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This Is Antwerp #3

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The third edition! “Antwerp is the perfect city if you want to start something cool, young and creative”, says Sebastiaan of VRbeeld, one of the four living examples of how this inspiration colours Antwerp. To show off the city’s spacious parks and vibrant urban culture, we’re taking you on a bike tour to discover and really feel the vibe of the city. Also, this summer, Antwerp is all about contemporary art, and we found the perfecthidden jewels to lift this experience to a higher level. We went on a search for the best burger in town (boy, was that tasty), and listed the coolest markets and urban sports places for you. To top it off, we decided to unravel the coolest on trend shops you probably wouldn’t have found without us. You can thank us later! This Is Antwerp is a guide to discover the city with the benefit of insider knowledge. The magazine and the accompanying app are full of tips from people who know the city, and addresses to help you get the maximum out of your city trip.

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WELCOME TO ANTWERP

INSPIRING ANTWERP

‘MAN WITH DOG’ONLY AT THE MIDDELHEIMMUSEUM

From Saturday May 26th onwards

DISCOVER THE NEWLY RENOVATED MUSEUM

Middelheimmuseum enjoys the generous support of Middelheim Promotors vzw and Ackermans & van Haaren, Allen & Overy, BASF Antwerpen, BNP Paribas Fortis, CMB, Deme, Ernst & Young bedrijfsrevisoren, Gimv, Inno.com, KBC, Leasinvest Real Estate, Sea-invest, Umicore, Vanbreda Risk & Benefi ts

© L

uc

Del

eu,

Orb

ino,

200

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www.middelheimmuseum.be

03 288 33 60

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ANTWERP BY BIKE

INSTANTWERPEN

INSPIRING ANTWERP

BuRGER KING

fREE WIfI

coNTEmPoRARY ART

ANTWERP BY BIKE

oN ThE mARKET

INSTANTWERPEN

SToRES WITh SToRIES

uRBAN SPoRTSPoTS

SlEEP IN STYlE

SToRESWITh SToRIES

BuRGER KING

oN ThE mARKET

uRBAN SPoRTSPoTS

INSPIRING ANTWERP

coNTEmPoRARYART

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This Is Antwerp

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We went on a search for the best burger in

town (boy, was that tasty), and listed the

coolest markets and urban sports places

for you. To top it off, we decided to unravel

the coolest on trend shops you probably

wouldn’t have found without us. You can

thank us later!

This Is Antwerp is a guide to discover the

city with the benefit of insider knowledge.

The magazine and the accompanying app

are full of tips from people who know the

city, and addresses to help you get the

maximum out of your city trip. You can

track most hotspots on the ‘Antwerp by

bike’ map that you find in this magazine.

Don’t wait. Plan your trip now, so you can

experience the spirit of the city yourself.

Cartography

Nick Van Hee

Translation

Alphatrad

Print

Flyer.eu

Depotnumber

D/2012/0306/134

THIS ISANTWERPStylish & confident. Vibrant & cosmopolitan. Heart-warming & relaxed.

Colophon

This magazine is a publication of the city of Antwerp and

Antwerp Tourism & Convention. It was edited with great

care. Antwerp Tourism & Convention cannot be held re-

sponsible for printing errors or changes. No part of this pub-

lication may be used by third parties without prior written

consent of Antwerp Tourism & Convention.

None of the adresses mentioned in this magazine paid for

their mentioning in it any way.

With its countless cultural sights, eye-

catching architecture, and high-fashion

character, the least you can say is that

Antwerp is both an inspirational and aspi-

rational city. “Antwerp is the perfect city if

you want to start something cool, young

and creative”, says Sebastiaan of VRbeeld,

one of the four living examples of how this

inspiration colours Antwerp. To show off

the city’s spacious parks and vibrant urban

culture, we’re taking you on a bike tour to

discover and really feel the vibe of the city.

Also, this summer, Antwerp is all about

contemporary art, and we found the per-

fect hidden jewels to lift this experience to

a higher level.

Publisher

Antwerp Tourism & Convention – Annik Bogaert,

Grote Markt 15, BE2000 Antwerp

Editors in chief

Antwerp Tourism & Convention,

Trendwolves

Design & Illustration

We Make Graphics

Photography

Ellen Goegebuer

Trendwolves

Antwerp Tourism & Convention

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Inspiring AntwerpHotspots: Wijnbostro Patine

leopold De Waelplaats 1, 2000 Antwerp Café Zurich

Verlatstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp Brasserie Nero

leopold De Waelplaats 34, 2000 Antwerp Park Spoor Noord

Grote Markt

and challenging, a combination of aspects

that you can find in my work as well. Our

urban opera performance ‘Is It Love?’

(2010) is a good example. That year I

took the metro next to the impressive

opera house almost every day. I saw it as

a challenge to break down those ‘elitist’

walls and to ensure that our production

could be performed there. Mission

accomplished!”

“The next project that ‘Let’s Go Urban’

has lined up is the ‘Urban culture and

sports hall’ that will open on the 1st of

July. In this indoor city, young people will

be able to engage in urban sports seven

days a week (see page 30). It will be THE

urban spot of the summer”, says Sihame

enthusiastically. “But that is not all: In

August, we perform the show ‘Cinderella,

an urban fairy tale’, 10 times, and on

September 1st, we launch the urban

music project.” It will definitely be a busy

summer for Sihame!

Let’s Go UrbanNobody knows the urban dance scene

in Antwerp better than Sihame El

Kaouakibi (25). In 2009, she founded the

‘Let’s Go Urban’ dance school. Sihame

explains: “this school quickly evolved

into something more”. “Today we have

become an urban culture organisation,

responsive to the needs of many young

people in Antwerp. In the past 1½ years,

I have focused on the development of

several new urban trends such as urban

sports (free running, freestyle basketball,

freestyle football, ...), and urban music

(producing, slam poetry, MC’ing). Young

people are the key aspect of ‘Let’s Go

Urban’: “dance, music and sport are

an expression of their world, here in

Antwerp.”

Sihame explains that she finds the

city inspiring. “For me, space is very

important. Antwerp is dynamic, diverse

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Leon, at Krugerplein in Borgerhout. Each

1st Friday of the month, an illustrator and

a band team up here. The illustrator gets

his or her inspiration for the evening from

the music played live by the band, thus

creating a new work. ‘B A S T A A R D’ is

free and takes place every month until the

end of 2012.

