ANTWERP FAQ`S
Antwerp is located in the region of Flanders. It is renowned for being the `world`s leading diamond city` and more
than 70% of all diamonds are traded there. The Diamond Market is the hub of the
economic section in Belgium. More than 85% of the world`s rough diamonds, 50%
of cut diamonds, and 40% of industrial diamonds are traded in the city.
Antwerp
is the second largest city of Belgium. It has a beautiful historic city center,
and is world-renowned for its fashion industry. The port of Antwerp is the
second largest in Europe, and a major economic player in Belgium.
If you`re travelling
to/from the city via Antwerp International Airport, then take the bus 51, 52
or 53 to Antwerp-Berchem railway station (travel time of 10 minutes), which is
on the outskirts of the city. From there, you can take a quick train to Antwerp
Central Station, or pick one of several trams and buses to your final
destination in the city.
If you are arriving
at any of these other nearby airports, here are your options:
Brussels Airport:
Every hour there is a direct bus to and from this airport which costs about €10
one way. It has two stops in Antwerp: at Hotel Crowne Plaza and in the city center,
in front of Central Station. Hourly direct trains link Antwerp central station
with Brussels airport, with a travel time of approximately 35 minutes (45
minutes on weekends and public holidays). Single adult tickets are about €12.
Charleroi Airport:
Marketed as `Brussels South Charleroi Airport`, is a low-cost hub, served mainly
by Ryanair and WizzAir. An express bus (line A) connects it to Charleroi Sud
train station, from where there are train connections to anywhere in Belgium.
Belgian Railways sell a combined expressbus + train ticket: from Antwerp
Central Station the trip takes 2 hours and costs about €20.
Schiphol Airport: There
are two options to take the train from Amsterdam Schiphol
airport to Antwerp central station. First, the regular intercity Amsterdam - Brussels service
runs 16 times daily. You can buy tickets with a credit card at the ticketing
machines in the Schiphol arrival hall. Payment with cash is also possible at
the counter, or you can book in advance through Belgian Railways (SNCB/NMBS) A
single ticket costs about €25. The second option, is the bright red high-speed
Thalys train Amsterdam - Paris, which also connects Amsterdam airport with
Antwerp central station, in half the time it takes the regular train, but at
twice the price. We strongly encourage you to book your seat at least a week
beforehand, since buying a ticket on the spot will turn out to be even more
expensive. Keep in mind that the regular intercity and the Thalys are run by
different companies, but their trains leave from the same platforms. Whatever
you do, do not jump on a Thalys train with a regular intercity ticket or vice
versa. Thalys and regular train tickets are not interchangeable, and you will
be fined for riding without a valid ticket.
Düsseldorf Airport:
This is the third largest airport of Germany. There is no easy train connection
to Antwerp, but since June 2014, a bus service by Deutsche Bahn railways
connects Antwerp directly to Düsseldorf Airport 3 times daily. Tickets can be
booked through Deutsche Bahn.
The easiest way to get to
Antwerp is usually by train. The Thalys connects Antwerp to Amsterdam and here
are direct and connecting trains from most Belgian cities, as well as from
Brussels National Airport. For train timetables, check the website of the NMBS,
the National Railroads.
Central
Station: Also known as the
`Middle station` or `Railroad Cathedral`, was built between 1895 and 1905.
Centraal Station, 1 mile east of the Grote Markt, is on the edge of the city
center. It`s worthwhile taking a close look around the station (it rates as one of the world`s most beautiful), and view in particular the graceful
ornamentation in the main hall. The original first-class waiting room is now
the station cafe. There are coin-operated luggage lockers at Centraal Station.
Antwerp's other mainline rail station is Berchem, 2 1/2
miles south of the city center.
Buses, taxis and the tram can
all be accessed at or near the Central Station.
Driving
in Antwerp is not as difficult as many big cities in the world, but crossroads
can seem very disorganized for foreigners. There are few free parking spaces,
but many spaces where you have to pay (on the street or in underground car
parks). The underground car parks are well-signposted. The prices are typically
around €2 per hour.
