There’s More to Antwerp Than Diamonds: 5 Reasons to Visit

Published on 29 August 2026 at 14:45

Try Antwerp for Your Next Flight-Free City Break 

If you've visited Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels several times and want somewhere different for your next European break, the new direct train from London makes Antwerp worth considering.

Leave London, settle into your seat and let the journey become part of the holiday.

Then arrive in the centre of Antwerp ready for good food, beautiful architecture, art, fashion and a city that can easily be explored over a few leisurely days.

Better still, add another destination and turn a weekend away into a European rail adventure.

Just 45 minutes by train from Brussels, Antwerp has long been considered an easy day trip but this is a city that deserves far more than a few hours.

Here are Five Reasons to Visit Antwerp:

1. FOR THE ARTS

May is an especially exciting time to visit, when Antwerp Art Weekend transforms the city into a four-day celebration of contemporary art. Galleries, museums and independent project spaces open their doors across Antwerp, creating a vibrant and wonderfully walkable art trail through the city.

For art and design lovers, Axel Vervoordt Gallery at Kanaal is well worth venturing beyond central Antwerp for. Around a 30-minute drive from the city, this remarkable cultural destination sits beside the Albert Canal.

Once a 19th-century red-brick malting and distillery complex, the vast 55,000 sq m industrial site has been transformed into a fascinating mix of art, architecture and contemporary living. Today, Kanaal brings together exhibition spaces, apartments, offices, gardens and other communal spaces while retaining much of its industrial character.

At its heart is an impressive 4,000 sq m exhibition space associated with renowned Belgian art dealer and collector Axel Vervoordt. Visitors can encounter contemporary art alongside works and installations by internationally recognised artists including Anish Kapoor, Tatsuo Miyajima, Marina Abramović and James Turrell.

If you're looking for something beyond Antwerp's better-known museums, Kanaal is one to put on your itinerary particularly if you appreciate the intersection of art, architecture and beautifully reimagined historic spaces.

 

2. FOR THE CHOCOLATES

Step Into the World’s Largest Belgian Chocolate Museum , Right in the Heart of Antwerp.

Say Belgium, and chances are chocolate is one of the first things that comes to mind. The country's love affair with chocolate stretches back generations, earning Belgian chocolate its world-famous reputation.

At Chocolate Nation in the heart of Antwerp, you can discover the story behind this much-loved Belgian tradition. The immersive experience takes around 60–90 minutes, leading you through 14 themed rooms that trace chocolate's journey from cocoa plantations near the equator to Antwerp — home to one of the world's most important cocoa ports.

Along the way, discover how cocoa beans are transformed into silky Belgian chocolate, explore the traditions, brands and innovations that shaped its reputation, and watch a spectacular fantasy machine bring the chocolate-making process to life.

And, of course, a visit to a chocolate museum wouldn't be complete without the opportunity to taste some Belgian chocolate along the way.

 

3. FOR PETER PAUL RUBENS

In 2027, Antwerp celebrates 450 years since the birth of Peter Paul Rubens, with special exhibitions and events across the city. Art lovers can discover his masterpieces and explore his life, influences and legacy from a fresh perspective.

Look out for:

  • Rondom Rubens – Museum Plantin-Moretus, 27 Mar–27 Jun 2027

  • Rubens’ Lost Notebooks – Snijders&Rockox House, 23 Sep 2027–13 Jan 2028

  • Rubens and the World – KMSKA × Rubens House, 9 Oct 2027–16 Jan 2028

  • 500 Years of Ortelius – Museum Plantin-Moretus, from 28 Oct 2027

 

4. FOR THE WATER

Antwerp isn't only a city to explore on foot, some of its best perspectives are from the water.

Take a harbour cruise, enjoy a boat trip along the River Scheldt, or spend time exploring the waterfront around the trendy Eilandje district. When the weather allows, you can even add swimming and waterside relaxation to your itinerary.

Whether you're cruising past Antwerp's impressive port or simply enjoying a drink beside the water, the city's relationship with the Scheldt offers a completely different side of Antwerp to discover.

5. FOR THE PORT OF ANTWERP

For a completely different side of Antwerp, head towards the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Europe’s second-largest port and one of the most fascinating places to appreciate the scale of the city’s maritime heritage.

Think enormous ships, vast docks, towering cranes and some of the world's largest locks. But the port isn't purely industrial. Its landscape also encompasses nature reserves, historic port communities and unexpected pockets of tranquillity.

Better still, there are several interesting ways to explore it.

See the port by boat
One of the best ways to understand the sheer scale of Antwerp's port is from the water. The harbour stretches from the historic docks around Eilandje towards the Dutch border. Choose anything from a traditional harbour cruise to a shorter journey through the old docks or a faster ride aboard the Waterlimo.

Explore by bicycle
Antwerp's cycling infrastructure makes two wheels another great option. Guided rides take you past historic docks, cranes, industrial landmarks and natural areas, with longer tours venturing deeper into the port. It's an especially good choice for active travellers, families and groups of friends.

Take a guided bus or car tour
Want to see more of this enormous area in less time? A guided road tour can take you deeper into the working port, passing huge container terminals, port villages and nature reserves while explaining how one of Europe's most important ports operates.

Discover the port by Vespa
For something a little different, explore Antwerp's maritime landscape on a guided Vespa tour. Ride from the city towards the old quays and modern container terminals, with routes that can also incorporate the port's surprising natural areas.

Combine cycling and cruising
Can't decide between land and water? Do both. Some experiences combine a guided Antwerp bike tour with a boat journey towards the port, before continuing along the Scheldt by bicycle with views back towards the city's skyline.

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