Things to Do in Antwerp Belgium 2026: Diamonds, Rubens, Fashion Guide

Top sights

• Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal): UNESCO 1999. 123m tower (Belgium’s tallest). 4 Rubens paintings inside (Raising of the Cross, Descent from the Cross, Resurrection, Assumption). €12.
• Rubens House (Rubenshuis): Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) studio + home. Italian-style mansion, Garden, Self-portrait. €8.
• Grote Markt: main square. Brabo fountain (legend of Roman soldier who threw giant’s hand in Scheldt — “hand werpen” = Antwerpen). Renaissance City Hall. Guild houses (16th-17th century).
• MAS (Museum aan de Stroom): 60m tower museum on city + port heritage. 10 floors, free panoramic roof terrace. €12.
• Het Steen: 13th-century castle. Visitor centre + history. Free outside.
• Plantin-Moretus Museum: UNESCO 2005. Oldest printing press in world (1576). 16th-century house with 2 original presses. €12.
• Antwerp Central Station: 1905, dubbed “Railway Cathedral”. Mercury Magazine voted world’s most beautiful. Free to walk through.
• Royal Museum of Fine Arts (KMSKA): reopened 2022 after 11-year renovation. Flemish primitives, Van Eyck, Memling, Rubens. €20.
• Sint-Pauluskerk: baroque church with Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens paintings. Free.

Diamond District

• 84% world’s rough diamonds: traded in Antwerp. World’s largest diamond hub since 16th century.
• 1 km² area near Central Station: 1,500+ diamond companies. Most secure square mile in Europe.
• Hasidic Jewish + Indian Jain communities: dominate trade. Hebrew + English signage.
• Diamond Bourses (4): trading exchanges. Closed to public.
• Buying diamonds: save 30-50% vs other countries. Only buy with HRD/GIA certification.
• DIVA Museum: diamond + jewellery + silver heritage. €11. Hands-on exhibits.
• Tours: Antwerp Diamonds bookable walking tours.

Antwerp fashion

• “Antwerp Six” (1986 graduation): Royal Academy designers shocked London Fashion Week — Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs, Walter Van Beirendonck, Marina Yee.
• Martin Margiela: seventh Antwerp Six member by association. Avant-garde.
• Raf Simons: later generation Antwerp graduate. Worked at Dior, Calvin Klein, Prada.
• Royal Academy of Fine Arts: founded 1663. Continues producing top designers.
• MoMu (Mode Museum): fashion museum. €12. Reopened 2021.
• Fashion shopping: Het Modepaleis (Dries Van Noten flagship). Nationalestraat + Kammenstraat boutiques.
• Meir: mainstream shopping street. Premium brands.

Food + drink

• Antwerpse Handjes: “little hands” cookies/chocolates — Antwerp city symbol from Brabo legend.
• Frites with mayo: double-fried Belgian style. Frituur No. 1 (since 1948), Frites Atelier.
• Stoofvlees (Vlaamse stoverij): Flemish beef stew slow-cooked in dark beer. Comfort dish.
• Mosselen-friet: mussels with fries. Belgian classic. Late summer-autumn season.
• Bolleke: De Koninck Antwerp local beer. Round glass.
• Belgian beer culture: Trappist (Westmalle, Westvleteren — world’s best). Antwerp + Bruges centres.
• Belgian chocolate: Pierre Marcolini, Neuhaus, Godiva, Del Rey.
• Top restaurants: The Jane** (Sergio Herman, 2 Michelin), ‘t Zilte** (Viki Geunes, fish), Le Fou est Belge.

Neighborhoods

• Oude Stad (Old Town): Grote Markt + Cathedral. Touristy core.
• Het Eilandje: former harbour, now hip — MAS, Red Star Line Museum, restaurants.
• Zuid (South): art galleries, museums KMSKA, restaurants. Bohemian-elegant.
• Diamond District: near Central Station. Best to visit during day.
• Berchem: art deco neighbourhood. Cogels-Osylei street most photographed.
• Sint-Andries (fashion district): Antwerp Six boutiques. Nationalestraat.
• Park Spoor Noord: 24-hectare park on former rail yard. Modern.

Practical info

• Getting there: Antwerpen-Centraal station. From Brussels 35-50 min. From Amsterdam 1h10 IC train.
• Layout: compact + walkable. Most sights within 1 km of centre.
• Public transport: trams + buses. Day pass €7. Free on bicycle paths.
• Best time: April-October. Christmas markets December.
• Antwerp City Card: €27 24h, includes museums + transport. Worth it for 2+ museums.
• Languages: Dutch (Flemish dialect) official. French + English widely spoken in tourism.
• Avoid: Diamond District at night (closed). Antwerpen-Berchem area outside daytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Top 5 things to do in Antwerp?

1. Cathedral of Our Lady (UNESCO + Rubens paintings). 2. Rubens House. 3. Grote Markt + Brabo fountain. 4. Diamond District. 5. MAS Museum panoramic roof. Add Plantin-Moretus (oldest printing press) for 6th.

How long for Antwerp?

2-3 days minimum. Day 1: Cathedral + Rubens House + Grote Markt. Day 2: MAS + Diamond District + Plantin-Moretus. Day 3: Fashion district + Het Eilandje + KMSKA museum.

Antwerp vs Bruges?

Antwerp: bigger, modern, fashion + diamonds + Rubens, port city. Bruges: medieval fairy-tale, smaller, more touristy, canals. Antwerp better for 2-3 days, Bruges for 1-2.

Buy diamonds in Antwerp?

Yes — 84% world’s rough diamonds traded here. Save 30-50% vs other countries. Only buy with HRD or GIA certification. Visit DIVA Museum first to learn.

Why is Antwerp called Antwerpen?

Legend: Roman soldier Brabo defeated giant Druon Antigoon who demanded toll on Scheldt River, cut off giant’s hand and ‘threw’ it (hand werpen). Statue at Grote Markt. Likely older Germanic name ‘aan de werpe’ (on the wharf).

Belgian fashion capital?

Antwerp. The ‘Antwerp Six’ graduated 1986 Royal Academy of Fine Arts and shocked London Fashion Week with avant-garde. Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck still influential.

See also

• Belgium guide

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