This weekend, I finally got down to reviewing and processing all the photos that I took in Antwerp during a weekend getaway in April. Here are some photos taken around the city’s waterfront, from both sides, starting first with Sint-Annatunnel. Built underneath the river Schelde from 1931 to 1933, the St. Anna tunnel connects the old city centre to the modern Linkeroever neighbourhood on the left bank. While cyclists usually descend the 30 metres into the tunnel using the lift, pedestrians have the option of riding the original wooden escalators that have been in operation since the 1930s. Such elegant machinery! 
Stretching 572 metres, it takes around 10 minutes to walk the length of the tunnel. 
We had entered the tunnel from right bank, via a square called Sint-Jansvliet, and emerged on the other side, which presented a beautiful view of Antwerp’s old city centre: Complete with the cathedral and Europe’s first skyscraper, the art deco Boerentoren that was built in 1930. 
It was a slightly cloudy day, with a gentle breeze teasing the river grass, and made for a lovely stroll along the waterfront. From here, you can also see the distinctive red sandstone Museum aan de Stroom (Museum by the River). We were starting to get hungry and decided to find our way back to the right bank. 
Instead of making a detour, we walked into the Linkeroever neighbourhood – which is very different from what we had seen of Antwerp so far. Is this what the suburbs of Antwerp are like, with most of the residents living in high-rise apartment buildings that would not have looked out of place in Singapore? 
We boarded a bus to bring us across Waaslandtunnel (for vehicles only) and alighted at the old port area, which is not too far from Museum aan de Stroom (Museum by the River) @ Hanzestedenplaats 5. What an impressive and gorgeous building! I love how the architects have stacked slabs of Indian red sandstone to form this ‘sculpture’. 
With every 90-degree turn that we took at each escalator landing, we were surrounded by views of the city as we went round and round the central tower of the museum. All 10 floors of it! The undulating glass panels also created a rather interesting perspective of the city, as though you are seeing it from under water. 
Finally, we arrived at the rooftop of the museum, just as the sun was setting. Those with vertigo might hesitate to walk up to the glass ‘walls’, but if you have no fear of heights, it’s fun to poke your nose / face out of one of the circular holes that have been cut into the glass for a clearer view of the city. 
After walking a few rounds on the rooftop – which by the way, anyone can go up here without paying an entrance fee, it was time to make our gradual descent. 
If you’re interested to learn about the design of the museum, click here and here. Here’s a screen grab of our walk across the St. Anna tunnel and along the west bank of river Schelde, which was around 2 kilometres, and here’s the link to the Google Map that I made for this short visit to Antwerp. 
Angelina Hue 
Love the shot looking through the glass!
Thanks Carl!
Beautiful work!!
Thank you!
I like that black and white picture!
Thank you!
fantastic. I love the one of the ladies chatting + the skyline…so everyday, but perfectly picturesque! i’ll have to refer back to your itinerary whenever we (finally) make it up to antwerp!
It was very picturesque indeed : ) Antwerp was the first city that we visited outside of Brussels – surprising to see how easy it is to go there!
These are wonderful photos and I enjoyed the tour of the city! I’m embarrassed to say I had to Google Antwerp because I didn’t know which country it was in. 😐 I’m late catching up on blogs but it’s always a pleasure coming back to yours.
Thanks Lisa and please don’t be embarrassed! After all, we learn something new all the time 🙂 Greetings from the bottom of the mountains in Asturias in Spain!
Love that wooden escalator!
Hello,
I stumbled upon your blog (through a facebook post by Ange Sim who used to be my student at NUS). I’m now based in the US. I will be going back to Spore after Christmas with a stopover in Belgium and Paris. Will be visiting Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and Brussels before going to Paris. I loved all your photos and information of the different places….hope to include all or most of them in my list of sights to see. Thank you and have a nice day! 🙂
Hi Ragu, thanks for your note and happy that you enjoyed my photos and articles! Please don’t hesitate to drop me a note if you would like any recommendations for Belgium or Paris. There’s a lot more in my head and scribbled notes on these places than here on my blog (I can’t write fast or regularly enough to keep up with myself!) Have a lovely day too!
Thanks, Angelina! You have already given me a lot to work with. The biggest concern is whether places will be open around New Year’s Day….will be in Ghent (your favorite place) on the eve and first day of the new year. Wishing you Happy Holidays!
Good point – some places will be closed for the holiday period, though more so over Christmas eve and Christmas than NY’s eve and NY’s day.
By the way, my Belgian colleagues told me that the Christmas market in Ghent is lovely and the calendar shows that it will be open in the afternoon of NY eve: https://visit.gent.be/en/event-christmas-market-0?context=tourist. Happy holidays to you too and hope that you’ll have a lovely visit!
OK, will certainly make a visit there. Thanks for the tip! 🙂