Summer 2024 in Antwerp

Summer 2024 in Antwerp

Newsletter - April 2024

As spring slowly makes its appearance, we're happy to look ahead to what's on offer in Antwerp through the end of this summer. Enjoying an outdoor drink at one of several summer cafes, walking from the city centre to a world-class festival, catching the opening of a new park or enjoying contemporary art in the open air: it's all possible! Those who'd rather avoid the sun could visit one of the country's most beautiful libraries, spend 3 nights immersed in design and creativity, or discover the work of the fashion talent of the future.


Michelin star award ceremony

On Monday 26 February, the city of Antwerp hosted the presentation of the renowned Michelin stars for Belgium and Luxembourg for the first time. This is no coincidence, because with the awarding of a first star to chef Tommy Bocklandt and his restaurant Pont-Neuf, our city now has 22 stars, spread across 18 restaurants. So since this year, we are even more proud to claim the title of Culinary Capital of Flanders and Belgium!

Culinary press professional looking for inspiration? Be sure to check out our updated press kit 'Antwerp Culinary Hotspot'.

MICHELIN Guide Restaurants & Hotels – the official website
MICHELIN-starred Restaurants, Bib Gourmand and the entire MICHELIN Guide Selection. The best addresses for fine dining, gourmet Articles and many more
MICHELIN Guide

Antwerp Art Weekend

16 to 19 May 2024

Antwerp Art Weekend celebrates its 10th anniversary! Since 2014, Antwerp Art has celebrated a full weekend of contemporary art in the city's most diverse venues: galleries, museums, art schools etc. In total, you can visit over 70 venues for a wide range of exhibitions, performances, activities and parties. In short: the perfect opportunity to discover Antwerp's contemporary art scene. ​

Antwerp Art Weekend
Every year, Antwerp Art organizes the Antwerp Art Weekend, a four day, citywide manifestation, where art venues in and around Antwerp put their hands together to celebrate contemporary art. This is the best time to experience the city and its flourishing art scene, with an abundance of galleries, art spaces, museums and special events to visit.
Antwerp Art Weekend

SHOW Fashion Department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts

31 May - 1 June 2024

On 31 May and 1 June, the 18 master's students of the internationally renowned Fashion Department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts will present their graduation collection at the SHOW in the Waagnatie, as per annual custom, under the guidance of creative director Brandon Wen. It is therefore the perfect moment for the talent of the future to showcase their creations to headhunters, fashion professionals and the international press.

SHOW 2024
SHOW 2024 31.05 + 1.06 save the date
showww.be

Come Closer

7 June – 29 September 2024

With COME CLOSER, Middelheim Museum and DE SINGEL together explore the space between sculpture and performance art. This collaboration brings together some 25 renowned artists from home and abroad with sculptures, interactive installations and performances. What they share is this: they alter the traditional relationships between the artist, the artwork and the public. In COME CLOSER, the distance between the three is replaced by an exciting exchange. A high-profile international art project during the summer months.

COME CLOSER
With COME CLOSER, Middelheim Museum and DE SINGEL international arts centre jointly explore the space between sculpture and performance art. This collaboration gathers international artists that show works in a variety of forms: installations and performances.
Middelheimmuseum

Nottebohmzaal tijdelijk geopend voor publiek

15 June - 15 September 2024

 

Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library's Nottebohm Room is the crown jewel of Antwerp's libraries. The library's first 50,000 books are kept here in a breathtaking historical setting. Besides book warehouse and exhibition space, it serves as a repository for special donations and pieces such as the Blaeu Globes and the Egyptian Cabinet.

The Nottebohm Room only opens its doors for exhibitions, lectures, concerts or tours. Unless...