There
are many one-way roads that can make it difficult to get to a specific place.
Try to park your car as close as possible and go on foot.
Antwerp
has introduced a Low Emission Zone, which applies to domestic and foreign
registered cars. The latter have to jump through hoops to demonstrate their
emission status. The zone seems to be inside but excluding the ring-road, but
the official map is hard to understand, so beware.
Antwerp`s
public transport network is well set-up and accessible for visitors. No
location is more than 45 minutes or so away, and the connections/routes are all
quite straightforward.
The
public transportation company De Lijn operates a dense network of buses,
trams, and pre-metro (underground tram) connections in the city and its
surroundings. If you plan on taking a bus or tram more than 5 times, then it is
worth buying a 10-ride card (Lijnkaart) that costs
about €15. They can be bought at fixed locations in town (e.g. most
supermarkets and any place that sells newspapers, just ask the cashier). Every
time you enter a bus or tram, just put that card in one of the yellow ticket
machines. A single ticket bought from the driver in the bus costs more (about €3.00
per ride).
For
one fare, you can ride up to an hour within the city boundaries. If you want to
travel out of the city boundaries you may have to pay more for extra zones
travelled. The central bus station is the Franklin
Rooseveltplaats, near the central train station. Nearly all
buses leave from there, or from the Antwerp-Central or Antwerp-Berchem train
stations. Buses towards the west terminate on the left bank (metro stop Van
Eeden).
Due
to traffic, buses and trams in Antwerp don`t always travel according to their
indicated schedule, especially around rush hour. However, certainly within the
city center the frequency is usually high enough to not cause too much of an
inconvenience. Public transport company De Lijn has a bad reputation when it
comes to informing the public of diversions, cancellations or delays. Expect to
be given little to no information when the bus suddenly follows a diversion or
a stop is not served - it`s best to ask a local. This is a persistent problem
that even the locals find very difficult to deal with.
With the Antwerp City Card you can visit all museums and three monumental churches over a 48-hour period. It also features a 25% discount on attractions, sightseeing and bicycle rentals. In the free guide you find vouchers that you can use to enjoy benefits on typical Antwerp and Belgian products including chocolate and chips. The price runs around €28.
Is Antwerp a walking city?Most things to see are near or within the Boulevards, the half-moon of avenues where there were once 16th-century city walls. This old town center, with a diameter of about 1 mile, can be walked, and there is also excellent public transport. The center is densely signposted to aid those discovering it on foot.
How do I get around by taxi?Taxis are available, but they can be quite expensive. They await customers at specific locations around town (waving your hand will seldom work) such as the Groenplaats or the railway station. You can recognize these places by an orange TAXI sign. The prices are fixed in the taximeter. Between 10pm and 6am an additional fee is added to all fares.
What is the horse tram?The horse tram leaves from the Grote Markt every hour. It is approximately a 40 minute ( a mile and half ride) through the city.
How do I get around Antwerp by bicyle?
Bicycles
can be rented at several places in town like Ligfiets, Windroos, Fietsdokter
(verschransingsstraat), or Fietshaven (government initiative, under the central
station).
Velo-Antwerpen: Antwerp`s extensive
bike-sharing system works very smoothly, with thousands of bikes at more than
100 stations. Memberships can be purchased with a Mastercard or Visa credit (but
not debit) card online, at the office or through the app. Use the key code to
release a bike, then return it at any other stand within 30 minutes. If the
stand where you want to leave the bike is full, enter your code and you`ll
receive extra minutes to find another. Stands are plentiful, but occasionally
it can be hard to find a bike near the train station, or to drop one on
Saturday night around KMSKA. The phone app has an interactive map showing where
bikes and spaces are available. When depositing the bicycle, type in your code
again to ensure that the return was duly registered as accepted. Late fees
start around €0.50 for up to 30 minutes and rise to €150 for 24 hours, or €400
if you fail to report a loss.