‘IwonderU’ also handles the bookings of

three young Antwerp bands Dóttir Slonza,

Crippled Nerdface and Soldier’s Heart,

and they also provide production support

for a number of events in Antwerp such as

BorgerRio in Borgerhout.

Hotspots: Bar Leon

Reuzenstraat 23, 2140 Borgerhout Cafés at Mechelseplein Zeezicht

Dageraadplaats, 2018 Antwerp Caffènation

mechelsesteenweg 16, 2000 Antwerp Barnini

oude Vaartplaats 10, 2000 Antwerp

IwonderUIn 2012 Marjolijn van Boxel and Margot

Herman founded ‘IwonderU’. Marjolijn

and Margot both studied culture

management at the University of Antwerp

and then decided to continue working in

that sector, no matter how difficult that

may be. They both combine their work for

‘IwonderU’ with another job.

“Two things are important for us”, says

Marjolijn. “First of all, we offer young

bands or musicians opportunities to play

in front of an audience, and secondly we

organise affordable gigs. We therefore

try to stage as many free activities as we

can.”

That’s what happened in December 2011

when they started ‘Donderbar’. Under

this name, every Thursday the two ladies

arrange performances of young, Antwerp

based bands. To complete the evening

they invite two DJs.

In spring of this year, ‘IwonderU’ launched

‘B A S T A A R D’, a new concept in Bar

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preneurs is tough. But Antwerp is THE city to

launch a cool, young and creative agency.”

Sebastiaan tells us that an office at Eilandje

was a very deliberate choice as a location.

“Park Spoor Noord and the proximity of the

water really provide a good vibe.” If we ask

him about his favourite spots in Antwerp, he

comes up with a lot of addresses. Sebastian

notices our surprise when he mentions Turn-

houtsebaan in Borgerhout. “Yes, I know. It

has a pretty bad reputation. But we think

it is the ‘most awesome’ street in Antwerp.

While in some ‘posh’ Antwerp neighbour-

hoods, nothing happens in the evenings,

the whole world is out on the street at the

Turnhoutsebaan. There is always something

going on. that’s what we love.”

Hotspots: Homey

Sint-Paulusplaats 24, 2000 Antwerpen La Terra Sarda

lange Koepoortstraat 32, 2000 Antwerpen Bartilia

falconplein 43, 2000 Antwerpen Trix

Noordersingel 28-30, 2140 Borgerhout Roma

Turhoutsebaan 286, 2140 Borgerhout

VRbeeldSebastiaan, Tom & Nick jointly form VR-

beeld, a design lasercut agency.

VRbeeld not only devises complete

product concepts, they also handle the

actual design and most of the production.

The three partners have a background in

design, architecture, photography and inte-

rior design which gives them a broad-based,

creative approach to product development.

We meet Sebastiaan at the VRbeeld building

at Eilandje. He shows us the office on the

ground floor and takes us down the stairs to

the studio on -1. We notice the furniture in

the office are their own designs. “We think

it’s important that we show our custom-

ers what we are capable of. It is very useful

when you come up with an idea to test it out

downstairs”, says Sebastiaan. “We combine

the finesse of the laser cutter with the rather

sterile, rough edge of our own style. That

combination seems to work. The advantage

of designing and making everything yourself

is that you can continue working on a proto-

type to see that it is just right.”

“We must admit that life for young entre-7

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combination”, says Tina.

‘De Poedelfabriek’ works for a lot of

Antwerp businesses and companies. “I

came to live in Antwerp when I was 17.

I have built a social network here, so it

is perfectly logical for us to do a lot of

projects in Antwerp.”

The name ‘De Poedelfabriek’ (The Poodle

Factory) comes from Tina’s collection

of odds and ends related to poodles,

scattered throughout her house.

Hotspots: Middelheimpark & MiKa

Galleries Nocturnes at Zuid

Caffènation mechelsesteenweg 16, 2000 Antwerp(because Tina used to live above this

coffee bar)

Chez Fred Kloosterstraat 83, 2000 Antwerp(because Fre lives above it)Den Armen Duvel

Schuttershofstraat 46, 2000 Antwerpfor beef stew with fries

De Poedelfabriek‘De Poedelfabriek’ is the name of graphic

design agency of Tina Smedts and Fre

Devriendt. Six years ago, Tina started ‘De

Poedelfabriek’ after a number of jobs at

big advertising agencies. Fre, who went to

school with Tina, started working with her

three years ago. Since last year, they have

formed a small creative agency.

Currently Tina and Fre work virtually. In

their living rooms, they run Skype on their

computers and share their screens. Twice

a week they come together to discuss

their work. In autumn the duo hopes to

rent a small office to facilitate the daily

running of the business.

The designers of ‘De Poedelfabriek’

prefer working for the cultural and

social sector and specialize in printing.

Tina and Fre already worked for a large

number of Belgian magazines. “We

are very complementary. Fre is very

strong in terms of images and I more

into typography. That is a very good

grafische vormgeving

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2. Lombardia:

lombardenvest 78, 2000 Antwerp Open Mon.-Sat.: 08.00-18.00- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

‘Lombardia’ is an established concept in

Antwerp. Not only locals, but also many

international stars like Moby, Sting,

Eliza Doolittle and Sigur Ros have been

served by chef Alain Indria already. With

a healthy mix of fair-trade, gluten-free

and fresh products, he has been running

this business since 1972. In this mega-

kitschy decor with grunting pigs and

walls crammed with writing, where you

can spend hours looking around and still

not have seen everything, he tries to

come up with fast, healthy snacks for his

customers. The burgers on the menu at

Lombardia are not classic burgers, but

are all alternative versions with chicken,

tuna or vegetarian substitutes. Carnivores

should not be put off by this, because

these burgers are definitely worth trying!

1. Burgerij:

Tramplein 2, 2600 Antwerp Open Mon.-Fri.: 12.00-14.30, 18.00-22.00, Sat.-Sun.: 17.00-22.00- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Anyone who refers to ‘Burgerij’ as just the

next hamburger joint ought to be ashamed of

themselves. ‘Burgerij’ has a careful selection

and cooking process, which is what puts it

way ahead of the fast food chains. Björn, who

co-owns the business with Robin, shows us

their innovative cooking process: “we grill

every burger on both sides at the same time,

which means the burger is faster baked, and

it keeps more of its flavour. At ‘Burgerij’,

we find the mix of new technology and old

fashioned quality is the perfect recipe to get

the most out of every hamburger”. The fact

that, besides the business at Tramplein in

Antwerp and the one in Schoten, another

one recently opened near the MAS Museum

tells you a lot. You should definitely try the

“Smoky Bacon’ too; the combination of a

quality beef burger with rashers of bacon,

cheddar and BBQ sauce, is very popular here

in Antwerp.

