Today, we are visiting Antwerpen in Belgium, a member of the Benelux Union. But before that, let’s learn more about Belgium. It is located in Western Europe. The country is very well known for its Renaissance architecture and old towns. Belgium borders the Atlantic Ocean on the northwest, France on the west and south, Germany on the east, Luxembourg on the southeast, and the Netherlands on the northeast. Belgium also hosts the headquarters of NATO and the European Union. Belgium’s total area is 30,689 square kilometres. Its population is about 11.4 million. As Belgium has three official languages – French, Dutch, and German, the country is divided into three regions based on language differences. These regions are the French-speaking Walloon region, the Dutch-speaking Flemish region, and the multi-lingual Brussels-Capital region. Where is Antwerpen? It is a port city located on the Scheldt river in the Flemish region (Flanders). What to do in Antwerpen? There are many things to do in this beautiful city, and the first one coming to mind is strolling through the streets to enjoy the amazing architecture and historical buildings. The city is full of Instagrammable places. When you travel to Belgium, you will get your most liked Instagram posts in Antwerpen. Below, I will write about 12 Instagrammable sites in Antwerpen.
1. Het Zuid
Het Zuid is an amazing place full of tourist attractions. It never fails to amaze visitors, as well as local people. It is a beautiful place to get out of the busy nature of cities and enjoy the beautiful view of stately mansions, beautifully wide squares and boulevards. The district also holds many art galleries and museums. The famous ones include the FOMU Antwerpen, Museum of Contemporary Art (M HKA), and Galerie Van Campen & Rochtus. The area is also home to fine restaurants and cafes, allowing you to enjoy good food and drinks at night.
2. Historic Centre
Some of the most liked Instagram posts of yours will come from Antwerpen’s Historic Centre. You will be mesmerized by the beautiful architecture of the buildings on narrow streets. In the Historic Centre, you will find one and the only museum classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that is, the Plantin-Moretus Museum. Major Instagrammable places are Grote Markt (a town square), the Cathedral of Our Lady, very picturesque Stadhuis (the City Hall), Brabofontein, Het Steen, and many more architectural beauties. The area is also home to restaurants and authentic pubs, where you can enjoy your night after exploring the Historic Centre. You can also enjoy Belgian Westmalle beer in Quinten Matsijs, the oldest tavern in Antwerpen.
3. Nottebohmzaal
If you love books, then don’t miss the chance of visiting Nottebohmzaal. It is located in one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The look of this library is like a fairytale. Mesmerizingly picturesque interior design makes this place unforgettable. You may enjoy staring at old shelves and architecture for hours. It is one of the main Instagrammable sites in Antwerpen for book lovers. The place can only be visited during exhibitions and lectures, meaning only a few times a year. Nottebohmzaal is a part of the Heritage Library Hendrik Conscience. Unlike other public libraries, you cannot borrow a book from there.
4. The House of the Five Continents
What to do in Antwerpen? Of course, enjoy the architecture! Another architectural beauty that I wish to highlight in Antwerpen is the House of the Five Continents. It was built so amazingly that there is a white boat coming out of the building. Due to its exquisite design, some regard it as the most Instagrammable building. It is located on the corner of Schilderstraat and Plaatsnijdersstraat street, about ten minutes walking distance from the city centre. This extraordinary place was designed by Frans Smet-Verhas and built according to the true Art Nouveau style in 1901.
5. Museum Aan de Stroom
Where is Antwerpen? It is where beautiful buildings, museums, and halls can be found. One of the prime examples is Museum aan de Stroom (MAS). It is one of the main Instagrammable sites in Antwerpen. It bears distinctive architecture, a picturesque view of the city, as well as lots of things to see inside. More than a half-million tourists every year pay a visit to this interesting building and museum. You will find more than 500,000 museum pieces in permanent and temporary collections. When you go to the top, the tenth floor, you will have the joy of watching the city with a 360-degree panorama view.
