Antwerp
Discover Antwerp
Antwerp (Dutch: Antwerpen, French: Anvers) is the capital of the eponymous province in the region of Flanders in Belgium. At a population of just over half a million people (2018), it is the second largest city in Belgium (after Brussels), and it has a major European port. Due to its long and culturally rich history, the city of Antwerp houses interesting historical buildings from different historical periods and numerous museums. Antwerp is also known as the global diamond trade hub: more than 70% of all diamonds are traded in Antwerp. Antwerp has grown to become a trendy city, attracting Flemish and foreign artists, writers, intellectuals, and actors. This is reflected in the city's trendy bars and shops. Antwerp is a city with many faces. While it may not be as historically preserved as Bruges or Ghent, it is a very dynamic city, offering a perfect mix of history and present-day modern life. The friendliness of the people of Antwerp and their innate penchant for good food and good living, combined with their low stress lifestyle, makes it a desirable and relaxing place to visit.
What to Experience in Antwerp
Taste of Antwerp...
Antwerpse handjes are little biscuits or chocolates in the shape of a hand. Invented by a Jewish baker in 1932. As with most Flemish towns, you can find many frietkoten in the city. These are places of which the Belgians are really proud of. Here you can buy the famous Belgian fries and other fried food for a reasonable price. For lunch people often go eat a "smos", a sandwich with several layers of garniture in it. The name refers to the mess you make when trying to eat it. You can find them in several stores like Panos or Foodmaker. De Keyserlei (the street that runs west from Central Station) is a street with a varied choice of restaurants. The side streets on the north side of De Keyserlei offer even more options, with Lebanese, South-African, Mexican, Italian and Vietnamese (to name but a few) restaurants all rubbing shoulders with each other. With so many restaurants in a small area the prices tend to be pretty competitive. Chinatown takes up a couple of streets on the north side of Koningin-Astrid-plein (the large square to the north of Central Station). Look for the 2 lions guarding the entrance to Van Wesenbekestraat. Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and Nepalese restaurants are here as well as lots of Chinese options. Broodje/Boterkoken (sandwiches) are local and inexpensive. Try one of the Indian restaurants on Lange Herentalsestraat. Wherever you are in Antwerp, you will always be near a pub or another drinking facility.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Antwerp.
Due to very strict language requirements imposed by the Flemish government, all Bachelor courses are offered in Dutch only (except for the Maritime Academy and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts). However, the University of Antwerp offers 9 fully English-taught Master programmes, 7 advanced Master programmes, and 7 postgraduate degrees, in topics ranging from Linguistics and Computer Science to Marine Transport . Antwerp hosts over 30,000 students, and therefore boasts a vibrant student life that also has many traditional aspects. Well-connected in the centre of Europe, offering a varied city day- and nightlife, and having a very reasonable cost of living compared to the surrounding capitals, it's a popular destination for Erasmus students. Current and prospective Erasmus students should get in touch with ESN Antwerp, part of the global Erasmus Student Network and very active in organizing activities to help international students find their way around.