Burger King Antwerp is a city with a growing hamburger culture. And no, we are definitely not talking about the big hamburger chains. The real burger kings, with some of the best Belgian burgers, are to be found right here in Antwerp. We are serving up some of our top spots for you, because everyone likes to eat hamburgers. And if you are going to do it, then you might as well do it good!

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5. Wattman:

Tramplein 3, 2600 Antwerp Kitchen open Mon.-Fri.: 10.00-15.00, 18.00-22.00, Sat.-Sun.: 10.00-22.00- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Opposite ‘Burgerij’ is ‘Wattman’,

named after the drivers of the early

electric trams, and very appropriate for

a business located at Tramplein. This

eatery, which has the same owners as

‘Burgerij’, is actually the predecessor

of the hamburger restaurant across the

street. ‘Wattman’ only serves one kind of

burger: the Wattburger. This burger was

and still is a huge success in Antwerp,

and that is exactely why Björn and Robin

opened a business specialising entirely

in hamburgers. Yet the Wattburger has

never been outnumbered, and anyone

who wants to taste this almost legendary

burger now knows where to get it!

Wattman also has a large and charming

terrace which is an ideal place to be on a

sunny day.

3. Hamburg:

leopold De Waelplaats 2, 2000 Antwerp Open Mon.-Sun.: 11.00-00.00- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“The way a burger should taste” is the

motto of this restaurant located at Zuid

area. The menu is almost completely

filled with hamburgers. The classic burger

of fresh and crispy fried minced beef is

a real winner, but the alternative with

tuna steak is delicious too. Moreover,

the hamburger buns are supplied by

Dellafaille, a bakery in Antwerp with a

cast-iron reputation. You should try to

get one of the desirable seats on the

terrace overlooking the KMSKA Fine Arts

Museum. Perfect for rounding off a visit

to one of the many museums in this

neighbourhood!

4. Lunchbox:

Nieuwstad 8-10, 2000 Antwerp Open Mon.: 10.00-21.00, Wed.-Sat.: 10.00-22.00, Sun.: 10.00-21.00- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

‘Lunchbox’ is a healthy food cafe, and that

is the image it shows too. You can hardly

miss the fresh green facade as you walk on

Theaterplein. Inside you are surrounded

by trays of fresh fruit as well as red-

checkered tablecloths and other colourful

accessories. Both inside and outside on

the terrace, where you have a nice view

on the skaters on Theaterplein, there is

usually a pleasant bustle. The burgers on

the menu are as vivid as the people and

the interior decor: a Mega Lamb Burger,

Chicken Steak with pineapple, or the

surprising veggieburger with jalapeño,

just to mention the best! Owner Jan also

tells us that during the summer months

a special Antwerp burger will be on the

menu: ‘Lange Wapper ‘, named after the

world-famous Antwerp legend.

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1. Bar Leon One of the hippest bars in the upcoming

neighbourhood Borgerhout.

Reuzenstraat 23, 2140 Borgerhout

2. Berlin Whether you’re alone, with friends or on a

date, this café is the perfect place to hang

around for hours!

Kleine markt 1, 2000 Antwerp

3. Yellow Submarine This coffee bar also houses an advertising

agency, so don’t be surprised if you walk

in and find yourself surrounded by desks!

falconplein 51, 2000 Antwerp

4. Storm You want to find out more about the art

you’ve seen in the MAS? Have a drink at

museum café Storm and surf the net!

hanzestedenplaats 5, 2000 Antwerp

More free wifi: 8. Café den Draak Draakplaats 1, 2018 Antwerp 9. Permeke De coninckplein 26, 2060 Antwerp 10. Revista Karel Rogierstraat 47, 2000 Antwerp 11. Caffènation mechelsesteenweg 16, 2000 Antwerp 12. De Muze melkmarkt 15, 2000 Antwerp 13. De Vagant Reyndersstraat 25, 2000 Antwerp 14. De Kleine Hedonist Sint-Jacobsmarkt 34, 2000 Antwerp 15. Normo Coffee minderbroedersrui 30, 2000 Antwerp 16. Vitrin marnixplaats 12, 2000 Antwerp 17. Lombardia lombardenvest 78, 2000 Antwerp 18. Zeppelin Damplein 13, 2060 Antwerp

5. Coffee & Vinyl This concept store combines a coffee bar

with a record store and an art gallery.

Volkstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp

6. Caravan Eating house nearby Park Spoor Noord,

where you can eat great homemade food

or order a picnic basket to enjoy in the

park (see page 21). Try the ‘koppijnont-

bijt’ (headache breakfast), a breakfast

that comes with a beer or water with an

aspirin.

Damplein 17, 2060 Antwerp

7. Kolonel Koffie A brand new coffee bar owned by a very

charming barista, named Kobe, who is

absolutely fascinated by latte art. If you

want to suck up to him, try compliment-

ing him on the furniture, he made a great

deal of it himself!

Grote Pieter Potstraat 38, 2000 Antwerp

Free wifi

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Contemporary ArtNot only is Antwerp the city where contemporary art is being created , the city also hosts a lot of contemporary collections. Upcoming summer this art scene will be bubbling with life in Antwerp. The city invites big interna-tional names and young talent, both in museums and in a large number of surprising places. Artists like Jan Fabre, photographer Santu Mofokeng, Ai Weiwei and the always interesting exhibitions in the M HKA and FotoMuseum are just a few reasons to seek out the cream of the crop of contemporary art in Antwerp. At the counter of the Antwerp tourism office and at cultural venues in the city, you’ll find a handy leaflet about a summer packed with contemporary art in Antwerp. Besides some important exhibitions, we will tell you how to find some hidden contemporary art in the city. You can find more info on www.visitantwerpen.be

MiddelheimAt the end of May, the renovated Antwerp

Middelheim Museum held its official

opening. The Middelheim, which exhibits

over 400 works of art, is the largest

outdoor museum in Antwerp. You can

spend hours in the large park and enjoy the

sculptural art around the place.

Until the 23rd of September, for the

first time in Antwerp, in the park shed

of Park Spoor Noord, you can see the

world famous Pietas by Jan Fabre. These 5

marble sculptures, which recently aroused

controversy at the Venice Biennale, are not

classic pietas, but unique interpretations

by this Antwerp artist. Definitely worth

seeing.

