Regardless of being one of many world’s smallest nations, Belgium isn’t wanting tempting metropolis breaks for households – in addition to Brussels, Bruges and Ghent, you’ll find loads of issues to do in Antwerp with children.
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Earlier than I visited, I admit I didn’t know as a lot about this Flemish metropolis, which sits about half an hour from the Dutch border – Europe’s second largest port, dwelling to Rubens, a style hotspot and on the coronary heart of the world’s diamond commerce, there’s tons to find.
And in case your children aren’t fussed by high-quality artwork, valuable gems and avant-garde design, there are some nice household points of interest as properly, together with the 22 concepts beneath, my decide of the very best issues to do in Antwerp for teenagers.
Antwerp Zoo
One of many oldest zoos on the earth, Antwerp Zoo sits proper subsequent to the prepare station – the truth is, when the station was constructed, they needed to promise to verify the wall connecting the 2 was as ornamental because the station itself.
It is advisable hold your animals glad, in any case! Hold an eye fixed out for the camel statue on the rooftop as you enter the gates previous golden mosaic large cat footage, with round 1,000 totally different species to find contained in the gates.
The totally different areas of the zoo are themed on locations from world wide, and has numerous initiatives to help endangered animals: plus an opportunity to see large cats, bears, penguins, elephants and extra, together with the aquarium.
Het Steen Fort
Het Steen – which interprets because the rock – dates again to the beginning of the thirteenth century, when the fortress was a part of a good larger fortress.
The oldest constructing in Antwerp, in the present day it homes the vacationer info centre and The Antwerp Story (scroll down for extra particulars) so in contrast to the Gravensteen in Ghent, it’s not a fortress you may discover to get a style of medieval Belgium, but it surely’s nonetheless an imposing sight.
Exterior, there’s additionally a statue of a large, often called Lange Wapper who legend says used to terrorise Antwerp’s inhabitants, and two people cowering earlier than him.
You too can purchase the Antwerp Metropolis Cross, together with entry to points of interest and public transport, on the vacationer info centre, in addition to selecting up maps and biking trails
The Antwerp Story
Set inside Het Steen, the Antwerp Story is a good introduction to the historical past of the town for teenagers.
Shifting by time as you move by 11 totally different rooms, there are some artistic methods to move you again into Antwerp’s previous, together with a hologram of a designer and a 360-degree projection of the port, in addition to fashions to climb inside and extra.
Permit between 30 and 60 minutes for the primary attraction, then save a while to take in the views from the roof terrace of Het Steen.
Choco Nation
The world’s largest Belgian chocolate museum, Choco Nation is a good mixture of background concerning the historical past of chocolate and chocolate making, and place to strive a number of your self.
Quite a lot of, the truth is, as you may style 10 totally different flavours of chocolate as you discover the 14 totally different rooms with an audio information in English and Le Petit Chocolatier expertise for teenagers.
Alongside the best way, you may study some quirky information – akin to that Antwerp has the world’s largest cocoa storage port – in addition to nearly visiting cocoa plantations on the equator.
Reverse the Central Station, enable round 60-90 minutes for the go to (and hold an eye fixed out for the colorful Chinatown arch close by as you go in).
Don’t miss at cease on the Chocolate Line store when you’re in Antwerp – we found the bizarre flavours throughout a go to to Bruges however the Antwerp store is way quieter
Trip the ferris wheel
Not removed from Het Steen, there are some unbelievable views of the town and river from the Antwerp Ferris Wheel.
Set close to Steenplein on the banks of the Scheldt (it beforehand moved places between winter and summer time), it’s an ideal spot on a sunny day – and never scarily excessive for youthful children.
Discover the underground canals
Whereas there’s lots to see above floor in Antwerp with children, the town additionally has a captivating underground collection of tunnels and canals tucked away.
Often called De Ruien, the waterways have been as soon as used to get across the metropolis within the Center Ages, earlier than being lined over – however you may take a particular tour of the historic underground passages and study extra about Antwerp alongside the best way.
Essentially the most child-friendly approach is to take one of many brief boat journeys, appropriate for age 3+, though these have been quickly suspended whereas restoration work is happening. Within the meantime, children aged 10+ may also be part of one of many guided walks.
Take a tour
Antwerp is a really walkable metropolis however when you don’t fancy exploring on foot, you’ll find loads of different choices too.
Strolling tour of Antwerp with children
As an alternative choice to an organised metropolis strolling tour (though you’re spoiled for selection when you do need a type of), strive a scavenger hunt of Antwerp, fixing clues and riddles as you wander previous 10 of the town’s key places.
Household-friendly bike tour of Antwerp
Or be part of a family-friendly bike tour of Antwerp, the place you may study extra concerning the legends and tales of the town throughout a three-hour cycle round its streets.
Sightseeing bus tour of Antwerp
If the climate’s dangerous otherwise you’re seeking to sightsee with out sporting out small legs, there’s additionally a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Antwerp with a pre-recorded commentary as you drive round – an excellent possibility too when you’re seeking to go to a few of the museums additional out of the town centre.
Boat tour of Antwerp
If you happen to simply desire a style of being out on the water, hop on the water bus which runs alongside the Scheldt – you may decide it up at Steenplein, close to Het Steen, or the Sint Anna tunnels for instance.
Alternatively, there are personal excursions together with the electrical Sir Tristram from Antwerp by Boat which take you on 50-minute jaunts across the harbour.
Plopsa Station amusement park
This little theme park of Plopsa Station within the centre of Antwerp, also referred to as Comics Station, is all themed round totally different cartoon characters, tremendous heroes and comedian guide stars.
