Antwerp Belgium

712 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

AmaWaterways (90 Cruises)

Avalon Waterways (44 Cruises)

CroisiEurope (91 Cruises)

Cruise CE Croisieurope MS Lafayette ship

MS Lafayette

78 Passengers
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Emerald Waterways (36 Cruises)

Emerald Sun

Emerald Sun

227 Passengers
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Riviera Travel (22 Cruises)

Scenic Cruises (143 Cruises)

Scenic Opal.

Scenic Opal

169 Passengers
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Scenic Pearl.

Scenic Pearl

159 Passengers
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Scenic Ruby

Scenic Ruby

169 Passengers
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Uniworld Boutique River Cruise (59 Cruises)

S.S. Victoria.

S.S. Victoria

151 Passengers
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Viking River Cruises (191 Cruises)

Viking Longship Gefjon.

Viking Longship Gefjon

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Viking Longships Kvasir.

Viking Longships Kvasir

238 Passengers
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Viking Longships Ve.

Viking Longships Ve

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The cathedral spire comes into view first, rising 123 metres above the rooftops, long before the ship finishes its journey up the Scheldt. Antwerp has to be earned: both ocean and river ships reach the centre by the river itself, docking right in the heart of the historic district, at the foot of the Steen fortress. Few European cities offer such an arrival: step down the gangway, and two hundred metres later, you're already walking the cobblestones of the old town.

This advantage changes the whole pace of the port call. No shuttle, no transfer: Quai Ernest Van Dijck and Steenplein open directly onto the lanes leading to the Grote Markt. The Steen, the city's oldest building, has stood guard by the water since the Middle Ages, and the landscaped riverside promenade offers a first look at the shipping traffic that built the fortune of this Flemish city.

The Grote Markt and the Cathedral

A five-minute walk from the dock, the Grote Markt shows off its guild houses with gilded gables around the Brabo Fountain, honouring the legendary hero said to have cut off a giant's hand and thrown it into the Scheldt. The Renaissance city hall closes off the square, and café terraces compete for the first rays of morning sun. Just behind it, the Cathedral of Our Lady deserves some real time: the largest Gothic church in the former Low Countries, it houses several masterpieces by Rubens, including The Descent from the Cross. The painter lived and worked here, and his presence still shapes the city's churches and museums.

From the Meir to the Diamond District

Heading east, the Meir lines up its grand facades, now one of Belgium's busiest shopping streets. Chocolate lovers will find plenty to fill their bags, from pralines to warm waffles. At the far end of the avenue, Antwerp Central Station is worth a stop on its own: its monumental dome, marble and ironwork have earned it the nickname "railway cathedral." All around it spreads the diamond district, through which a substantial share of the world's diamond trade has passed for generations. Understated storefronts and shopping arcades tell another side of Antwerp's wealth.

The MAS and the Old Docks

North of the centre, a fifteen-minute walk from the dock, the former port district of Eilandje has reinvented itself around the MAS, a museum devoted to the city and its river. Its red sandstone and rippled glass structure spirals upward; visitors can climb to the rooftop terrace for free, taking in the finest panoramic view of the docks, the church spires and the ribbon of the Scheldt. The old docks now host sailing ships and museum vessels, and the renovated warehouses hold cafés and galleries.

Flemish Flavours

Before heading back to the ship, it would be a shame not to sit down for a bite: a cone of crispy fries, a beer brewed right in the city, or a pot of mussels in season, while carillon bells mark the afternoon above the café terraces. Antwerp takes its food and drink seriously, and the estaminets of the old town have served sailors, merchants and travellers passing through for centuries.

As evening falls and the ship pulls away from the dock, the illuminated spire slips slowly behind the stern. Antwerp leaves passengers with that rare feeling of having crossed five centuries in a single day, from the gilded works of Rubens to the sparkle of diamonds, never straying more than twenty minutes from their cabin. The Scheldt, ever faithful, carries everyone back out to sea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Right in the historic heart, at the foot of the Steen fortress on Ernest Van Dijck quay and Steenplein. Both ocean ships and river vessels reach the centre by sailing up the Scheldt.
No, and that is the great advantage of this call. Two hundred metres past the gangway you are already on the cobbles of the old town. The Grote Markt is a five-minute walk.
The main square and the Cathedral of Our Lady first, then the Meir up to Central Station and the diamond district. For views, climb to the MAS rooftop terrace, a 15-minute walk north.
Several Rubens masterpieces, including The Descent from the Cross. The Gothic nave is the largest in the former Low Countries and the spire rises 123 metres above the rooftops.
Guild houses with gilded gables around the Brabo fountain, named for the legendary hero who is said to have cut off a giant's hand and thrown it into the Scheldt. The Renaissance city hall closes the square.
Yes, if only for the roof. The rooftop terrace is free to climb and gives the best panorama over the docks, the spires and the ribbon of the Scheldt. The museum itself tells the story of the city and its river.
Yes. The diamond district around Central Station has handled a considerable share of the world's stone trade for generations. Buy from an established dealer and insist on certification.
The euro, and Dutch: Antwerp is in Flanders. English is spoken everywhere in shops; French is understood but less readily than in Brussels.
A cone of crisp frites, a beer brewed in the city, or a pot of mussels in season. The old-town estaminets have served sailors, merchants and travellers for centuries.
Yes. Everything is walkable with no transfers, the MAS rooftop entertains children and the chocolate on the Meir does the rest. Short distances avoid the long waits that often spoil a family port day.