You can admire a selection of more than

200 photos reflecting 30 years’ work by

Santu Mofokeng, until the 29th of July at

the Extra City art hall. Besides the photos

by Mofokeng, one of the most influential

South African photographers, you are able

to see letters and background material,

giving you greater insight into the work of

this photographer.

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Middelheim Museum middelheimlaan 61, 2020 AntwerpOpen Jun/Jul: 10:00-21:00, Aug.:10:00-20:00, Sept.: 10:00-19:00

Jan Fabre’s Pietas Damplein 31-37, 2060 AntwerpOpen Tue-Sun: 10:00-18:00

Extra City Tulpstraat 79, 2060 AntwerpWed-Sun: 14:00-19:00. Thurs: 14:00-20:00

Hidden contemporary artAntwerp attracts contemporary art,

which you can tell from the many

places where art is strikingly or subtly

present. Not only in major museums

and galleries, but also in small galleries,

cafes, shops and in Antwerp’s streets,

contemporary art sets the mood.

Bar Nadar is a shining example of a

place where contemporary art takes

pride of place, but is not a museum or

gallery. This bar has an exhibition area,

mainly hosting photographic exhibitions,

but other art is also presented. The

works are often on sale at affordable

prices. Concepts where art and café

merge can be found in many other

places in Antwerp, such as Bar Leon in

Borgerhout.

At Bar leon, every first Friday of the

month IwonderU (see page 6) organises

‘B A S T A A R D’ where an illustrator is

inspired to draw a story by a musician

playing live. Nobody knows in advance

where this improvisation will lead to. All

you know beforehand is that you will be

surprised.

Sketch ThursdayIn Bar Samedi, a mysterious restaurant

in the Vrièrestraat where Voodoo

meets Frankenstein, on every last

Thursday of the month during the

‘Sketch’ event, illustrators and

cartoonists take up the challenge of

sketching live to the sounds and beats

of local DJs. The creations of these live

performances are subsequently sold to

the attendees. The perfect opportunity

to snap up some cool work by local

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talent created in a special setting at

affordable prices.

Judelovesyou, a small concept store,

offers both local and foreign artists an

original location to temporarily exhibit

work. If you wander around the shop

filled with home-made jewellery and

Japanese curiosities, you will find the

charming exhibition space out back. The

Roy Lichtenstein-inspired pop art by artist

DRTY HANZ (UK) decorates the walls of

this area with black polka dotted murals

during summer.

Among the small galleries, Bries Space

is certainly one that is worth visiting. In

this independent ‘creative living room’,

artists exhibit their latest creations. There

is a new exhibition each month, that

you can visit at will during the opening

weekend, thereafter by arrangement.

With a well-filled summer program with

exhibitions by Porto-based Rui Vitorino dos

Santos (6/07-19/08), the Antwerp graphic

collective Studio Fluit (24/08-7/10) and

Berlin illustrator Atak (12/10 - 11/11),

Bries Space will definitely be playing the

contemporary art card.

At Zuid neighbourhood, in the

Verlatstraat, you find the Tim Van laere Gallery, a popular gallery with quirky

collections. Self-made man Tim Van Laere

opened this gallery 15 years ago at the

age of 27. Due to his strong choices and

open minded attitude, this gallery got an

international reputation.

Base Alpha Gallery, one of Antwerp’s

newest galleries, is run by Bart

Vanderbiesen. Artists who exhibit

here portray the world as they see it.

Bart did not choose the preppy Zuid,

but decided to open his gallery in

Borgerhout, deliberately opting for

the less commercial art circuit.

Bars, shops and little galleries,

contemporary art is omnipresent in

Antwerp. Don’t let our list of favourites

stop you exploring our city of art on

yourself!

Bar Nadar Ernest Van Dijckkaai 19-20, 2000 Antwerp Bar Leon Reuzenstraat 23, 2000 Antwerp Bar SamediVrièrestraat 57-59, 2000 AntwerpJudeLovesYou Steenhouwersvest 13, 2000 Antwerp The Bries Space lange Scholiersstraat 10, 2000 Antwerp Tim Van Laere Gallery Verlatstraat 23-25, 2000 Antwerp Base Alpha Gallery Kattenberg 12, 2140 Borgerhout

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Antwerp by bikeWhat better way to discover the creative vibe of Antwerp than by bicycle? Take your backpack, jump on your Velo or rented bike, and enjoy this urban cycling adventure. Along the way we pass several shops where you can buy a tasty picnic.

How do I rent a city bike?• Register on www.velo-antwerpen.be for a day

or a week pass with your credit card. Keep your

password and username with you, you’ll need

them to hire a bike from the Velo docking stations.

• You can also register offline at the Velo

customer service in the Central Station (next to

the Spar supermarket).

How much does it cost? Day pass: €3 Week pass: €7 With this card you can take a Velo and use it for

half an hour. If you use the Velo longer than 30

minutes, you will gradually pay extra, so switch

bikes on time. And know that you have to wait 5

minutes before you can take a new bike.

Useful apps to tell you where to find Velo docking

stations and available bicycles: VilloHelper

(Android), Mijn Velo (Android) & VeloPhone

(iPhone).

caution:• You need a credit card to buy a Velo Pass!

• On registration, a deposit of €150 is pre-

authorised on your account. If you return your bike

to a Velo station, this amount is released.

• Be aware that you can’t leave your Velo on the

street to go shopping!

• Watch out if you put your backpack on the luggage

rack. Take them off the bike before putting them

back in the station, or your backpack will be stuck.

• Pay attention to traffic signs. In one-way streets

you have to step of your bike.

Normal bike rentalYou can also rent a bike from ‘Freewieler’ at

Steenplein (near the public toilets), for a daily

rate of €15 (€12 for students).

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fietstocht

Off we go:While Brabo is waving at us from Grote markt 1 , we start our urban cycle tour. Just around the corner we find a Velo docking station where we pick up one of the city’s rental bikes.

Along Kaasrui and Lange Koepoortstraat, we ride to ImS 2 , the International Magazine Store on Melkmarkt. Here you can find reading material for a relax-ing break later on. Via Groenplaats, we turn right into Reyndersstraat where the window display of momade cupcakes 3 grabs our attention. There is no way to resist Mohammed’s colourful freshly baked cupcakes. The perfect dessert for this afternoon!

