Image by Ysabel Jongeneelen

On a lazy Sunday I love to walk through the Kloosterstraat. It’s my favorite ‘window shop street’. Most of the shops sell antiques: furniture, books, nice African antiques, etc. Some sell bathroom antiques, others sell Christmas decoration or fifties-objects. The fun is that there is this great amusing diversity and incredible curiosa.

The Kloosterstraat is like a constant changing open air museum where you can buy the strangest objects. If you have enough money of course. That’s an important detail: almost everything in the Kloosterstraat is heavily overpriced. But it is a pleasure to discover all the secret objects that are lost in time and lost in the Kloosterstraat.

They say that this street has an international reputation and that a lot of wardrobes and tables and books and stuff are sold overseas, but that I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m full of plans and dreams when I walk through this street. Plans for how I’m going to decorate that really big castle when I have that disgraceful amount of money.

I find it an amusing walk to the city center because every time I see things that I cannot believe or things that I never expected to see ever again. I can recommend a spaziergang to the South through the Kloosterstraat. And if you can resist all the beautiful things, it’s free…

On Monday and Tuesday the most shops are closed. The weekend is the best moment to visit this street…

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Kloosterstraat | Art & culture, Shopping
Kloosterstraat | Sint Andries
Aproximately Wed – Sun 10:00 – 18:00

Image by Niko Caignie

The City of Antwerp is actually divided into 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 can 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.

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Pedestrian Tunnel | Art & culture | Free
Sint Jansvliet | Sint Andries
24 hours daily

Image by Niko Caignie

This is actually not one of the spots I visit often, but every once and a while when a friend is visiting from out of town I take them here. The view from the second floor café/brasserie is just breath taking.

The food is good, service is good but the view is the thing you should come for. From behind the big windows you have an excellent view over the river and the left bank of Antwerp.

There is also a big terras outside, but most of the time it’s quite windy, I prefer the inside.

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Zuiderterras | Bars, Snacks | Meal € 20
Ernest Van Dijckkaai 37 | Sint Andries | +3232341275
09:00 – 00:00 daily

Image by Caroline Dhont

Is it raining while you’re in Antwerp? Are you feeling blue? Well, there’s a remedy! Just step inside ‘Who’s that girl’ in the fashionable shopping street ‘Kammenstraat’. This colourful brand was founded in Belgium and this is where they opened their first concept store.

These clothes can really make you happy. Here you can find dresses, tops, skirts, lingerie and other girly clothes that will fit so naturally. In any colour of the rainbow. It’s always a simple yet ingenious design that will make you look great! Wearing this, anyone will tell you that (shopping) trip to Antwerp has done you well!

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Who’s that girl | Shopping
Kammenstraat 52 | Sint Andries | +3232480782
10:00 – 18:00 daily

Image by Bazar Bizar

Bazar Bizar is a cosy shop, filled with things from Indonesia, Morocco, Bali,… You can buy stuff there for your own interior, or presents for your family and friends…

My favourite is the pottery from Morocco, and the pillows from Bali, and the jewelry… oh well, I like it all! I used to work at Bazar in the weekends but I still go there a lot, just to feel the atmosphere and buy some lovely cheap jewelry from Bali, or things to put in my garden or house.

I invite you to come and take a look, you will love it! (and they have a bed & breakfast too, completely designed with stuff from the shop).

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Bazar Bizar | Shopping
Steenhouwersvest 18 | Sint Andries | +3232329744
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 18:00, Sun 14:00 – 18:00