Discover Antwerp Guide
About the festival JEF
Where to eat and drink
Drinks/coffee and brunch
Restaurants
What to see in Antwerp
Museums
Architectural gems
Secret corners
Shopping
Public transport
To and from the airport
Rental scooter/bike
Tram or bus
Antwerp is a vibrant city with a lot of welcoming neighbourhoods. From“het Eilandje” up north where MAS is situated to the popular “Zuid” (which means South). Because of its trendy nature, Antwerp has a wide range of restaurants, museums and architecture to offer In this guide, you will find some Antwerp highlights to view and enjoy. If you have questions, our teamis happy to answer themfor you Enjoy your stay in Antwerp!
Youth Film Festival Antwerp is a magical place where stories are never far away You can watch them in beautiful films, experience them through crazy games or create them yourself during cool workshops. Which stories do you take home with you?
The beating heart of the festival is located in Antwerp. The festival expands every year. From the famous XL-Medialab at Zuiderpershuis, the workshops and the many cinema locations: the city becomes the ideal setting for a family day out during the spring break and for schools the weeks before.
In addition, families can experience the festival outside Antwerp. They can enjoy the Youth Film Festival On tour with an extensive film programme in Bruges, Ghent, Kortrijk, Leuven, Hamme and Roeselare.
What's in store at the festival?
Films for everyone between 15 and 18: From a cosy toddler cinema to groundbreaking films programmed by young people.
Active experience of films with film education, dancing, events and interesting guests
Premières of films and games to experience together.
Plenty of amazement in workshops and virtual reality.
Youth Film Festival Antwerp wants to be a bottom-up festival. We therefore involve our target audience and our festival partners in participation processes: together we work on a large and innovative festival that is socially relevant and above all enjoyable. Thank you to everyone who helped build our festival: our sponsors, festival partners, festival locations and the many indispensable children and young people who are part of the festival team.
More information about Youth Film Festival Antwerp
JEF
JEF is the year-round organization behind the Youth Film Festival in Antwerp. But we do much more than only organizing the annual festival
JEF brings quality children's and youth films to theatres and streaming platforms as a distributor.
JEF develops educational material, workshops and training, under the banner JEF with the class
JEF stimulates film and game literacy among children and young people with projects such as Film in hospital, gaming projects, Ket & Doc and Focus French Film
A diverse offer around youth films and games encourages children and young people to see the world from different perspectives JEF selects a quality offering based on its own methodology & film and game literacy model (in Dutch).
More information about JEF
A diverse range of youth films broadens the perspective of children and young people It offers them opportunities to envision the world they want to inhabit. That is why JEF makes youth films, digital media, and games available to exhibitors and ensures visibility and accessibility to a wide and diverse audience, at schools and in leisure time
Through its active role in network organisations, JEF is the point of contact for youth film, both for policy makers and the (inter)national film industry. At JEF, children and young people find a place to create, experience, and critically review films and games together For and by youngsters is a central motto throughout the JEF organisation
Where to eat & drink
We've put together a list of places to grab food, sip a drink, or enjoy a good coffee, all within walking distance from Cinema Lumière and Zuiderpershuis. Explore the neighborhood, and let you curiosity and appetite guide you! Good to know is that nearly all restaurants or brunch spots have vegetarian and sometimes vegan alternatives. If it says vegan in the guide, then the options are nearly exclusively vegan
Zurich - cozy brasserie Verlatstraat 2 (Zuid)
2000 Antwerpeni
Wasbar - breakfast & lunch
Graaf van Egmontstraat 5
2000 Antwerpen
Maison Tartine - breakfast & lunch
Graaf van Egmontstraat 35A
2000 Antwerpen
Dansing Chocola - cozy brasserie Kloosterstraat 159
2000 Antwerpen
Pain Quotidien - hot drinks and sourdough bread
Leopold de Waelplaats 8
2000 Antwerpen
Bakery FUNK - baked goods and warm drinks (vegan)
Kronenburgstraat 41a
2000 Antwerpen
Boekowski - cozy bar with nice beers, boardgames and books
Bolivarplaats 1
2000 Antwerpen
Beestenbos - informal, limited menu, veggie
Sint-Andriesplaats 17
2000 Antwerpen
Caffenation goes Koco - trendy coffee bar (vegan)
Volkstraat 2
2000 Antwerpen
Lella - lunch, brunch and sweets
Lakenstraat 14
2000 Antwerpen
Kaffeenini - coffee bar with good bagels and breakfast
Nationalestraat 114A
2000 Antwerpen
Maison Tartine - breakfast & lunch
Graaf van Egmontstraat 35A
2000 Antwerpen
Circus - vegan/veggie brunch spot
