Antwerp on a Winter Weekend
Start with the city's current exhibitions and events. The Antwerp Six Exhibition runs at MoMu Antwerp on Nationalestraat 28 from June 21, 2026 through January 16, 2027, so a January visit falls inside its run. Shopping Sunday is a city-wide event in Antwerp; the most recent listing was October 3, 2026, and it's worth checking whether a January edition falls during your visit.
What's On in the Evenings
Antwerp's listings run through the autumn and into winter, and the venues are worth knowing by name:
- Shelter (Oude Koornmarkt 42) — hosted the Art by Caro pop-up from September 29, 2026, a five-day run
- Tram 3 (Oude Koornmarkt 38) — hosted a Silent Disco on September 30, 2026
- Vlaamsekaai 81/83 — hosted Crime Night, a literary and true crime event, on October 9, 2026
- Hopland 34 — hosted the second edition of Luddites Open Mic on October 9, 2026
The area around Oude Koornmarkt has a dense cluster of bars and eateries — including Shelter and Tram 3 — that stay lively into the evening.
Shops, Sales and Neighbourhood Events
If browsing is on your agenda, several events cluster around the city's shopping streets:
- Sample & Stock Sale at Kloosterstraat 84, September 15–26, 2026
- Renée Stock & Closet Sale at Nationalestraat 152, September 25–26, 2026
- Trunk Show (First Buffalo Gal & Black Pearl Creations) at Sint-Jorispoort 37, October 2, 2026
- Ercoland Neighborhood Party at Conscienceplein, September 19, 2026
- Wine Evening with Joh. Jos. Prüm at Au Vieux Port, Napelsstraat 130, September 28, 2026
For a longer stay, AAAntwerp is a three-day experience in the city center (Binnenstad Antwerpen), running October 14–16, 2026.
Make a Day of It: Neighbourhoods and Nearby
Base yourself in the Binnenstad (city centre) and branch out from there. The Zurenborg district, south-east of the centre, is worth a wander for its Art Nouveau architecture and neighbourhood cafés. Het Eilandje, the old docklands north of the centre, has the MAS museum and a growing cluster of bars and restaurants with water views. The Kloosterstraat in the south of the centre is Antwerp's antique and design strip — good for browsing between market visits.
For a day trip, the city's rail connections put Brussels, Ghent and Mechelen within easy reach — all under an hour by train from Antwerp Centraal.
Eat and Drink Well in the Centre
Antwerp's food scene doesn't pause for the holidays. The Kloosterstraat and Nationalestraat areas are packed with cafés, bakeries and small restaurants where you can start the day with boterhammen (open sandwiches) or a bowl of erwtensoep (split pea soup) — a winter staple. For something heartier, look for stoofvlees (beef stew cooked in beer) served with fries, or vol-au-vent, a creamy chicken ragout in puff pastry that appears on many winter menus.
Plan Around the City's Calendar
Antwerp is a compact, walkable city — the exhibitions, venues and shopping streets all cluster in the centre, and the city's trams and trains make getting around simple. Book your stay in the Binnenstad or Het Eilandje early, as winter weekends fill up with visitors. Keep an eye on exploreantwerp.be for confirmed dates and new listings, and build your days around what's actually scheduled during your visit.