The
city has many special areas for cyclists, and cycling is easy and comfortable
in Antwerp. Most one-way roads can be accessed both ways. Make sure to lock
your bike to a fixed object, however, or it will be stolen! Around town there
are a few places that are specially prepared for hosting bicycles for free.
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 neighborhoods have
a very lively atmosphere and some are definitely worth a visit during the day.
If
you plan to use a bike while visiting, it is very important that you 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 area are friendly and professional.
Like
most of the rest of Europe, the number for emergencies (ambulance, police and
fire) is 112.
The currency in Belgium is the Euro. Once you`re in Belgium you will need to use the Euro in most all places. It is recommended to exchange at least some money before you leave home so that you can avoid lines at airport ATMs. There are various ATMs throughout the cities and towns in Belgium.
I don`t speak Dutch. Will many people speak English?
People in
Antwerp are often multilingual, or at least bilingual, and multicultural.
Still, many of the locals speak the Brabantian-Antwerp dialect of Dutch.
Because the city is situated
in Flanders, Antwerp is a quite different city than Belgium. The French culture
of the capital is not replicated in Antwerp - although this is not to say that
its residents do not speak French. As half of the population speaks at least
three foreign languages, you will definitely be able to get by with Dutch or
English, and French will also be understood. Most locals speak enough English for tourists`
needs, and it is common for hotels, restaurants, and shops that are aimed at
tourists to use the English language. We suggest you get a good English-Dutch
guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye,
excuse me and numbers 1-10.
The long shopping street of Meir has mid-range
international chains and department stores, while the upmarket stores and
boutiques have occupied the area south
of the Grote Markt between Steenhouwersvest and Komedieplaats;
here you`ll find Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, and many others.
For lace, check out the streets surrounding the cathedral and for diamonds,
head for Appelmansstraat and
nearby streets around Central Station.
Markets: Antwerp`s street markets are lively
and fun as well as great for bargain-hunting. If you`re in town on a Saturday
from April till September, check out the Antiques Market, Lijnwaadmarkt, Saturday from
Easter to October 10am to 6pm. The outstanding Bird Market is a general
market that features live animals, plants, textiles, and food products; it takes
place Sunday mornings in Oude Vaartplaats near the City Theater. At the Friday Market, on
Wednesday and Friday mornings on Vrijdagmarkt facing the Plantin-Moretus Museum,household goods and secondhand furniture are put on public auction.
Antwerp remains the world`s leading market for cut diamonds and second only to London as an outlet for raw and industrial diamonds, despite extreme competition from India, Dubai, and Israel. The statistics are that 84 percent of all the world`s diamonds pass through Antwerp at some point on their journey from rough stone to polished, set gem. There are four diamond-trading houses in Antwerp and together they comprise an industry that generates over 147 million euros for the city each year. The trade, with its diamond cutters and polishers, workshops, brokers, and merchants, is centered on the few heavily guarded streets that form the city`s Diamond Quarter, located steps away from Central Station. It is regulated by the Antwerp World Diamond Center (www.awdc.be) and mostly run by members of the city`s Hasidic Jewish community, who found a niche market when they arrived in Antwerp in the 15th century.
What is the weather like? When is the best time to go?
Antwerp
is located in the Flanders province of Belgium. Flanders has a moderate
historic climate, the months of May and August offer the sunniest days.
As
with other travel destinations within Belgium, May through September is the
best time to go to Antwerp. Late spring is recommended for its long, northern
days and good weather. Summer is also a good time to visit Antwerp, as the
residents are on holiday in July and August.
September
and October are fine times to visit, as tourists have left and the weather is
still warm enough to be comfortable.
Flanders
weather is known to be rather changeable, so be prepared. Rain is frequent but
wait a while and it`ll probably change.
