VILLAGE
I like the fact that Antwerp is a small city with influences from all over the world. I also recognize that Antwerp is both small and large!
TOLERANT
I find Antwerp to be a very tolerant city, but perhaps I say that because of my profession and the neighborhood I live in (Academy and University). As a professor at the Academy, I naturally spend a lot of time with students and foreigners. You could say that this neighborhood is full of different influences, which is very pleasant!
ARTISTIC
There are lots of alternative movements. Well-established galleries rub shoulders with young people in collectives who are doing lots of interesting things.
MINDED
Life in Antwerp is easy: you just have to open your door and you meet people. Things are very simple here!
STYLISH
There is an elegance among the people of Antwerp: an awareness of their look and attitude. I used to go out a lot in the south of the city, but it has become a little too posh for me. I stay a bit more in my neighborhood where, at cocktail hour, there are lots of people outside. I think I'm nostalgic for a time when we used to go out more wildly. Now I feel like there are a lot of preppies in plaid shirts and pocket squares!
RESERVED
The people of Antwerp have a proud and distinctive character: they are proud of their city, which they call “The City.” At the same time, they are reserved and have a great sense of humor. Once they get to know you, they really accept you.
TO do
By Véronique Branquinho Fashion Designer
Pictures Jp Lejeune
SLEEPING
I'm not an expert on hotels since I live in this city, but I know that my clients like the Hotel Julien, and I've always enjoyed “The Apartment,” a luxury bed and breakfast with hotel service designed by architect Vincent Van Duysen. It's above the Graanmarkt 13 concept store.
Going out!
There's so much to say! In no particular order: a summer bar called Bar Paniek, Time Circus, young people with a different outlook on life who do a lot of recycling, and once a month, the people's kitchen, Café Le Tour, where you can dance outdoors in the evening. you enter a parking lot at Noordkasteel, walk along the Scheldt, and the café is the third willow tree on the right: it's very charming and opens in the summer on the day the Tour de France starts! Another café, De Nor (the prison), is open in the summer with concerts and performances programmed by Belgian artist Dennis Tyfus. The west and east banks offer the chance to spot whales, pods of dolphins, and rhinos.
EatING
The Covered Market for lunch and on Friday and Saturday evenings, serving only seasonal cuisine. At Graamarkt 13, there is also a very good restaurant specializing in vegetables (by chef Seppe Nobels). Of course, there's Ciro's, which hasn't changed in sixty years, where women still serve and the tables still have white tablecloths. Ah! There's also Chez Clodette, a very nice café (lunch only), and Crémerie Germaine, which makes delicious ice cream! Pizza Arte, Sardinian, the owner buys a lot of art from young artists. He encourages young people from the Academy.
Food shopping
Food shopping Mini Mercado, a supermarket where I go to practice my Portuguese and taste pasteis de nata at Doce Tentaçao! But also the Domestic bakery and, of course, Goossens.
Bookstore
Très bien Copyright (also in Ghent).
Design
Second hand designer fashion specializing in Belgian designers.
China town
Full of restaurants and lots of atmosphere (big screen TV): at Ni Shifu, spicy Sichuan cuisine, and then lots of places in Van Arteveldestraat and Van Wesenbekestraat. My Chinese students sometimes invite me there and introduce me to their cuisine.
Museum
Mayer van den Bergh Museum (lots of still lifes), Snijders & Rockoxhuis: a private Baroque house with leather wallpaper and a charming little garden, Middelheimmuseum park (open-air museum with sculptures). Mkha Museum of Contemporary Art.
Market
Saturdays at Theaterplein.