6. Den Bell Tower
When you travel to Belgium, Antwerpen is the place to go to enjoy beautiful buildings. Another architectural masterpiece of the city is Tower den Bell. This tower was originally erected for a telephone company in 1958. Today this 12-floored tower building hosts the city administration. The exterior of the building is amazing. But most people are amazed by the interior of the building because of its curved stairs.
7. Zurenborg
Most people travel to Brussels since they know that it offers great examples of Art Nouveau architecture. However, some people fail to notice that Antwerpen also has something to say about architecture. One of the most Instagrammable sites with beautiful Art Nouveau architecture in Antwerpen is Zurenborg. Arguably, it is the most beautiful neighbourhood in the city. It is located on the eastern edge of Antwerpen, boasting its Belle Epoque grandeur and charming architecture. You will see a great example of Art Nouveau buildings when you encounter Cogels-Osylei. There are also excellent pubs in the area to enjoy a good drink after exploring Zurenborg.
8. Antwerpen Central Station
Also known as Middenstatie or Spoorwegkathedraal, Antwerpen Central Station is considered to be one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. It was constructed between 1895 and 1905. Its structure is different from most stations in the sense that it is covered by a steel platform on the top. Recently, in 2007, the station was renovated with the addition of a tunnel underneath, allowing trains to turn back. In February 2009, Antwerpen Central Station was chosen as the fourth most beautiful train station on Earth by Newsweek.
9. Vlaeykensgang
One of the most amazing Instagrammable places in Antwerpen is the secret Vlaeykensgang alley. This secret alley dates back to 1591. This beautiful place connects Hoogstraat, Pelgrimstraat & Oude Koornmarkt with each other. If you pass through the gate in Oude Koornmarkt 16, you will get a feeling that someone has thrown you into the Middle Ages. The alley used to be home to poor people, especially shoemakers of Antwerpen. They were also in charge of ringing the cathedral’s alarm bell. Today, the place is famous for antique shops, galleries, and Sir Anthony Van Dijck restaurant.
10. St. Andrew's District
The district used to be called “the Parish of Mysery.” Today, it is one of the favoured places in the city. St. Andrew’s District is home to excellent cafes, bars, culinary crafts, antique shops, etc. One of the most liked Instagram posts in the area are from St. Andrew’s Church. This architectural beauty was built in the 16th century. You may also visit St Anna’s Tunnel (Underpass) via the authentic wooden escalator. The tunnel came into life to help those who wanted to cross the Scheldt River to the left bank. St. Andrew’s District is also an amazing place to do shopping.
11. Theatre District
As you can guess, yes, the district took its name from the fact that it is inhabited by many theatres. The place is home to many actors/actresses, directors, musicians, etc. It is a good idea to visit this district during the daytime as you will get a chance to see many fashion stores, antique shops, and so on. Amazing places to visit in Theatre District are Botanical Garden, the Museum Mayer van den Bergh, and the Maiden’s House Museum.
12. Het Eilandje
Het Eilandje(the Little Island) is another worthy place to visit in Antwerpen. This neighbourhood is located in the northern part of the city. It is called the Little Island because it used to be surrounded by water (streams and ditches). Nowadays, this district is surrounded by the Scheldt River and harbours. It used to be a forgotten area of Antwerpen, but today people go there to enjoy old docks and harbours, as well as attractive buildings. Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) is located in this neighbourhood. There are also excellent bars and restaurants with wide terraces in the area.
A quick recap
Antwerpen is one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium. It is located in the Dutch-speaking Flanders region of the country. Antwerpen is blessed with beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and historical buildings. In this article, I have tried to answer the following questions: Where is Antwerpen? What to do in Antwerpen? I have written about locations and buildings in Antwerpen, from which the most liked Instagram posts are coming. I have highlighted 12 Instagrammable places in Antwerpen that will encourage you to travel to Belgium. These places are Het Zuid, Historic Centre, Nottebohmzaal, the House of the Five Continents, Museum aan de Stroom (MAS), Tower den Bell, Zurenborg, Antwerpen Central Station, Vlaeykensgang, St. Andrew’s District, Theatre District, and Het Eilandje (the Little Island).
