Still looking for a reason to visit Antwerp this autumn?
Newsletter Visit Antwerp – October 2024
Autumn will soon be upon us in Antwerp. Even though the terraces are gradually being cleared away, the city has more than enough to offer visitors this autumn and winter. Take, for instance, the reopening of the first part of the house of one of the most renowned Baroque painters in the world. Or four world-class Ensor exhibitions. And what about something a bit more active? In November, one ticket can open the doors to more than 60 dance events over 3 days, including a rave in one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world. If all that is too much of a good thing, don’t worry. In December you can always unwind at ‘Europe’s underrated Christmas market’ (not our words)!
Opening of The Rubenshuis
30 August sees the reopening of The Rubenshuis. Well partially - we will have to wait until 2030 for the opening of the artist’s residence itself but, in the meantime, visitors can already enjoy the wonderful baroque garden, the Rubens Experience and the new library. The new building, housing the reception, the Rubens Experience and the scientific library, was designed by the renowned architects Robbrecht and Daem. None other than Dries Van Noten provided the colour advice for the garden, which is laid out to present a different spectrum of colours with each passing season.
You can find more information in the press pack below.
Ensor year in Antwerp
28 September 2024 - Jan/Feb 2025
2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the death of Belgian artist James Ensor (1860-1949). Ensor was a true game-changer in the avant-garde art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Four museums in the city honour his work and life with an equal number of world-class exhibitions. KMSKA presents a retrospective exhibition featuring Ensor’s wondrous universe of wild visions, masks and satire, in dialogue with renowned names from art history. Museum Plantin-Moretus displays the grand master’s graphic experiments with works from its own collection and works loaned from home and abroad. Photography museum FOMU is taking a different path: there you can visit a major solo exhibition by American photographer Cindy Sherman, who, much like Ensor is known for her critical commentary on conventions through masquerades. And MoMu celebrates the painters of fashion: the craftsmanship and creativity of make-up and hair artists are highlighted in a multimedia exhibition that focuses on (false) coquetry and seduction...
Find out more about the Ensor Year in the press pack below.
Ensor_Presskit_EN.pdf
PDF - 5.5 Mb
Full Circle
8-9-10 November 2025
With its unique concept, Full Circle is returning to Antwerp for the seventh time: with one ticket, you can visit more than 60 dance events. For three days, you can enjoy DJ sets and live performances at various, unexpected locations in Antwerp, all featuring an all-Belgian line-up. One of last year’s highlights was undoubtedly the dance floor in the stunning Antwerp Central railway station. For three nights this year, Full Circle will be transforming our iconic monument into the most impressive dance floor in the country.
More information can be found on the Full Circle website:
Antwerp again hosts the BeLux Michelin Star Awards
28 April 2025 - A Room With A Zoo
In early 2024, the presentation of the Michelin stars for Belgium and Luxembourg took place for the first time in Antwerp. No surprise there: with 21 stars for 17 restaurants, our city is not only the culinary capital of Belgium, but ranks worldwide just behind Tokyo, Paris and Washington DC in the number of stars per capita...
So, we are proud to announce that the ceremony is going to take place again in our city in 2025.
Winter in Antwerp
6 December 2024 - 5 January 2025
As from 6 December, Antwerp city centre will once again be transformed into a magical winter wonderland. Visitors can enjoy a nostalgic merry-go-round, beautifully lit buildings, mistletoe on Hendrik Conscienceplein, and many other activities on the various squares. On these squares, you can indulge in delicious food and drinks in a warm and festive winter setting.
Antwerp as a luxury destination
With its diverse offering of fine dining, unique fashion, timeless design, sparkling diamonds and exquisite art, Antwerp is the perfect choice for the traveller who values luxury and authenticity. For (press) professionals creating content for that specific segment, we have put together a press kit with a selection of interesting addresses. This promotional text, including a rich selection of images, can serve as inspiration for showcasing our city from that perspective.
You can find the press kit via the link below.
New // coming soon:
- Since the start of last summer, Antwerp has gained a new multifunctional and digital events venue: DIVE is not only a venue for immersive exhibitions (with Gustav Klimt currently stealing the show): in October, the stunning former cinema becomes home to immersive club WOOM.
- With Release Me, Museum De Reede invites you to discover a selection of hidden masterpieces, including works by Rembrandt, Dürer and Hogarth (30 August 2024 - 26 November 2024)
- M HKA presents the first major retrospective of Nástio Mosquito, King of Clowns (11 October 2024 - 26 January 2025)
- Moxy, the hip brand of Marriot International, will be opening its second location in Belgium in Antwerp, mid-November.