Back on our bikes, right opposite Momade Cupcakes we ride into Leeuwenstraat and in next to no time we are at Vrijdagmarkt

4 . Every Friday morning, old furniture and household effects are auctioned here. (see page 22-23)

Nostalgia and hip are just a stone’s throw from each other here. Head down Kam-menstraat 5 and from there to

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Along the way you undoubtedly see young families with their carrier bicycles, the symbol of Zurenborg’s district, where the ‘champagne socialists’, the young, well-heeled left-wing families live. Come back here at night, to see the square under the artificial starry sky and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

We continue our journey via Draakstraat to Tramplein 14 . On the corner of Cogels Osylei, you will immediately see two of our hamburger favourites, burger restau-rant Burgerij 15 & Wattman 16 . Meanwhile it is time to switch bikes!

If you can resist the temptation of a tasty burger, then continue cycling up cogels osylei 17 . Be careful! Cobblestones and tramlines make this a dangerous part of the cycle route. We push the bikes here, which actually gives us more time to enjoy this turn-of-the century architecture.

Zuid:From Cogels Osylei, we ride along the Guldenvliesstraat to Boomgaardstraat. This long winding road leads us directly to Koning Albert park 18 , where there is

mechelseplein 6 with its many fine pavement cafes. Here we park our Velo in the rack, and continue our journey by foot.

Passing the large brown door of Elzenveld 7 , a former hospital, we exchange the

bustle of Mechelseplein for tranquillity. A little further on the left, we find Antwerp’s Botanical garden 8 , once the herb garden of the adjacent Elizabeth Hospital (open Mon-Sat: 08.00-18.00). It was unreasonable to expect to carry around a delicious cup cake without eating it. Alas, no more dessert for this afternoon.

We walk from Leopoldstraat to Arenberg-straat and arrive at Theaterplein 9 where you will see the city’s large theatres. The half-covered square is the hangout for skaters and boarders. Definitely worth spending a bit of time. On Saturday, an exotic market takes place here, where you can stock up for your picnic. We walk past lunchbox 10 , a healthy food cafe, to the Velo docking station, to continue our bike tour.

Zurenborg:A big road through Antwerp, Frankrijklei, separates Theaterplein from Antwerp’s municipal park 11 . It is well worth taking a look. As soon as the sun pops out, athletes and sunbathers take over the park from the walkers.

We ride through the park, and cross Quinten Matsijslei to the Lange Kiev-itstraat, which brings us to Antwerp’s Jewish quarter 12 . We get off at the ‘Heimische bakkerij’, a Jewish bakery where they gladly let us taste their wares. Delicious and perfect for our picnic!

From here, in Lange Kievitstraat, you can take a stroll through Park Spoor Noord and Borgerhout. You will find the directions on page 21.

If you prefer the short route, ride down Lange Kievitstraat under the railway line and turn right into Van Immerseelstraat. Turn left at Somerstraat and continue along Bleekhofstraat. Turn right into Montensstraat, and via Nottebohmstraat, we get at Dageraadplaats 13 .

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always something going on. At the end of Boomgaardstraat at Mechelsesteenweg, you cycle past the De Koninck brewery 19 where they brew the ‘Bolleke’, THE Ant-werp beer par excellence. Beer lovers take a moment to get off their bike here. From here we cycle to Zuid, the most trendy and artistic neighbourhood of Antwerp. Please refer to the detailed map.

If you ride down Bouwmeesterstraat, you’ll see the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. The KmSKA 20 is the landmark of this neighbourhood. In addition to numerous galleries, you’ll find plenty of trendy bars and restaurants in this area. The steps of this museum are known as THE hangout for young, hip people. Return your bike to the Velo docking station next to the museum, take a seat on the steps and enjoy the Antwerp city life happening in front of you.

Continuing our tour we go to Gedempte Zuiderdokken, a large open square which is basically a car park. Since we are starving again, we take a little break at fruxino 21 , a trendy fruit and vegetable shop where you can buy smoothies and

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sandwiches. We compose our own salad: a little extra for the picnic that we bought earlier this day.

After crossing the vast square, we pass m hKA 22 , the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp, feeling a cool breeze of the River Scheldt. We turn right and ride along the Scheldt to Sint-Jansvliet 23 , where you can shoot a basketball with some of the locals.

If you are still going strong, you can insert a 7.5 km loop at this point, to take in the port area, which is a great place for a picnic. The directions can be found on page 21.

Before continuing our journey, we briefly visit De Krak 24 in Hoogstraat where you can find the weirdest things to buy for next to nothing. For three euro, you can buy a bedsheet, a frisbee and a football to make your picnic complete.

Then we ride back to Sint-Jansvliet, to put our bikes back in the Velo docking station, and walk through the Voetgangerstunnel (Pedestrian Tunnel) 25 under the river to linkeroever 26 . This walk under the

River Scheldt is a great experience, not to mention the amazing view on the city from the other side of the Scheldt. If you didn’t take a lunchbreak during one of the tour loops, this should definitely be your picnic spot!

Loop 1 Park Spoor Noord:We promise, you will certainly not regret making this loop! In Lange Kievitstraat, we immediately turn to the left in Lange Herentalsestraat. We cross Frankrijklei and ride towards ossenmarkt 27 , the beating heart of the student neighbourhood in Antwerp. On this square you find students everywhere: on benches, at pavement cafes, in pubs and sitting on the ground!

We pass through Sint- Jansplein, another basketball court. At least, when there is no event or market going on (market every Wednesday and Friday). Park Spoor Noord 28 is our next stop. In this large park, people play sports, sunbathe, eat, drink, socialize, ... In short, a real hotspot in Antwerp.

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It is certainly worth cycling to Damplein. We play our last basketball game of the tour and enjoy a homemade ice stick at Zeppelin 29 or meatballs with cherries, a typical Belgian dish at caravan 30 . If you feel like coming back to hang out in the park tomorrow, you can reserve a picnic basket at Caravan.

Via Halenstraat and Pothoekstraat, we get into the melting pot of Antwerp: Borgerhout. If you like an eclectic mix of cultures, smells and colours, then this is definitely the place to be for you!

We soon arrive at Krugerplein 31 , which was recently renovated and now attracts young families. Here we find Bar leon 32

, a very cosy bar that serves delicious coffee and selfmade lemonades. They also organize loads of activities and are always up to date with the nightlife agenda. Of course you should also check the agenda on the This Is Antwerp app.

