Regardless of being one of many worldโs smallest international locations, Belgium isnโt wanting tempting metropolis breaks for households โ in addition to Brussels, Bruges and Ghent, you could find loads of issues to do in Antwerp with children.
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Earlier than I visited, I admit I didnโt know as a lot about this Flemish metropolis, which sits about half an hour from the Dutch border โ Europeโs second largest port, house to Rubens, a style hotspot and on the coronary heart of the worldโs diamond commerce, thereโs tons to find.
And in case your children arenโt fussed by positive artwork, valuable gems and avant-garde design, there are some nice household sights as properly, together with the 20 concepts under, my decide of the perfect issues to do in Antwerp for youths.
Take a look at my information to Belgium with children for extra concepts for family-friendly breaks
Antwerp Zoo
One of many oldest zoos on the planet, Antwerp Zoo sits proper subsequent to the prepare station โ the truth is, when the station was constructed, they needed to promise to verify the wall connecting the 2 was as ornamental because the station itself.
You must maintain your animals completely happy, in spite of everything! Maintain an eye fixed out for the camel statue on the rooftop as you enter the gates previous golden mosaic massive cat footage, with round 1,000 completely different species to find inside.
The completely different areas of the zoo are themed on locations from all over the world, whereas it additionally runs numerous initiatives to assist endangered animals: plus thereโs an opportunity to see massive cats, bears, penguins, elephants and extra, together with the aquarium.
Het Steen Fortress
Het Steen โ which interprets because the rock โ dates again to the beginning of the thirteenth century, when the fortress was a part of a good greater fortress.
The oldest constructing in Antwerp, immediately it homes the vacationer data centre and The Antwerp Story (scroll down for extra particulars) so not like the Gravensteen in Ghent, itโs not a fortress you possibly can discover to get a style of medieval Belgium, however itโs nonetheless an imposing sight.
Exterior, thereโs additionally a statue of a large, often known as Lange Wapper who legend says used to terrorise Antwerpโs inhabitants, and two people cowering earlier than him.
It’s also possible to purchase the Antwerp Metropolis Move, together with entry to sights and public transport, on the vacationer data centre, in addition to choosing up maps and biking trails
The Antwerp Story
Set inside Het Steen, the Antwerp Story is a good introduction to the historical past of town for youths.
Shifting by means of time as you go by means of 11 completely different rooms, there are some inventive methods to move you again into Antwerpโs previous, together with a hologram of a designer and a 360-degree projection of the port, in addition to fashions to climb inside and extra.
Permit between 30 and 60 minutes for the principle attraction, then save a while to absorb the views from the roof terrace of Het Steen.
Chocolate Nation
The worldโs largest Belgian chocolate museum, Chocolate Nation is a good mixture of background in regards to the historical past of chocolate, chocolate making shows, and place to attempt a couple of your self.
Quite a lot of, the truth is, as you possibly can style 10 completely different flavours of chocolate whilst you discover the 14 completely different rooms. Thereโs an audio information in English and Le Petit Chocolatier expertise for youths.
Alongside the best way, you possibly can be taught some quirky information โ similar to that Antwerp has the worldโs largest cocoa storage port โ in addition to just about visiting cocoa plantations on the equator.
Positioned reverse the Central Station, enable round 60-90 minutes for the go to (and maintain an eye fixed out for the colorful Chinatown arch close by as you go in).
Donโt miss at cease on the Chocolate Line store whilst youโre in Antwerp โ we found the weird flavours throughout a go to to Bruges however the Antwerp store is way quieter
Discover the underground canals
Whereas thereโs a lot to see above floor in Antwerp with children, town additionally has an interesting underground collection of tunnels and canals tucked away.
Often called De Ruien, the waterways have been as soon as used to get across the metropolis within the Center Ages, earlier than being lined over โ however you possibly can take a particular tour of the historic underground passages and be taught extra about Antwerp alongside the best way.
Youngsters aged 10+ can be a part of one of many guided walks. The quick boat journeys, appropriate for age 3+, which have been essentially the most child-friendly option to discover, should not at present working.
Take a tour
Antwerp is a really walkable metropolis though for those who donโt fancy exploring on foot, you could find loads of different choices too.
Strolling tour of Antwerp with children
There are some nice household pleasant strolling excursions of Antwerp โ this two hour highlights tour is an effective place to start out, or add some chocolate and fries to your exploring with a enjoyable meals tour of Antwerp.
Household-friendly bike tour of Antwerp
Or be a part of a family-friendly bike tour of Antwerp, the place you possibly can be taught extra in regards to the tales and secret of town from a neighborhood throughout a two-hour cycle round its streets.
Self-guided tour of Antwerp
As a substitute for an organised metropolis strolling tour (though youโre spoiled for alternative for those who do need a kind of), attempt a scavenger hunt of Antwerp, fixing clues and riddles as you wander previous 10 of townโs key places.
Boat tour of Antwerp
Should you simply need a style of being out on the water, hop on the water bus which runs alongside the Scheldt โ you possibly can decide it up at Steenplein, close to Het Steen, or the Sint Anna tunnels for instance.
Alternatively, there are non-public excursions together with the electrical Sir Tristram from Antwerp by Boat which take you on 50-minute jaunts across the harbour.
Spot the road artwork
Should youโre visiting with older children, maintain an eye fixed out for the road artwork round Antwerp together with the Stripmuren comedian murals route.
There are at present 13 completely different websites across the metropolis, with a map to obtain if you wish to tick off all of the completely different websites, or you possibly can simply match a couple of into your exploring with a couple of close to the historic Grote Markt sq..