From 15 June to 15 September, individual visitors will have a unique opportunity to visit. Yet another reason to visit cultural city Antwerp. ​

Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library | Erfgoed Hendrik Conscience
Would you like to visit the Nottebohm Room? For now, this is only possible during a behind-the-scenes tour on Saturdays, during Heritage Day (April 21, 2024) or during Open Monument Day (September 8, 2024). During the summer period, the Nottebohm Room can be visited daily (except Mondays).
consciencebibliotheek.be

Summer in the city

A picnic in a park: always a good idea when the sun is out. And from this summer, Antwerp residents and visitors alike can lay down a blanket in a brand new park to do just that. On 17 May, the new Zuidpark will be officially and festively inaugurated. The site, which acted as an uninspiring stone expanse and car park, has been transformed into a green oasis of tranquillity in recent years.

Of course, there is no shortage of outdoor cafes in our city. But summer also invariably guarantees an ample supply of summer bars. Bar SOMMAR for example is not only celebrating its comeback after a year's absence, but also its 10th anniversary. Indeed, given their location on Rijnkaai, they will do so at one of the most beautiful sunsets in Antwerp. A list of all summer pubs can be found here.

Albeit only on its third edition, it has already become a fixture of the festival summer: Live /s Live. Within walking distance of Antwerp's city centre, this year's organisers once again put together a stellar line-up. This year, the two stages around the Middenvijver are set to host the likes of The National, Editors, Paolo Nutini, Gossip and Smashing Pumpkins.


Us By Night

26 to 28 September 2024

Us By Night uniquely redefines the idea of a conference, combining a festival of art and creativity with the excitement of nightlife. As an influential three-day event, leading the way in visual culture, it offers a fresh, unparalleled approach to a night out.

Acting as a superb theme park for creatives, with three stages and a special night market, the festival presents a diverse line-up of over 70 speakers and live artists from different creative disciplines. This mix of creativity and nightlife is designed to spark shared ideas, making Us By Night a beacon for both established and emerging talents in the national and international creative community.

Us By Night is now in its fourth edition. The event gained international acclaim in recent years, attracting over 3,000 unique visitors from 50 countries every day.

Us by Night - 26-27-28 Sep 2024 - Antwerp, Belgium
A design & creativity festival turned into a unique nocturnal experience, spanning over 3 nights. Come join us & 70+ speakers for a touch...
Us by Night

The lists keep on coming

Back in January, we reported that renowned travel magazine Condé Nast tipped Antwerp as a city trip destination in 2024. Trade magazine Architectural Digest also helped put our city on the map. And it didn't stop there: leading British newspapers The Times and The Independent also recently tipped Antwerp as a city break destination. The Independent describes Antwerp as an iconic fashion city, claiming that our cultural offering rivals that of any other European city. The Times can't help but agree of course, calling Antwerp 'a delicious food hub'... ​

Five cultural European city breaks that are still under-the-radar
Branch off the beaten track with our pick of the best under-the-radar cities with cultural clout
The Independent
These are the 40 most exciting cities to visit in 2024
Berlin has a new Cold War museum, Marseille is hosting Olympic sailing and the world’s greatest art show is in Venice — here are the year’s most exhilarating breaks
The Sunday Times

Also on the agenda…


Come and discover it all for yourself in Antwerp! Contact us:

City of Antwerp | Press & PR

Website | Instagram | Facebook |Linkedin

Copyright header: Paul Kindersley

Newsletter
About Visit Antwerpen

Antwerp, city on the stream, world port, international diamond centre, home to Rubens and renowned Mecca for fashion… all these aspects make Antwerp the city it is meant to be: a dazzling, hospitable easy to get around metropolis, cosy and heart-warming, plenty of stimulating greenery and calm nooks. A great shopping paradise with shops of designers from Antwerp and superior expertise. A cultural city blessed with delightful architecture, impassioned works of art and impressive monuments. In the cafés they serve the best beers and in the many restaurants food enthusiasts can enjoy the most delicious traditional and multi-cultural dishes. Antwerp is something else and a lot more fun, come and find out for yourself!