admire the tower in the skyline and/or you can go inside. My favourite part of the interior are the two Rubens paintings which you can not miss: “The Descent from the Cross” and “The Elevation of the Cross”. These altarpieces still hang in their original location. I just can’t get enough of them.

I’m not really religious but I try to visit a church wherever I go. So if you are in Antwerp, pay the 5 euro entrance fee and have a seat. Use your eyes to admire the wonderful interior. Use your ears to enjoy the divine silence. And burn a candle for the people you love. It will do you good.

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Cathedral of Our Lady | Art & culture | Entrance € 5
Handschoenmarkt, 2000 | Meir | +3232139951
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 17:00, Sat 10:00 – 15:00, Sun 13:00 – 16:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp

Image by Igor Daems

Want to be thrown back into time? Then walk through the Vlaeykensgang, a tiny alley in the middle of the historic centre. The entrance is no wider than an average door so be sure not to walk past by it.

Install yourself on a bench here and let your imagination do the rest. This is what Antwerp used to look like in the time of Rubens and Van Dyck. Those days, in the middle ages, there were many more of these alleys. But almost all of them were destroyed during history. Except for this one, Vlaeykensgang is now completely restored.

Very strange: you’re in the heart of the city and still you hear nothing but complete silence here. That’s why this is an ideal place for listening to the carillons of the Cathedral. If I want to surprise my foreign guests, I take them here. They are all amazed, every time.

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Vlaeykensgang | Art & culture, Relaxing
Oude Koornmarkt 16 | Meir
Daily

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Image by Tinneke Voet

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 its 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.

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Museum Plantin Moretus | Art & culture | Adult € 6.40
Vrijdagmarkt 22 – 23 | Meir | +3232211450
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Antwerp