Via Cronjéstraat we ride through Kattenberg, where ABhostel 33 and the Plaza Real 34 bar liven the place up, and eventually arrive at Laar. If you’re lucky,

the terrace of the brand new hotspot Staminee ‘t laar 35 in the shadow of the imposing church building will be open.

Lammekensstraat and Kerkstraat lead us across Borgerhout. Before we return to Lange Kievitstraat, we ride through Giraffenplein 36 . You are bound to understand why it’s called like this once you see the long necks of the giraffes towering above the wall of Antwerp Zoo. Further down Ploegstraat, you may hear more animal noises coming from behind the wall!

Loop 2 Port area:This additional route takes you to the north of Antwerp. You will be amazed by the beautiful nature of this site of the city! Before you begin this loop, it’s advisable to change bikes again at the pedestrian tunnel. It will take you a while to walk through.

Along the Scheldt, on the quayside, we ride past the Vlot 37 ; it’s literally a wooden raft floating on the water, where young people enjoy the Scheldt breeze on warm days. On the left, we have het

Steen 38 , the medieval fortress on the banks of the Scheldt.

After 5 minutes of cycling, we see the imposing mAS 39 (Museum on the Scheldt) on the right. We put our Velo back in the Velo docking station outside the MAS, and are free to enjoy the mag-nificent panorama from the roof of the museum.

Heading back towards the Scheldt, we continue our route further north. From the slightly busier Rijnkaai, we ride to the lock Kattendijksluis 40 . Via Sloepenstraat, we arrive at the charming Royerssluis 41

With a little luck you may see a seagoing vessel entering the lock. Already the pace is clearly slower than in the city centre!

Once you have crossed the lock, you turn left into Noordkasteel 42 and you can enjoy unspoilt nature and spectacular views of the city and its river. This really is the perfect place for your picnic. Careful: don’t ride too far. Make sure you turn back before the T-fork. Turn back to the Royerssluis and follow the same route

back to Sint-Jansvliet.

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Boekenplein/Book Square

De Coninckplein 15/07, 19/08, 16/09 & 21/10 - 10.00 to 16.00This market is completely dedicated to

literature. Books and comic strips are sold

here at bargain prices! There are also

booths selling food and drinks and the

atmosphere is very pleasant. Have you

found the perfect book? Dive immediately

into it at the reading café Kubus, which

exceptionally stays open until 17.00.

Occasional markets

Lambermontmartre/Musée:

Leopold De Waelplaats 29/07, 26/08 & 30/09 - 12.00 to 17.00Lambermontmartre/Musée really looks

like a little bit of Paris at the foot of the

KMSKA, Antwerp’s Fine Arts Museum.

Painters, photographers, graphic artists

and many other artists sell their work

here. The atmosphere is great: there is a

bar, live music, many terraces where you

can watch people and art, in short: worth

visiting on a delightful summer day!

Market of Tomorrow:

Kloosterstraat 08/07, 12/08 & 09/09 - 12.00 to 18.00 Several times a year, the square in

Kloosterstraat is the backdrop for a market

brimming with fun and original gadgets.

Here you will find jewellery, clothing,

interior and graphic design created by

designers who are just starting up a small

business. You can also enjoy live music or

a drink in the Bar Of Tomorrow.

Flea market at Dageraadplaats:

Dageraadplaats 15/07 & 02/09 - 09.00 to 18.00Dageraadplaats is one of the nicest

squares in Antwerp, and when the annual

flea markets take place there, it’s totally

awesome! The terraces around the square

are completely filled with people and the

square itself is occupied by stalls selling

clothing, furniture, decoration, etc..

De BePARKte Oplage:

Park Spoor Noord (in the shelter) 26/08, 23/09 & 16/12 - 12.00 to 18.00This market is also a refuge for creative

types! Here you will only find limited

editions. Everything you find here is home-

made. If you are looking for an original

accessory, garment or decorative work of

art, then you’ve come to the right place!

On the market

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Bioplein

Falconplein Every Sunday - 08.00 to 16.00Need some vitamins? Here you find fresh,

organic and biological products.

Permanent markets

Exotic market

Oude Vaartplaats (and around) Every Saturday - 08.00 to 16.00This market is a real feast! Here you can

buy food and specialities from all overthe

world. Also local products are being sold

here.

Bird Market

Oude Vaartplaats (and around) Every Sunday - 08.00 to 14.00 (13.00 during winter)This is the most popular market in

Antwerp. It’s a mixed market where you

can find all sorts of things: food, flowers,

hamsters and rabbits, fabrics, …

Friday Market

Every Friday - 09.00 to 13.00If you want to experience a spectacular

Antwerp Market, you should definitely

visit the Friday Market. Here, old furniture

and new bankrupt stock is auctioned off.

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Instantwerpenwww.instantwerpen.be

A diverse online collection of instagram photos - made in Antwerp - both for born- and - bred Antwerp citi-zens, incomers and visitors landscapes, still- lifes and portraits

- touching, funny, poetic, romantic, artistic, idyllic, aesthetic, serious or they may be a bit idiosyncratic

- hash tag #instantwerpen- This is Instantwerpen.be

Creator and driving force behind

instantwerpen.be is 26 year- old Jimmy

Cappaert, who resides, works and lives life

to the fullest in Antwerp. The city is his

home, his pride and his passion and THE

reason for starting up instantwerpen.be a

while ago. New pictures of the city appear

on the site daily. Initially, they only came

from Jimmy and some of his friends but

now they are also uploaded by anyone

who likes the idea of having their pictures

of Antwerp on the site.

“Antwerp is so multi- faceted. Due to its

many diverse neighbourhoods, everyone

finds a place where you feel at home.”

says Jimmy. Moreover, there are so many

great restaurants and bars that even

locals have their hands full discovering

everything. Instantwerpen keeps its finger

on the pulse of the city and often reveals

hidden gems.

Mark your Instagram photos with

#instantwerpen and see them appear on

instantwerpen.be.

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Young and ambitiousWe begin our journey in

Steenhouwersvest. In this small cobbled

street you find an equally small store

The Public Image . The ‘larger than life’

and definitely Antwerp-born lady inside

greets us with a broad smile. Nele Moens,

who owns this trendy shop with her

boyfriend Jeroen, is one of the youngest

female entrepreneurs in this city. Nele’s

eyes shine with pride when we start

talking about her shop, which is her

own story. Antwerp’s talented graphic

designers and illustrators are scrutinised

by Nele, and the designs she chooses are

printed on T-shirts by Jeroen. These are

sold alongside other collections in

The Public Image. At the beginning of this

summer The Public Image is moving. “We

are so excited about our new store. There

really is a wow-factor”, says Nele as she

talks about The Public Image’s big move.

