{"id":475,"date":"2026-02-09T07:24:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T07:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/475\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T07:24:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T07:24:21","slug":"i-live-in-antwerp-home-to-europes-coolest-neighbourhood-heres-why-borgerhout-deserves-that-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/475\/","title":{"rendered":"I Live in Antwerp, Home to Europe’s Coolest Neighbourhood \u2013 Here’s Why Borgerhout Deserves That Title"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s pretty amazing to live in Belgium’s second city. Antwerp is a charming, compact and dynamic metropolis filled with Michelin-starred restaurants, cosy pubs and wine bars, plus idyllic shopping streets featuring world-famous designers like Dries Van Noten and museums housing medieval and gothic masterpieces. For the last two decades, I’ve called the city home.<\/p>\n

In this patch of northwestern Europe, Antwerp has always been somewhat in the shadow of cities like Amsterdam<\/a> and Paris<\/a>. But this year, the city seems to have really stepped into the spotlight<\/a>. While most visitors will stick to the city centre, it\u2019s neighbourhoods like Borgerhout where you\u2019ll find real local flavour and some of the coolest places to eat, drink and shop.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A tight-knit local community<\/p>\n

Borgerhout hasn\u2019t always had the best reputation, with some locals pointing to crime and anti-social behaviour. The smallest of Antwerp\u2019s districts, it was derisively called \u2018Borgerokko\u2019 (a combination of \u2018Borgerhout\u2019 and \u2018Morocco\u2019) because of a large population of immigrants from Arabic-speaking countries. In fact,\u00a0around 140\u00a0nationalities live in the area, with inhabitants hailing from Mali and Pakistan to Canada and the US. Today, the neighbourhood\u2019s\u00a0multiculturalism is celebrated.<\/p>\n

Borgerhout\u2019s\u00a0modern-day transformation is largely due to the efforts of local residents. Innovative projects like ‘parklets’ and culturally inclusive events \u2013 where residents from different backgrounds celebrate together \u2013 contribute to a strong sense of community. <\/p>\n

A true cultural melting pot, in Borgerhout you\u2019ll find almost everything from almost everywhere, ranging from grocers, butchers and international food shops to contemporary art galleries, stylish restaurants, intimate cafes and coffee bars. Despite its challenges in the past, the positive evolution of the neighbourhood is widely supported by both new and long-term residents.<\/p>\n

\"Borgerhout,
\nPhotograph: Ella Doyle for Time Out <\/p>\n

Rein Adons is one of them, having opened the popular Caf\u00e9 Mombasa<\/a> on Moorkensplein 15 years ago. Her beer and bicycle caf\u00e9 has since grown into a household name and an attraction drawing visitors from far beyond Borgerhout. <\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s a sense of community here you won’t find in the city centre. Everyone knows each other. Many like-minded people live here and you can simply be yourself,\u2019 Adons says. \u2018Everyone contributes to that community spirit. I also love the spontaneous creativity and the immense potential for growth here. This creates a strong sense of belonging, which is genuine and authentic, not something conceived in an expensive planning office. As a result, people are proud to belong \u2013 proud to be a Borgerhoutenaar.\u2019<\/p>\n

I love the spontaneous creativity and potential for growth here<\/p>\n

Alongside neighbourhood stalwarts, old-school shops and food spots, Borgerhout boasts some of Antwerp\u2019s trendiest addresses. There\u2019s a string of great galleries, including\u00a0Base-Alpha<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0DMW<\/a>.\u00a0You can buy new-style sourdough bread at the beautiful Boulot Bakery<\/a> or go for traditional Moroccan sweets at Bakkerij Roma<\/a>, owned by Mohamed and Younes Boulakhrif.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Next door to the bakery, you’ll find the beautiful concert venue with the same name: De Roma<\/a>. It’s the perfect place to see live music, often featuring international artists. Just a hop away is Falafel King<\/a>, a neighbourhood staple. It might look like a typical kebab joint, but this inviting spot has gained a loyal following, keen to get their hands on the most delicious falafel in Antwerp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Interior
\nPhotograph: DMW Gallery <\/p>\n

A bit further on, the Handelstraat is full of small businesses like Royale Fish<\/a>, a Moroccan fishmonger with an amazing assortment of seafood where even non-locals head for delicious sardines or fresh octopus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

BorGerHub<\/a>,\u00a0managed by Sarah Neirinckx, offers a unique shopping experience and represents the DIY spirit of the neighbourhood. It\u2019s located in the beautiful building of the former Justice of the Peace Court (Vredegerecht), which has been remarkably transformed into a creative laboratory where artists, start-up entrepreneurs, and creative generalists can go to develop and sell their ideas and products. Here you can buy fairtrade products ranging from Kibibi jewellery from Uganda to Kantha jackets and throws from India.<\/p>\n

In Borgerhout, there is a policy of live and let live<\/p>\n

\u2018In Borgerhout, you can feel the city’s pulse and the close-knit atmosphere of a small town,\u2019 says Neirinckx. \u2018It buzzes with creativity. Borgerhout feels alive and there is a policy of live and let live. The district leadership has a strong relationship with its residents, and you can feel the change. A good example is the lively squares, and the cute new places popping up everywhere.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of the building\u2019s forty start-up entrepreneurs and creators is illustrator Gert Van Daele, who sells her illustrations at the hub. \u2018I love living here,\u2019 she says. \u2018It’s just like a village, but just cooler and with the benefits of a real city. I live on the lively Krugerplein and there’s always a buzz there.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A
\nPhotograph: Ella Doyle for Time Out <\/p>\n

According to Gert and many other locals, there are simply too many interesting places in the area to list. One name that crops up often is\u00a0Bar Leon<\/a>, another favorite neighbourhood caf\u00e9 boasting a huge terrace on the Krugerplein, and Frituur Tina<\/a>, which serves the best French (or better Belgian!) fries in Antwerp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the summer, a scoop from Borgo Gelato<\/a> is essential, while Briquet<\/a> \u2013 also with a big terrace, plus a wine bar and a small but creative vegetable-focused menu \u2013 is the new darling of Borgerhout. Antwerpians also love to head over here to buy blooms at the stunning Wilder<\/a>, a flower shop owned by florist duo Marijke Boesmans and Mayken Craenen. Coup de Chocolat<\/a> is a chocolate shop owned by Caroline Huyghe, who last year won big at the International Chocolate Awards and the World Chocolate Awards with her \u2018bean to bar\u2019 method of chocolate-making.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018It made sense to have a studio near home,\u2019 says Huyghe. \u2018The vibe here is excellent, full of creative energy. The rent is still more affordable than downtown, and people genuinely take time to support one another, which is really wonderful to see.\u2019<\/p>\n

Read Time Out\u2019s full list of the world\u2019s coolest neighbourhoods here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stay in the loop: sign up to our\u00a0free Time Out Travel newsletter<\/a>\u00a0for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n