Den Botaniek on Leopoldstraat has grown medicinal plants since the 16th century and still charges nothing to walk in. Next door, the old Sint-Elisabeth hospital is now the 108-room Botanic Sanctuary.
Category: 🎡 Things to do
From must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path experiences, we highlight the best things to do in Antwerp. Get inspired and start planning your next adventure.
The Antwerp Giants end Oostende’s 14-year reign
In June 2026 the Antwerp Giants beat Oostende 89 to 84 after overtime to win their first Belgian title since 2000, the last of three trophies in one season.
Port of Antwerp: Europe’s second port, seen from the water
Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 266.5 million tonnes of cargo in 2025 and is run from a Zaha Hadid building on an old fire station. The way in is a boat from the Asiadok, from €23.
Royal Antwerp FC: number one, rebuilt one stand at a time
Belgium’s registration number one has played at the Bosuil in Deurne since 1923. Since December 2025 it holds 21,000, and since July 2026 the club has new owners.
Bowling in Antwerp: 18 lanes up north, ten by the station
Antwerp has five places to bowl, from 18 lanes on the Noorderlaan to ten HyperBowling lanes on De Keyserlei. The league clubs have their favourites, and one alley also rents out a karaoke room.
The Antwerp 10 Miles goes under the Scheldt twice
The Antwerp 10 Miles started in 1986 with 800 runners. For its 40th edition, in April 2026, all 40,000 places for the Sunday race sold out in under an hour.