For many hundreds of years, the important trading city of Antwerp and its huge port have been the commercial maritime hub of Belgium. With its excellent air, ferry, rail and road connections with the rest of Europe, the city is becoming equally popular nowadays as a long weekend or short holiday destination for visitors looking for heritage attractions, fun and nightlife, food, drink and unique, comprehensive shopping opportunities.
One thing is for certain during a holiday here – holding to a strict, supposedly healthy diet is all but impossible! As in the rest of this small country, the favourite snacks, obtainable at fritkoten all over the city, are plates of fat, freshly-fried potato chips, smothered in mayonnaise. Other forbidden foods and drink include delicious Belgian cheeses served with strong Belgian beer or wine, and shops offering rich dessert cakes and sweets. The world-famous Belgian chocolate boutiques are set on every street corner and in the main squares, impossible to avoid.
Locals here love to dine out in the evening, with the tasty Flemish traditional dishes served at all price levels from Michelin-starred in the old quarter to backstreet cafes with a faithful local clientele. Belgium, especially the Flanders region, is no exception to the continental rule that dining out is an event rather than a necessity! Antwerp's Old City district has the most eateries, ranging from upscale joints on Oude Beurs, Wiegstraat, Zirkstraat and Oode Koornmarkt, while Chinatown has a grand selection of Asian and Southeast Asian eateries. Trendy t'Suis district has veggie, bistro, Indian and alternative venues as well as traditional restaurants serving rich Flemish dishes,
Antwerp's port area has supported its North Sea fishing industry for hundreds of years, with freshly-caught seafood still one of the all-time favourites on local menus. Mussels feature in many traditional main-course dishes, with the city one of Belgium's notable foodie haunts. Thick fillets of steak served rare or blue are popular, accompanied by two vegetable dishes – no ‘nouveau cuisine' nonsense here – with two courses all most diners can manage due to the generous portions. The city's gourmets consider even the traditional French dishes to be more refined in Antwerp restaurants, and the ancient ‘paling in't groen' (river eel in a parsley sauce) is a rare treat.
Antwerp is a shopaholic's dream, with everything from famous-name international designer boutiques through antiques and stylish home décor galleries and shops to outdoor market selling fashions, bric-a-brac, local foods including a variety of cheeses and a great selection of local crafts. The city's diamond district, near most Antwerp City Centre hotels, is known as the heart of the world trade in both uncut and cut stones and the jewellery here is spectacular/ However, although good prices can be obtained here, online research before arrival if you're planning a purchase is essential, as the tourist outlets on the edge of the district and near the main rail station are best avoided at all costs.
Sill in the range of luxury treats, Antwerp is a good place for antiques, with streets of upscale galleries in the Latin Quarter around the Fashion Museum and south of Groenplatz. The district stretches as far as St Andries, and not all of the treasures displayed are unaffordable! Another option if you're knowledgeable is to beat the dealers at their own game by trawling the antiques sections of the weekend markets very early in the morning. Art Nouveau items are likely to be found here, and the Kloosterstraat area is great for bric-a-brac.
Mainstream shopping is a delight here, with four major malls, commercial art galleries, the décor shops in Chinatown and even second-hand upscale designer clothing stores scattered around, as well as regular weekly speciality markets including antiques, eco-foods, Turkish and Moroccan goods. A traditional Christmas market with all the seasonable trimmings is held in December.
Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Antwerp City Centre Hotels content.
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