Paulus41: Your heart of the city
Of course, you can stick to the beaten path and simply tick off Antwerp's touristy must-sees. Or you can let yourself be guided by the tips of Phil and Liene: locals who know the city inside out. The secret spots and hidden (art) treasures. The widest view over the Scheldt and the tastiest kitchens. The crispiest croissant and the most fashionable museum: Liene, Phil, Emil and Stan are happy to share their favourite addresses and their master's house in the heart of the city.
To whet your appetite for travel and get you craving Antwerp already, we're each sharing one of our favourites here. Curious for more? Come along!
Emil's tip: The city from a bird's-eye view
You only really get to know Antwerp once you look at it from above. My favourite view? The rooftop terrace of the MAS. Take the escalator all the way to the top, and there lies the city before you, gleaming in 360 degrees, with the Scheldt as the cherry on top. Perfect at sunset, drink in hand.
Want to go higher, and have a bit more time? Book a climb up the cathedral tower. 515 steps later, you're standing among the bells, with the entire city centre at your feet. Can you spot our house too, with the fig tree on the roof terrace?
You can climb the tower from April to October, but spots are limited, so it's best to book early.
Stan's tip: Wolf food sharing market
Looking for a fun evening close by? Head to WOLF, Antwerp's first Sharing Food Market, housed in the historic Sint-Felixpakhuis (Godefriduskaai 30). Ten street food kiosks from every corner of the world - from sushi to smash burgers and Mexican- plus 3 bars and a beautiful waterside terrace.
Fun fact: the warehouse was built the same year as Paulus41 (1858), to store coffee, tea and tobacco for the Antwerp port. Four years later, it burned down completely. During reconstruction, the building was given a wide, covered passage straight through its middle as a literal firebreak, the "Lichtstraat," now one of Antwerp's most photogenic inner streets.
The kiosks at WOLF are made from recycled materials sourced from ships in the Antwerp port, and headlights from cars once made at the former General Motors factory are given a second life. Blikfabriek designed the mirrors in the restrooms, and Marius Ritiu built the copper bar.
Liene's tip: The Scheldt quays
That wide, sun-drenched promenade along the water? That's the result of one of the most far-reaching construction projects Antwerp has ever seen. As early as 2007, experts already knew: our historic quay wall no longer met safety standards. At the same time, the flood barrier needed to be raised by 90 centimetres, to protect against rising sea levels. Two major technical challenges, and the city decided to turn them into something beautiful.
The result: kilometres of public space where Antwerpenaren and visitors alike can come home to their river again. Walking, cycling, sitting with your feet almost in the water, gazing across the Scheldt to the green Linkeroever, it's all possible here again. What was once neglected terrain is now one of the most beautiful spots in the city.
Take a walk along the Scheldekaaien and let your eyes wander over the water. I still love doing it myself, even though I've known this place my whole life. Especially at sunset, the view here is worth its weight in gold.
From the quays, you can take the ferry to Linkeroever, for a walk around the Galgenweel or a visit to our own mini beach at Sint Anneke.
Coming from our house? Then it's just a short walk - I'm happy to point you the way.
Phil's tip: Let yourself be surprised
Start your walk without a fixed destination. Look up. Antwerp is full of architectural details you'd miss at eye level. Walk along the long Koepoortstraat towards Groenplaats and let yourself be led off your path. Some of the loveliest spots in Antwerp you find precisely because you weren't looking for them.
A hidden gem is the late-Gothic Sint-Pauluskerk: it houses a magnificent seventeenth-century organ, beautiful woodcarving, more than two hundred sculptures and over fifty paintings - including works by Rubens and Caravaggio. Outside, you'll find the impressive Calvarieberg: an 18th-century sculpture garden with 63 life-size sculptures and nine reliefs depicting the road to Golgotha.