Taken out of the bar“My God, look at those Nikes. And those!

We have to go in”, we hear two girls call

Stores with storiesFashion is still one of Antwerp’s greatest assets. There is definitely no shortage of large chain stores in the famous shopping streets. We went out looking for a few smaller shops that are at least equally worth it. Make sure you visit one of these unique stores.

“With all our new shirts and new collections coming in, there is just not enough space here. Together with the guests of VRbeeld, who will also be exhibiting their work there, we will

be making it into something fantastic”

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out almost ecstatically when we see the

window at Vier . Vier is a concept store

exclusively for men, but the fact that even

women are lured inside by the window

display which is very masculine, fixerati

bike included, proves the appeal of the

collection they have.

The idea for Vier came up over a glass of

beer. Giancarlo and Bob then brought

their concept to the Kammenstraat. The

belief that Antwerp men typically mix all

kinds of styles, resulting in the diverse

range at this small concept store: street,

urban, casual and chic. “Even men who

are imbued with urban culture and totally

into streetwear, still need a well-cut

jacket”. Famous and lesser-known brands

hang alongside vintage items here, and

due the small space, the collections

change completely with the season. Don’t

forget to visit the basement, and ask for

the cool ‘Vier’-branded beanies!

On trend, out of experienceAnother store that is entitled to be

proud of its own branded clothing,

in this case button-down shirts, is

skateshop Lockwood on Ijzerenwaag.

The store takes its name from one

of the world’s most influential skate

spots, Lockwood Schoolyard. Lockwood,

like the owner Sven Aerts, is kind of a

legend in Antwerp. Sven is one of the

oldest skaters in Antwerp. In the mid-

’90s he had the ambition to become a

professional skateboarder and used his

years of experience on the deck to offer

the best products and brands in his shop.

Besides decks with cool prints and a

mass of skate clothing, Lockwood is also

home to a sneakerwall with a number of

exclusive items. Avenue , Lockwood’s

little sister, is an offshoot of the skate.

You could describe the store as the perfect

combination of skate and street but chic.

And you don’t have to walk far either,

Avenue is the quirky girl next door.

Yet more underground sneaker culture

can be found on Kipdorpvest. Here

runs Mohamed Azhir or just plain “Mo”

“My God, look at those Nikes. And those! We have to go in”

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ago the owner had to file for bankruptcy,

but she soon started on a comeback. So

nobody needs telling that this Dutch-born

Antwerp lady is a tough cookie. In her

boutique, she mixes colourful, bold and

daring stuff in all kinds of price categories.

The collections are less street, but more

edgy chic. Monique innovates in her own

way: you can hire her shops for a VIP

evening, where you can enjoy the store,

have style advice and drink cava with a

group of girlfriends.

Perfectly designed storiesAnother shop where young designers tell

their story is 100gr design , on the ground

floor of Design Center De Winkelhaak.

Since 2007 100gr design has lowered the

threshold for both vintage and modern

design that comes straight from the

designers. Here they don’t have permanent

collections! Nice detail: if you are short of

ideas for a gift, you can just e-mail your

budget, and the characteristics of the

fortunate recipient to [email protected],

they will send you a great proposal based

on their range! Just next to this shop is a

co-working space ‘bar d’office’, ideal for

starting work in this creative environment.

his own urban street fashion store:

Lux Streetfashion. Mo’ knows the

underground scene in Antwerp better than

most. As a former professional basketball

player for the Antwerp Giants, he can

also offer the ideal advice to anyone who

wants to buy (basketball) sneakers. He

keeps you informed about all his exclusive

items through his facebook page . His wall

with caps in the store is impressive, an

opinion shared by rapper Fat Joe, who paid

Mo a visit.

The comeback kid Monique Stam is a well known shop

Antwerp’s Kammenstraat. Three years

Across the street, you will find Atelier Solarshop , a creative platform for

designers, artists and other creatives. This

former solar panel shop is now the setting

for a variety of pop-up shops or galleries.

Their blog (www.ateliersolarshop.blogspot.

com) makes sure you keep track of any

pop-up stores that are on the way, and that

have been checked out. There was recently

a shop with vintage baby items and an

8-day-long vintage furniture store.

The Public Image Wijngaardstraat 17, 2000 Antwerpen Vier Kammenstraat 66, 2000 Antwerpen Lockwood Ijzerenwaag 3-5, 2000 Antwerpen Avenue IJzerenwaag 1, 2000 Antwerpen Lux Streetfashion Kipdorpvest 36, 2000 Antwerpen Monique Stam Kammenstraat 54, 2000 Antwerpen 100gr Design lange Winkelhaakstraat 262060 Antwerpen Atelier Solarshop Dambruggestraat 48, 2060 Antwerpen

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Urban sports Urban culture & sports hall

minckelersstraat, 2018 Antwerp The summer of 2012 will be dedicated to

urban sports. ‘De Zomer van Antwerpen/

Summer in Antwerp’ and ‘Let’s go Urban’

by Sihame el Kaouakibi (see page 5) are

teaming up. In a pimped shed behind the

old Antwerp-East railway station, they will

be launching their ‘urban culture & sports

hall’ project on 1 July.

Young urbanites are invited to do

something sporty there 7 days a week.

Whether you want to try freerunning or

freestyle basketball or soccer, ‘urban’

culture and sport blend seamlessly into

each other here.

No worries if you are not very sporty,

spectators are welcome too in the old

station shed!

Urban SportspotsIn the summertime, everyone is just itching to get some exercise. So why not get your trip to Antwerp off to a sporting start? We take you to real urban sport spots where the locals enjoy themselves and keep fit at the same time.

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place to get some exercise and then chill

at one of the terrace cafés.

The most unique and surprising basketball

court is in the Willibrordusplein in the

multicultural Borgerhout district. In the

shadow of the imposing Sint-Willibrordus

Church, we stumble across a fine square,

where the court is a large mosaic.

What else?!Joggers will also feel at home in Antwerp.

The Scheldekaai gives you a very

stimulating place to jog at sunset, to say

the least.

Another prime sporting location is the

Park Spoor Noord where joggers, table

tennis players, volleyball players, skaters,

footballers and Frisbee players can spend

hours.

