🇧🇪Antwerp

Grote Markt and the Brabo Fountain

Antwerp's main square is ringed by stunning 16th-century guildhalls and anchored by the UNESCO-listed City Hall. The real crowd-pleaser is the Brabo Fountain — tell your kids the legend of Silvius Brabo, who defeated a giant and threw his severed hand into the Scheldt River. It's dramatic, a little gross, and totally memorable.

Cathedral of Our Lady

This UNESCO-listed Gothic masterpiece took nearly 170 years to build, from 1352 to 1521, and its 123-metre tower still dominates the Antwerp skyline. Inside, you'll find original Rubens paintings hanging exactly where they were always meant to be. Even kids who aren't into art tend to be impressed by the sheer scale of the place.

Antwerp Central Station

You don't need to catch a train to enjoy this place. Antwerp Central is widely considered one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world, with its grand dome, ornate stone details, and multi-level platforms. Walk in, look up, and let your family take it all in. It's completely free and genuinely spectacular.

Antwerp Zoo

One of the oldest zoos in the world, Antwerp Zoo sits right next to the Central Station and offers a full day of animals in both indoor and outdoor settings. It's well-maintained, easy to navigate with a pushchair, and has plenty of covered areas for rainy days — which, in Belgium, is always a bonus.

MAS Museum Rooftop

The Museum aan de Stroom offers city history exhibits across its winding floors, but the real highlight for families is the free panoramic rooftop. You get a 360-degree view of the harbour and skyline, and the best part is that the rooftop stays accessible even after the museum closes. It's one of Antwerp's most rewarding free experiences.

DIVA Museum and the Diamond District

Antwerp handles more than 80% of the world's rough diamonds, and the DIVA Museum brings that remarkable story to life in a way that's genuinely engaging for older kids and adults alike. Afterwards, walk through the Diamond District and let the sheer scale of the trade sink in. It's a fascinating slice of Antwerp's identity.

Rubens House

Peter Paul Rubens was Antwerp's most famous resident, and his former home and studio is one of the best-preserved artist's houses in Europe. The Baroque architecture is beautiful, the garden is a lovely spot for a breather, and the paintings give older kids a real sense of how a 17th-century superstar lived and worked.

Het Steen Fortress and the Sint-Annatunnel

Het Steen is Antwerp's oldest building, sitting right on the Scheldt River with free views from its roof terrace. Nearby, the Sint-Annatunnel is a 1933 pedestrian tunnel under the river that still uses its original wooden escalators — one of the last in the world. Kids find the whole thing brilliantly odd, and the views from the other bank are worth the trip.