Kasteelpleinstraat 26
2000 Antwerpen
RESTAURANTS
Zaowang zuid - sushi
Scheldestraat 72
2000 Antwerpen
Tamo - Thai food
Volkstraat 44
2000 Antwerpen
Meat and Eat - meat restaurant
Marnixplaats 1
2000 Antwerpen
Finjan - pita with great sauces
Graaf van Hoornestraat 1
2000 Antwerpen
Nuoc Mam - Vietnamese Volkstraat 72G
2000 Antwerpen
Fiskebar - fish restaurant
Marnixplaats 12-13
2000 Antwerpen
What to see in Antwerp
Besides its many delicious restaurants, Antwerp also offers plenty of sightseeing to keep you busy. From fascinating museums to unique attractions and activities, the city has something for everyone
Below is a selection of some of the most interesting places to visit, so you’ll never be bored in Antwerp
MUSEUMS
KMSKA
Seven centuries of art: from Flemish Primitives to Expressionists World-famous masters The Royal Museum of Fine Arts has an internationally renowned collection of art This prestigious museum reopened after an eleven-year renovation in 2022
Leopold de Waelplaats 1
2000 Antwerpen
Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA)
M HKA combines an international collection with the hosting of temporary exhibitions (Next to Zuiderpershuis)
Leuvenstraat 32
2000 Antwerpen
Photo museum (FOMU)
Cinema Lumière, where most of your screenings are, is situated inside the FOMU In a former warehouse, discover temporary exhibitions by internationally acclaimed photographers and home-grown artists
Waalsekaai 47
2000 Antwerpen
Diamond Museum (DIVA)
DIVA has a collection primarily focussed on diamonds, jewellery and silver from the 15th century to the present With its specific collection profile, which brings together creation, production and use, and highlights the connection between past and present, DIVA occupies a unique place in the international heritage landscape
Suikerrui 17/19
2000 Antwerpen
Museum de Reede
Museum De Reede focuses on the work of three masters: Francisco Goya, Félicien Rops and Edvard Munch The work of these artists is presented as that of critical observers of the time in which they lived, each within his own artistic and social context The museum will place their work in dialogue with current expressions of society and culture At this moment, there’s an exhibition of Albrecht Dürer.
Ernest Van Dijckkaai 7
2000 Antwerpen
The Steen Castle experience centre
Oldest stone building in the city, a Medieval castle overlooking the river Scheldt Visitor centre, focusing on Antwerp’s history, and cruise terminal
Steenplein 1
2000 Antwerpen
House of the Five Continents
ARCHITECTURAL GEMS
Abrilliantexampleofarchitectureinthestyleof ArtNouveau,TheHouseoftheFiveContinentsis situatedattheangleofSchilderstraatand Plaatsnijdersstraat Thesecond-floorloggiainthe formofaship'sprowthatemergesatthecorner ofthestructureisareferencetoAntwerp'slongstandingstatureasaglobalport.
Schilderstraat4
2000Antwerpen
Vlaeykensgang
Slipping into Vlaeykensgang is like turning back the Cathedral clock; the alleyways are far removed from the hustle and bustle of the modern city. Take time to enjoy the silence. One of the entrances of the Vlaeykensgang is at the Oude Koornmarkt The entrance, at number 16, is no wider than a doorway, so make sure you don’t walk past it.
Oude Koornmarkt 16 2000 Antwerpen
Chinatown
Belgium’s only officially recognised Chinatown is filled with Chinese restaurants and supermarkets and medicine shops. It also has an impressive gateway that faces the central train station Van Wesenbekestraat 2060 Antwerpen
PAKT
A former industrial site, turned into a creative, sustainable hub where work is combined with sports, leisure and urban farming. You can grab a coffee at Caffènation, Antwerp’s most well-known coffee bar or have lunch at the rooftop restaurant which only uses products grown at the PAKT site
Regine Beerplein 1 2018 Antwerpen
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
For quick travel in the city, public transport in Antwerp is available to take you from one place to another
TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT
RENTAL SCOOTER/BICYCLES
Velo
Velo bikes can be picked up and returned at their stations throughout the city
For €5, you can use the bikes as often as you like for 24 hours. Make sure the bike is returned to a velo- station within 30 minutes of picking it up, otherwise you'll pay an extra fee
Felyx
Prefer not to pedal yourself? You can also try a rental scooter from felyx
Download the app and grab a scooter nearby
Voi, Lime or Bolt.
You will see the electric scooters a lot when you walk around the city It is an easy and fast way to move around. These scooters are available at various stations throughout the city. Download the app and choose a scooter nearby.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
In Antwerp, we also have buses and trams ready to transport you. Purchase a day ticket for €9 or single-use ticket for €3 via this link, or check in with your bank card when you board. Do not check out with your bank card, otherwise you will pay for two rides. tram 4 → stop ‘antwerpen museum’ is an 8 minute walk to Lumière or Zuiderpershuis