On the frans halsplein, groups of young

people often play football on the Sint-

Jacobsmarkt. Ask if you can kick around

with them.

Shootin’ a hoopThink ‘street sport’, and basketball

immediately pops up in your mind.

Antwerp also has numerous basketball

courts where locals hang out. Stop at one

of the courts and have a game.

Probably the most famous basketball

court in Antwerp is the one at the

Sint-Jansvliet. This court is surrounded

by cafés and little restaurants and is

located just outside the entrance to the

pedestrian tunnel. This lively square in

the historic heart of the city and near the

River Scheldt, is the ideal base for a brief

sports interlude during your trip.

Just outside Antwerp’s Permeke Library

at De Coninckplein we find another

basketball court. This is a lively, bustling

place, and while you are shooting baskets,

the tram hurries past.

Just a short distance away from Park Spoor

Noord lies the Damplein with a basketball

court in the middle. This square, which

has traffic restrictions for cars, is the ideal

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surrounding, then you may be persuaded to

visit the bathhouse or hammam in the same

complex. Even when the weather is not that

great, this is definitely recommended!

Hippie - Swimming Lake Boekenberg Zwemvijver Boekenberg

Van Baurscheitlaan, 2100 Antwerp (Deurne)Entrance: free This ecological swimming lake just outside

Antwerp in Deurne has been attracting large

numbers of swimmers every summer since

2007. No chlorine or other chemicals here:

over 22,000 plants keep the water clean

in a natural way. A wonderful alternative

for those who want to take a relaxed swim

surrounded by nature. You will find both a

large and a small pool, and of course a large

lawn where you can relax, far away from

the bustle of the city.

Fresh - Swimming pool in the River Scheldt Boat in the Scheldt

2000 Antwerp Entrance: €4 For the first time ever, you will get the

chance in Antwerp to swim in the Scheldt ...

or almost! In August, a floating pool moors

alongside the Island. On the Oostkaai of the

Kattendijkdok, starting in August you can

take a dip in this environmentally-friendly

river pool. It’s worth bearing this in mind,

because innumerable other events will be

taking place here.

Retro - Swimming pool in Veldstraat Sportoase Veldstraat

Veldstraat 83, 2060 Antwerp Entrance: €3 This indoor pool, built in 1933 entirely in

Art Déco style, is a unique architectural

masterpiece. The pool is a listed building,

with beautiful glasswork. If swimming

is not your thing, despite the fantastic

When there is hot sun beating down on Antwerp, and ice creams and ice-cold drinks can’t cool you down, there is still one solution: a nice cool dip. We suggest four great places to swim in and around Antwerp. They certainly will keep you cool.

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Oldskool - Outdoor swimming pool “De Molen” Openluchtzwembad De Molen

Wandeldijk 40, 2050 Antwerp (linkeroever) Entrance: €2 On the Linkeroever, next to the Sint-

Anneke beach, you will find the ‘De Molen’

swimming pool. From May to September

you can enjoy a splash in the 50-meter

pool. The popular atmosphere and a hint

of nostalgia are never far away, not even

on the green sunbathing lawns around the

swimming pool overlooking the Scheldt. On

hot summer days, it can be very busy here.

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Scoutel international atmosphereOnly a few minutes walking distance from

Antwerp central station, you will find

the Scoutel, the official youth stay of the

Scouts and Guides Association of Flanders.

The colorful facade of Scoutel is the work

of the artist Richard Woods and you will

recognize it from a far distance.

Besides the typical dorms, Scoutel offers

backpackers single rooms, each with their

own bathroom and wifi included.

Prices - including sheets and breakfast -

are between 21,50 euro (for a bed in one

of the dorms) and 31,30 euro (for a single

room) per night. This also includes the

one of a kind international atmosphere

with scouts from all over the world.

Stoomstraat 3 -7, 2018 Antwerp +32 (0)3 226 46 06 www.scoutel.be

Pulcinella formerly known as Youth Hostel AntwerpThe famous Belgian architect Vincent van

Duysen built a super-cool youth hostel in

the heart of the Antwerp fashion district.

It combines openness with a sense of

security in a modern design. Pulcinella

has an interior that few design hotels can

match. It is still very new - the hostel only

opened its doors in May 2011. The prices

– including sheets and breakfast – are

between € 19.50 and € 26.50. Surprisingly

low for such a peach of design. The rooms

for two, four or six each have their own

bathroom.

Bogaardeplein 1, 2000 Antwerp +32 (0)3 234 03 14 www.vjh.be

ABHostel backpackers for backpackersTucked away behind the walls of a 120

year-old chocolate factory is Antwerp

Backpackers Hostel, a small-scale initiative

by Bridget. The operator - herself a born

traveller - aims to enable her guests to

sample a homely, hearty atmosphere.

Starting at 19 euro, you have a bed,

and can make use of free Internet, DVDs

and lockers. The hostel has an extensive

lounge and a completely fitted kitchen.

ABHostel is ideal for night-owls, as you

can eat breakfast at any time of day. The

hostel is in Borgerhout, one of the most

colourful districts of Antwerp.

Kattenberg 110, 2140 Antwerp +32 (0) 473 57 01 66www.abhostel.com

Sleep in styleAbout cool boutique hotels, comfy youth hostels and hospitable locals.

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...............................................................................................

Offline?The app will help you find

free wifi spoTs. you only need an inTerneT

connecTion To download updaTes,

geT direcTions or waTch videos.

all The resT is as offline as can be.

THIS IS ANTWERP: For your SmartphonE Antwerp is all about trends. What’s hot today, may be gone tomorrow. Sure you wouldn’t want to miss the numerous pop-up bars and shops. That’s why we made the THIS IS ANTWERP app for IPHONE and ANDROID, which keeps you updated about what is hot and happening. Totally local and totally free.

hotSpotS Eat, drink, shop, party, relax and act like a local. Wherever you are in Antwerp, we can show you all the HIDDEN SEcRETS in your neighbourhood or broader area, offline. Complete and up-to-date information in the palm of your hand: opening hours, tram stops, telephone numbers, … Download it or you’ll miss the hottest parts of Antwerp!

agEnda What is happening right here, right now? The agenda keeps you informed about what is going on today, tomorrow or next week. From parties to expositions, from live music to events, …

localS Meet the Antwerp locals who are sharing all their secrets with you.

community Read and make suggestions, get a date or say hello to your fellow visitors and the locals. A Foursquare plug-in tells you where to find the trending places.

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