11 Fun Things to Do With Kids in Antwerp, Belgium
I have six kids, and my wife and I try to do special things with each of them individually. On a recent trip to Europe, we traveled to six different countries in total, but one of the highlights was finding fun things to do in Antwerp, Belgium with my son.
Antwerp, in central Belgium, is accessible from Brussels by train in less than an hour. And though it may not be as well known as the Belgian capital, families will find plenty to do here.
My son and I only had one full day in Antwerp, so we tried to hit the highlights. But of course, we could not do the city justice in such a short time. Still, Antwerp is a great place to visit with kids and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our European trip.
Things to do in Antwerp
1. Antwerp Central Train Station
Even if you didn't reach Antwerp by train, definitely still visit the Antwerp Central Train Station. The stunning Antwerpen-Centraal train station was built in the 1890s and is regarded as one of the top train stations in Europe — if not the world.
2. Grote Market
If you've never been to Antwerp, head immediately to the City Center after your train arrives. You can visit Grote Markt, City Hall and also the Visit Antwerp tourism office for maps and information.
3. Cathedral of Our Lady
Then, stop by the Cathedral of Our Lady. Its belfries are on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Museum aan de Stroom
Enter the MAS museum for free to see the panoramic view from the 10th floor, or pay to enter the exhibits. I myself really enjoyed the Port of the World exhibit, but if you're on a budget.
5. Plantin-Moretus Museum
This UNESCO World Heritage site and was featured on Season 30 of
"The Amazing Race." The museum is actually a tour through the house and shops of Christophe Plantin, a 16th-century printer from Antwerp. The tour also details some of the history of printing. (I promise, it's more exciting than it sounds, even for kids — just be sure to ask the front desk for a children's game.)
6. Antwerp Zoo
Located in the middle of the city, right next to the Antwerp Central train station, is the oldest zoo in Belgium. (It opened in 1844.) You get a 25% discount on admission if you have the Antwerp City card.
7. Rubens House
The former home of Pieter Paul Rubens was purchased by the city of Antwerp in 1937, and it now houses many pieces of art from Rubens and his contemporaries. This is one of those things you kind of have to do if you're in Antwerp, even though it may not be a highlight for your child.
8. Antwerp Home of Diamonds
The Home of Diamonds, or DIVA, doesn't really have many actual diamonds on display. Instead, the museum explores how diamonds are mined and processed. My son's favorite part was the vault room. There are several screens featuring different aspects of the industry, but his favorite part was opening the different vault drawers.
9. De Ruien
The old canals and sewer systems of Antwerp are now covered, and referred to as De Ruien. They offer canal boat tours (from €5, or less than $6) as well as an interactive trip with a tablet from €17 ($20) for adults and €11 ($13) for children. We were planning to take the canal boat ride but, due to drought, water in the canal was not deep enough on the day we were there.
10. St. Anna's Tunnel
My son really enjoyed St. Anna's Tunnel, which passes under the Scheldt River. (Locals call it, the Underpass.)The escalators that take you down to the tunnel are made of wood, and it's free to visit. We enjoyed a picnic lunch with a view of the city from across the river. There is also a free passenger ferry that crosses the Scheldt, but it only runs every 30 minutes, so we decided to just walk the tunnel both ways.
11. Comics Station Antwerp
The Smurfs are a Belgian comic creation, and there is a new indoor "theme park" inside the train station where kids can enjoy Smurf-themed rides and attractions, along with other comic book stars born in Belgium. It's perfect for younger kids who need a break from museum.
Things to know before your Antwerp trip
Many of the museums in Antwerp (including DIVA, the Rubens House, MAS Museum and Plantin-Moretus Museum) require you to store large backpacks in lockers before entering the museum. A few of the lockers are free, but several require a €1 or €2 coin deposit that you get back when you exit the museum. If you don't have any coins on you, you can ask at the desk and they will give you a Euro coin-sized slug, which also works the lockers.
Like many European cities, Antwerp also has a large variety of markets. There are several Christmas Markets, for example, travelers can visit during the month of December. You can find these in Groenplaats, Grote Markt, Suikerrui and Steenplein.
There are also a dizzying number of churches and museums, in addition to those we visited during our Antwerp day trip. Drop by Saint James' Church to visit the tomb of Pieter Paul Rubens.
For food and drink, just about every street corner in the central part of Antwerp has shops and restaurants. The Smallest Waffle Shop in the World was on our list of places to visit, but we sadly didn't make it there before we had to leave.
Several of these places to visit and things to do in Antwerp are included or discounted with the Antwerp City Card. Many larger cities offer similar cards or passes, where you pay one price and get free or discounted admission to multiple popular tourist sites. The Antwerp City card costs €27 for 24 hours, €35 for 48 hours and €40 for 72 hours (between $31 and $46). One nice thing about the Antwerp City card is that it also includes public buses and trams in the price, which many city cards do not.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.