Antwerp is a city full of wonders. It’s a destination of many names: the diamond capital of the world, the port city, and the cultural capital of Flanders. With a wide array of amazing places to visit and exciting things to do, there’s no doubt that Antwerp is considered one of the top destinations for your family vacation.
Visiting during January or February means you’ll experience Antwerp’s winter season and expect cold temperatures with the possibility of frost and snow. But fret not — despite the chilly weather, this charming city offers various indoor attractions, winter-themed activities, and delightful culinary experiences that make it a perfect winter getaway.
Planning a family getaway in Antwerp this January 2024? In this article, we’ll explore the best Antwerp has to offer during the colder months.
1. Visit Chocolate Nation: A museum that honours Belgian Chocolate
Did you know that there’s a museum dedicated to Belgian chocolate, the best one in the world? And yes, it’s found in Antwerp!
Chocolate Nation takes you through a visual journey of how a humble cocoa bean becomes a finished product that drives the world crazy. Here, you’ll learn every step of the chocolate-making process and its origins via multimedia presentations and interactive exhibits. After the tour, there’ll be sumptuous Belgian chocolates waiting for you. Enjoy your heart’s content by tasting the samples or buying from the museum shop.
Winter tips: Experience a family-friendly winter chocolate extravaganza at Chocolate Nation from December 7 to January 7. The venue transforms into a chocolate-filled winter wonderland with snow-covered Christmas trees, sparkling lights, and a variety of ten chocolate flavors to sample.
2. Explore the Antwerp Central Train Station
Exploring a train station might not sound like an interesting thing to do with your family, but this station in Antwerp is an exception.
Antwerp Central Station (Middenstatie) is a breathtaking 19th-century tower in the heart of the city. The train station, also dubbed the “Railroad Cathedral” is considered one of the most impressive and elegant train stations in the world. Aside from its jaw-dropping grandeur, Antwerp Central Station is also historically significant. It’s the first station of Belgium’s public railway, which was the first of its kind in Europe.
Whether or not you’re taking the train, you can tour and admire the interiors of this treasured landmark. You can also find a lot of amazing hotels and serviced apartments in Antwerp, which serve as the perfect base for your city break.
5. Discover Antwerp by stepping inside the museums and galleries
If your family is fond of art, culture, and history, you’ll surely love Antwerp’s wide array of excellent museums and galleries this winter.
- Rubens House (Rubenshuis) – This Flemish townhouse with a lovely courtyard is the former home and workshop of Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), one of the most popular Flemish artists. Travel back in time as you gaze upon dozens of classical paintings and artworks installed in rooms, including his early Adam and Eve (c. 1600) and Annunciation (c. 1628) and a few period furniture.
- MAS museum – explores the history of Antwerp and its role as a significant port city
- Museum Plantin-Moretus – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this museum is housed in a building that dates back to medieval times. The museum explores the world’s oldest printing press, a 17th-century library, and a variety of valuable artwork
- Museum Mayer van den Bergh – A four-story Neo-Gothic house that contains a remarkable collection of more than 3,000 artworks, collected by a fine arts connoisseur, Fritz Mayer van den Bergh.
- Royal Museum of Fine Arts (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten) – contains a prestigious collection of 20,000 works of visual art from the 15th to the 21st century. It’s comprised of several entities:
- Musée Old Masters Museum
- Musée Modern Museum
- Musée Wiertz Museum
- Musée Meunier Museum
- Magritte Museum
- Musée Fin-de-Siècle Museum.
6. Marvel at the Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp Cathedral)
Antwerp is home to many historic buildings and the Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal) founded in 1521 is one of them. Antwerp Cathedral is Belgium’s largest Gothic church and one of the most iconic buildings in Antwerp’s skyline. Being the tallest cathedral in the Low Countries, the spire of the Cathedral of Our Lady is visible from many areas of the city.
The interiors flaunt a striking mix of Baroque decor and Ruben’s artwork. Religious or not, it’s hard not to worship the finest of the remaining works of art displayed in the nave, aisles, and cathedral treasury.
7. Visit Antwerp’s major town squares for a winter wonderland experience
Want to explore a real-life Christmas Village with beautiful guild houses, busy market scenes, and a winter backdrop? Visiting Antwerp’s Grand Place (Grote Markt) is a must.
Grote Markt is a lovely square in the heart of the old town with a towering centerpiece: a town hall ( Stadhuis) built in Renaissance and Gothic styles. You’ll also see the huge statue of Silvius Brabo, a legendary giant slayer, standing at the centre of the square to greet you. Bordering the impressive town square are charming guild houses, which originally served as headquarters of the city’s 16th- and 17th-century guilds.
Groenplaats, situated south of the Antwerp cathedral, is another large square to visit. During winter, you can go Ice skating at the picturesque square in the heart of Antwerp. Embrace the winter chill and skate under the twinkling lights and surrounded by historic buildings
8. Enjoy Belgian comfort food and drink
`Warm up with a cup of rich and creamy Belgian hot chocolate. Many cafes and chocolate shops in Antwerp offer this indulgent treat, providing the perfect respite from the cold. Complement your drink with other comfort foods like Belgian fries and Liege waffles.
Stoofvlees with Fries is another Belgian comfort food. This refers to a hearty beef stew, paired with golden fries. This dish is a winter favorite and can be found in traditional Belgian eateries throughout the city. Antwerp is also home to several cosy pubs and cafes to quench your thirst while staying warm.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a content writer during the weekends, and a travel and food blogger 24/7. She may be an awkward introvert but she’s got a lot to say about travel, food, and cultural appreciation. To learn more about hotels and travel blogs, you may visit PREMIER SUITES PLUS Antwerp.