The Plopsa Station amusement park, often known as Comics Station with its theme of cartoon characters and superheroes, closed completely in January 2026
Be taught the legend of Antwerpโs identify
Head to the historic a part of Antwerp and the Grote Markt sq. is house to a few of its prettiest outdated buildings together with the sixteenth century city corridor and guildhalls.
However whilst youโre there, you possibly can see the Brabo fountain, celebrating the legend which gave town its identify. So the story tells, a Roman soldier identify Brabo got here to the world the place a large was demanding a toll to cross the river.
Anybody who did not pay had their hand lower off and flung into the water. Brabo, who didnโt need to pay the toll, challenged the enormous and defeated him within the combat โ earlier than deciding to topic him to the identical punishment, flinging his hand into the river Scheldt.
The Dutch phrases โhantโ โwerpenโ (hand throw) led to the identify we nonetheless use immediately.
Eat Antwerpse Handjes
Should youโve obtained a great legend of giants and fingers being thrown into rivers, the following step is a conventional deal with to rejoice it.
Antwerpse Handjes are scrumptious hand-shaped buttery biscuits with flaked almonds in, though you can too discover chocolate fingers and chocolate-covered marzipan choices.
Sint Anna Tunnel
There arenโt many locations the place crossing a river is a child-friendly attractionโฆ particularly once youโre going beneath the water.
However for those whoโre visiting Antwerp with children, donโt miss St Annaโs tunnel, which crossed beneath the river Scheldt. Created to attach the newer components of town with the historic city, the river was too busy for a bridge, so as a substitute of going over, the choice was made to go beneath.
The principle spotlight is the Thirties wood escalators which lead you down into the tunnel: fantastically preserved, itโs one of the uncommon issues to do in Antwerp with children โ the white-tiled tunnel itself stretches for 1,876 toes and isnโt massively thrilling however you possibly can simply trip straight again up once more.
Should you do maintain going, head proper once you emerge and thereโs a small seaside round half a mile away.
Discover some inexperienced area
The largest public inexperienced area within the metropolis, the Stadspark is a stunning spot to flee the bustle or calm down in the summertimeโs warmth.
Thereโs a small lake to get pleasure from, in addition to strolling trails within the triangular park and a skate park โ for those whoโre fortunate, you possibly can even spot rabbits. Round 10 minutes stroll from Centraal station.
As one other various, head to the botanic gardens with round 2,000 completely different vegetation and herbs, within the grounds of the previous medieval hospital on Leopoldstraat.
Go to a museum
Antwerp is house to a string of museums, and whereas some will attraction extra to older children (similar to MoMu, townโs style museum), thereโs a formidable vary to take a look at.
KMSKA Museum of positive artwork
With a formidable 13,000 items in its assortment, Antwerpโs Museum of High-quality Artwork has an enormous assortment of labor by Rubens โ who spent a lot of his life within the metropolis โ in addition to a string of different artworks proper by means of to the Expressionists.
Reopened in late 2022 after an enormous 11-year renovation undertaking, there are recommendations on what to look out for for households, plus children aged 6-12 get a sketchbook and pencil as a present with the household path.
Plantin-Moretus Museum
The primary museum to function on Unescoโs World Heritage Web site listing, the Plantin-Moretus Museum housed considered one of Europeโs most essential e book printing corporations.
Itโs nonetheless arrange as for those who have been visiting the home because it was 400 years in the past, together with the preserved printing presses. And in addition to having the ability to see a printing demonstration, thereโs additionally a enjoyable treasure hunt for households, difficult you to identify animals hiding within the museum rooms โ appropriate for ages 4+.
DIVA Museum
Greater than 80% of the worldโs uncut diamonds go by means of Antwerp however many of the gem commerce โ unsurprisingly โ isnโt open to the general public.
So to get an actual style of the bling, head to DIVA Museum, which reopened in 2023, and which shares extra in regards to the historical past of diamond buying and selling within the metropolis together with some spectacular gems and items of jewelry on show.
MAS Museum
The Museum aan de Stroom, or MAS, is one other good place to be taught extra about Antwerpโs historical past โ to not point out how its significance as a port cast hyperlinks to international locations all over the world.
Maintain an eye fixed out for family-friendly exhibitions, together with one known as โAnyone Dwellingโ which encompasses a sewer crocodile, board video games and drawing on partitions, whereas one other quickly exhibition covers the legends and tales of Antwerp. Head as much as the roof terrace for one more nice view too.
The View, Antwerpโs ferris wheel, has now closed in case you have been planning to board it to look out over the rooftops
The Rubens Home
The home the place Rubens lived throughout his time in Antwerp is closed for ongoing renovations till 2030, once youโll be capable of step inside his studio as soon as once more, though you possibly can go to the Rubens Expertise within the meantime in addition to the gardens (and his library on weekdays).
Or to find extra of his works, younger art-lovers ought to head to the KMSKA, the Plantin-Moretus Museum and contained in the cathedral, amongst different websites.
Museum de Reede
One other museum thatโs finest for older children, the Museum de Reede focuses on graphic artwork and engravings together with work by Edvard Munch and Francisco Goya, in addition to up to date artists. Free for under-13s.
Belgiumโs nice prepare community means itโs simple to discover different cities as a day journey from Antwerp with children โ take a look at my suggestions for issues to do in Brussels, Bruges and Ghent
Disclosure: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. My go to to Antwerp was courtesy of Luxair and the vacationer board for work with no obligation to share, however I needed to anywayโฆ All opinions are my very own.
Zoo entrance/wet metropolis road pictures copyright MummyTravels, St Anna tunnel courtesy AdobeStock, all different pictures courtesy of Depositphotos
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