Antwerp offers a lively nightlife. The main entertainment takes place at Grote Market and Groenplaats, which both contain concentrations of bars, cafes, and theaters. For jazz and punk music, check out High Town (Hoogstraat, Pelgrimstraat, Pieter Potstraat, and vicinity). And the Centraal Station area is perfect if you are looking for discos, nightclubs, and gay bars. The red-light district here, concentrated in Riverside Quarter, is much seedier and less tourist-oriented than the one that`s a big visitor attraction just a few hours drive up the road in Amsterdam, in neighboring Holland.
What is the food like?
Antwerpse handjes are
the most well-known products in Antwerp. You can call them Antwerp hands, and
they 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.
Pitta/Shoarma are
shops found throughout the city that are often open through the day and are the
last ones to close.
For lunch people often enjoy a smos
sandwich, which means a `mess,` the expected outcome when trying to eat it. You
can find them in several stores like Panos and Foodmaker.
Check out the Gote Markt for many
traditional Belgian spots serving staples like mussles and stoofvlees (Flemish
beef and beer stew), but the most dynamic dining scenes are found beyond the
medieval center. To the north, the
once seedy port area of Eilandje,
now home to the MAS and Red Star Line Museum, has seen trendy cafes,
restaurants, and bars popping up in formerly derelict harbor-front buildings. A
20-minute walk south of Grote Markt, the Zuid district, known for its plethora of art
and antiques galleries, is growing as a hip dining destination.
If you’re looking for a drink
you won`t have to go far, there is always a pub or another drinking
establishment nearby. Belgium
is famous for its great-tasting beers! Not
surprising for a city that has the most pubs per capita in the world. In
Antwerp pubs do not have a closing hour. Other than the famous Trappist beers,
make sure to try the De Koninck (commonly called `Bolleke`), the local beer
that is brewed in Antwerp.
Antwerp has several weekly,
monthly, seasonal and annual markets.
Vogelenmarkt (`Birds market`)
The Vogelenmarkt is a diverse farmers market where you`ll find flowers,
fabrics, antiques, jewelry and more. You can even find small animals, like
hamsters, here.
Oudevaartplaats, Theaterplein and surrounding streets
Sunday: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Exotic market
The exotic market is a very multicultural market where you can buy and taste
all kinds of Mediterranean specialties. It`s a great place to find Turkish and
Moroccan food.
Oudevaartplaats, Theaterplein and surrounding streets
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (except on public holidays)
Friday market
On Fridays, old furniture and small antiques are auctioned at the Friday
Market. It`s always a lively event and fun to attend, even if you just go to
watch.
Vrijdagmarkt
Friday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Antiques market
You can also find antiques and other old/second-hand stuff at the antique
market on Saturday and Sunday. This market is aimed more at `casual` buyers
than the Friday market.
Saturday: Lijnwaadmarkt, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (except on
public holidays)
Sunday: Sint-Jansvliet, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (also on public holidays)
Bio market
At the Sunday bio market, only products with a bio quality label are being
sold.
Falconplein
Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
MONTHLY/SEASONAL MARKETS:
Boekenplein (`Books Square`)
Boekenplein is more than just a books market. There are always some musicians
playing and there are stands where you can grab a bite or a drink.
De Coninckplein
March – October: every third Sunday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lambermontmartre
This market is where (mostly graphic) artists display their work
and often there`s also someone drawing portraits of people. You`ll also find
acoustic concerts taking place here.
Lambermontplaats
May – September: every last Sunday, from 12 p.m. – 5 pm.
Brocantwerpen
Flea-market where you can also find some vintage and antiques.
Grote Markt
March – October : every last Wednesday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
YEARLY MARKETS:
Rubens Market
At the Rubens market, all merchants are dressed like 17th-century merchants and
their stands are decorated in that way as well. At the end of the market day,
the best-dressed merchant with the best-decorated stand is chosen. The items
being sold are of this era.
Grote Markt and surroundings
August 15: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Christmas Market
Each year the city of Antwerp organizes a Christmas market with lots of food
and drink stands but also stands selling seasonal products, an ice skating rink
and even a ferris wheel.
In an Emergency dial 112 If you need to contact an on-call doctor in Antwerp, call: +32 (0) 900 10 512.