Antwerp Sights: Spires, Squares, Skyline
Antwerp Sights: Spires, Squares, Skyline
One tower, 123 metres tall, tells you where you are in Antwerp: the single spire of the Cathedral of Our Lady, the tallest church tower in the Benelux. Most of the sights worth seeing sit within a 20-minute walk of it, and several cost nothing. Prices are in euros.
The cathedral
Built between 1352 and 1521, it is the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries. Inside are Rubens altarpieces and a 49-bell carillon. Entry is €12 for adults and free under 18. Hours are Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday 10:00 to 15:00 and Sunday 13:00 to 17:00; some dates in November and December are closed, so check dekathedraal.be .
Grote Markt and the Stadhuis
The Grote Markt is a triangular square ringed by 16th-century guild houses with stepped gables and gilded statues. Jef Lambeaux’s 1887 Brabo Fountain shows the Roman soldier hurling a giant’s hand into the river, the legend behind the city’s name. The Renaissance Stadhuis, finished in 1564 to a design by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, is free to admire from the square. The language here is Dutch, so look for Grote Markt on signs.
Het Steen and the quay
Het Steen is Antwerp’s oldest surviving building, an 800-year-old fortress on the Scheldt. Its courtyard and rooftop terrace are free and give views across the river.
Antwerpen-Centraal
The station by Louis Delacenserie opened in 1905, with a 75-metre stone dome and a 185-metre iron-and-glass vault. It counts among the finest railway stations in the world and costs nothing to enter. Watch your bags here and along De Keyserlei and the Meir.
The MAS and the Eilandje
The MAS tower on Hanzestedenplaats is clad in red sandstone and wavy glass. Its rooftop panorama is free, open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:30 to 22:00 (until midnight from 1 April to 31 October). Nearby the Port House, by Zaha Hadid, sits like a faceted ship on top of an old fire station.
Churches with Rubens
Sint-Jacobskerk holds Rubens’ family chapel and his painting Our Lady Surrounded by Saints. Sint-Pauluskerk, a former Dominican church, shows Rubens, Van Dyck and Jordaens, but it is under restoration, so check opening times before you go. Rubens’ own house on Wapper has its garden and the Rubens Experience open.
Getting about
Most sights are walkable. A De Lijn single is €3 by contactless, a day ticket €9. To cross the Scheldt, take the free Sint-Annatunnel or the free Sint-Anna ferry rather than a tram, since the premetro line under the river is shut until about March 2027. Visitor information is at visit.antwerpen.be .
To go beyond self-guided sightseeing, you can browse Antwerp tours on GetYourGuide . The activities page adds food and drink to the list.
Tip: start at the Grote Markt at 10:00 on a weekday, when the cathedral is open and the squares are still quiet.