Climate
Antwerp has an oceanic and mild climate with cool winters, warm summers, and light, frequent precipitation year round. Summer temperatures average around 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 14 °C (57 °F) at night; though temperatures climbing to or exceeding 29 °C (84 °F) and not going below 18 °C (64 °F) at night are not unheard of during heat waves. Daylight hours range between 05:30-22:00 in the summer and from 08:45-16:45 in the winter. Belgium has an extensive rail network, and for intercity travel within Belgium, trains are always the best option. Tickets can be bought on the website of the Belgian railways and at the ticket counters in most stations. There are good train connections to and from Brussels Airport and Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. To plan your trip, you can consult the website of NMBS (SNCB) for national and international travels. If you cross multiple borders, it is often possible to book your entire trip at once through Deutsche Bahn.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsBelgium has an extensive rail network, and for intercity travel within Belgium, trains are always the best option. Tickets can be bought on the website of the Belgian railways and at the ticket counters in most stations. There are good train connections to and from Brussels Airport and Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. To plan your trip, you can consult the website of NMBS (SNCB) for national and international travels. If you cross multiple borders, it is often possible to book your entire trip at once through Deutsche Bahn. Antwerp-Central is a major stop on the Paris-Amsterdam high-speed line. International trains from France and the Netherlands stop in Antwerp-Central station only, and not in Antwerp-Berchem anymore. The same train services that call at Schiphol Airport also call at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The public transportation company De Lijn has a dense network of buses, trams, and pre-metro (underground tram) connections in the city and wide area around it. Tickets can be purchased through the mobile app. You can also buy cards of €21 (10 fares, as of July 2025) or alternatively 1- or 3-day tickets at fixed points in town; inside transportation payment of tickets is only possible via contactless payment (cards or via smartphone); buying tickets in cash is not possible anymore. For one fare, you can ride up to an hour. The tram system operates with low-floor articulated units (refer to the above photo), mostly in tunnels under the centre, & older high-floor tramcars, mostly on ground-level routes. The central bus station is the Franklin Roosevelt plaats, near the central train station. Most buses leave from there or from the train station. Maps of the bus/tram network in the entire region can be found in PDF format here . Taxis are available, but they can be quite expensive.
Where to Stay
As of July 2022, Antwerp has 5G from all Belgian carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places. Most parts of Antwerp are safe, but some neighborhoods are to be avoided in the evening, especially the area around De Coninckplein and the neighborhoods of Borgerhout, Seefhoek and the Schipperskwartier. Still, these neighbourhoods have a very lively atmosphere and so are definitely worth a visit during the day. Moreover, it is of utmost importance to lock your bike properly if left outside on the street throughout the city. If you need police assistance, the direct police number is 101. If you need a non-urgent police inquiry or the most nearby police station you can dial 0800/12312 for free. Most police officers in Antwerp are friendly and professional. Like most of the rest of Europe, the number for emergencies (ambulance, police and fire) is 112.
Money & Budget
Due to very strict language requirements imposed by the Flemish government, all Bachelor courses are offered in Dutch only (except for the Maritime Academy and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts). However, the University of Antwerp offers 9 fully English-taught Master programmes, 7 advanced Master programmes, and 7 postgraduate degrees, in topics ranging from Linguistics and Computer Science to Marine Transport . Antwerp hosts over 30,000 students, and therefore boasts a vibrant student life that also has many traditional aspects. Well-connected in the centre of Europe, offering a varied city day- and nightlife, and having a very reasonable cost of living compared to the surrounding capitals, it's a popular destination for Erasmus students.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Most parts of Antwerp are safe, but some neighborhoods are to be avoided in the evening, especially the area around De Coninckplein and the neighborhoods of Borgerhout, Seefhoek and the Schipperskwartier. Still, these neighbourhoods have a very lively atmosphere and so are definitely worth a visit during the day. Moreover, it is of utmost importance to lock your bike properly if left outside on the street throughout the city. If you need police assistance, the direct police number is 101. If you need a non-urgent police inquiry or the most nearby police station you can dial 0800/12312 for free. Most police officers in Antwerp are friendly and professional. Like most of the rest of Europe, the number for emergencies (ambulance, police and fire) is 112. Antwerp is a key railway hub on the high-speed line from the Netherlands to France, so you can get relatively quickly and easily not only around Belgium, but also to its two neighbours.
Glimpses of Antwerp
architectural photography of statue
Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal België
The must see architecture visiting Antwerp: MAS building. Museum aan de Stroom.
Taken from the top of the Cathedral I noticed the brightly coloured rooftops of the old houses below me. This particular angle pictured the city beautifully both modern and old buildings are visible, as well as the right tower of the cathedral itself.
white and brown concrete building under blue sky during daytime
people and cars near building
Wide angle shot of Antwerp Central Station without many people.
city skyline across body of water during daytime
white concrete building with statue during night time
A train station with a large glass ceiling
architectural photography of statue
Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal België
The must see architecture visiting Antwerp: MAS building. Museum aan de Stroom.