The indoor amusement park within the prepare station has round 15 separate points of interest, and whereas most received’t be acquainted to non-Belgian guests – besides the Smurfs – it’s all nonetheless enjoyable for youthful children.
Some points of interest have a minimal top requirement so it’s price doublechecking earlier than you go to.
Spot the road artwork
If you happen to’re visiting with older children, hold an eye fixed out for the road artwork round Antwerp together with the Stripmuren comedian murals route.
There are at present 13 totally different websites across the metropolis, with a map to obtain if you wish to tick off all of the totally different websites, or you may simply match a number of into your exploring with a number of close to the historic Grote Markt sq..
Study the legend of Antwerp’s title
Head to the historic a part of Antwerp and the Grote Markt sq. is dwelling to a few of its prettiest outdated buildings together with the sixteenth century city corridor and guildhalls.
However when you’re there, you may see the Brabo fountain, celebrating the legend which gave the town its title. So the story tells, a Roman soldier title Brabo got here to the realm the place a large was demanding a toll to cross the river.
Anybody who didn’t pay had their hand lower off and flung into the water. Brabo, who didn’t need to pay the toll, challenged the enormous and defeated him within the battle – earlier than deciding to topic him to the identical punishment, flinging his hand into the river Scheldt.
The Dutch phrases ‘hant’ ‘werpen’ (hand throw) led to the title we nonetheless use in the present day.
Eat Antwerpse Handjes
If you happen to’ve bought an excellent legend of giants and palms being thrown into rivers, the following step is a standard deal with to have a good time it.
Antwerpse Handjes are scrumptious hand-shaped buttery biscuits with flaked almonds in, though you can even discover chocolate palms and chocolate-covered marzipan choices.
Sint Anna Tunnel
There aren’t many locations the place crossing a river is a child-friendly attraction… particularly if you’re going underneath the water.
However when you’re visiting Antwerp with children, don’t miss St Anna’s tunnel, which crossed underneath the river Scheldt. Created to attach the newer elements of the town with the historic city, the river was too busy for a bridge, so as an alternative of going over, the choice was made to go underneath.
The primary spotlight is the Nineteen Thirties picket escalators which lead you down into the tunnel: fantastically preserved, it’s one of the vital uncommon issues to do in Antwerp with children – the white-tiled tunnel itself stretches for 1,876 ft and isn’t vastly thrilling however you may simply journey straight again up once more.
If you happen to do hold going, head proper if you emerge and there’s a small seaside round half a mile away.
Discover some inexperienced house
The largest public inexperienced house within the metropolis, the Stadspark is a beautiful spot to flee the bustle or loosen up in the summertime’s warmth.
There’s a small lake to get pleasure from, in addition to strolling trails within the triangular park and a skate park – when you’re fortunate, you may even spot rabbits. Round 10 minutes stroll from Centraal station.
As one other different, head to the botanic gardens with round 2,000 totally different crops and herbs, within the grounds of the previous medieval hospital on Leopoldstraat.
Go to a museum
Antwerp is dwelling to a string of museums, and whereas some will enchantment extra to older children (akin to MoMu, the town’s style museum), there’s a formidable vary to take a look at.
KMSKA Museum of high-quality artwork
With a formidable 13,000 items in its assortment, Antwerp’s Museum of Fantastic Artwork has an enormous assortment of labor by Rubens – who spent a lot of his life within the metropolis – in addition to a string of different artworks proper by to the Expressionists.
Reopened in late 2022 after an enormous 11-year renovation mission, there are tips about what to look out for for households, plus children aged 6-12 get a sketchbook and pencil as a present with the household path, together with 10 stunning new works to seek out.
Plantin-Moretus Museum
The primary museum to function on Unesco’s World Heritage Web site record, the Plantin-Moretus Museum housed one among Europe’s most vital guide printing firms.
It’s nonetheless arrange as when you have been visiting the home because it was 400 years in the past, together with the preserved printing presses. And in addition to having the ability to see a printing demonstration, there’s additionally a enjoyable treasure hunt for households, difficult you to identify animals hiding within the museum rooms – appropriate for ages 4+.
DIVA Museum
Greater than 80% of the world’s uncut diamonds move by Antwerp however a lot of the gem commerce – unsurprisingly – isn’t open to the general public.
So to get an actual style of the bling, head to DIVA Museum, reopening in March 2023, which shares extra concerning the historical past of diamond buying and selling within the metropolis in addition to some spectacular gems and items of jewelry on show.
MAS Museum
The Museum aan de Stroom, or MAS, is one other good place to study extra about Antwerp’s historical past – to not point out how its significance as a port solid hyperlinks to nations world wide.
Hold an eye fixed out for family-friendly exhibitions, together with one referred to as ‘Anyone Residence’ which incorporates a sewer crocodile, board video games and drawing on partitions, whereas one other quickly exhibition covers the legends and tales of Antwerp. Head as much as the roof terrace for one more nice view too.
The Rubens Home
The home the place Rubens lived throughout his time in Antwerp is closed till 2027, if you’ll be capable to step inside his studio as soon as once more. Within the meantime, younger art-lovers can see his work on the KMSKA, the Plantin-Moretus Museum and contained in the cathedral, amongst different websites.
Museum de Reede
One other museum that’s finest for older children, the Museum de Reede focuses on graphic artwork and engravings together with work by Edvard Munch and Francisco Goya, in addition to up to date artists. Free for under-13s.
Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. My go to to Antwerp was courtesy of Luxair and the vacationer board for work with no obligation to share, however I needed to anyway… All opinions are my very own.
Zoo entrance pictures copyright MummyTravels, St Anna tunnel courtesy AdobeStock, all different pictures courtesy of Depositphotos