Experience in Antwerp, Belgium by Eva

What is it like to live in Antwerp? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

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The city is nice, not that big but ever changing, neighbourhoods that used to be a bit dirty and dangerous starts living up and by making parks, building library's, new museums Antwerp is becoming very great to live in, you will find a vivid art scene, its a city of fashion and you can relax cause there are some great green area's as well, the Middelheim park is a great and beautiful park, in summer every Thursday you can go for the bbq and dj night, after visiting all the statues in the park, park Spoor Noord is great in summer, just to hang out or order a pizza, if you want to take a fresh dive you can visit the swimming pond in Boekenberg park in Deurne, and so many more green area's to discover as the Rivierenhof, Het Noordkasteel, park Den Brand, Stadspark, Hoboken Polder, and the tunnel on the Tunnelplaats takes you by foot or bike to the other side of de river, to Linkeroever where it's nice to walk or hang out and watch the city from the other site.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Antwerp?

There are several nice places to hang out and have a drink as there is Kassa 4, on the Ossenmarkt in the middle of the student neighbourhood, next to the Royal Academie you can eat and drink in a great atmosphere at Het Lastig Portret for very economic prices and have a great coffee in the Normo at the Minderbroedersrui.

How much does it cost to live in Antwerp?

For a "kot" you will pay something in between 300 and 500 a month, an apartment is more expensive, all depending on the neighbourhood and the condition of the place.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Antwerp? Is there any advice you can give?

There are several websites where you can find accommodation like immoweb for students Erasmus and samenhuizen.be or vind een kot don't think it's that difficult but prices are getting higher and always beware of the additional costs they ask on top of the rent, conditions are getting stricter as they ask sometimes for proof of income, etc.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Today in Antwerp you can eat burgers, restaurant style as there is the Burgerij as well on the "Eilandje" as in the "Zurenborg" neighbourhood, and the Elli's Gourmet Burger on the "Eilandje" and near by the station on the Keyserlei, I love the Brasserie Kitchen and the atmosphere and the economic prizes in the Brasserie Gustav on the Rooseveltplaats, the new falafel place in the Hoogstraat Falafeltof is great, always really busy and they close early so come early! But the quality of the food is really great.

What places would you recommend visiting in Antwerp?

There are several really nice museums in Antwerp, as there is the brand new red star line museum, about the history of the boats going to New York in an amazing building with a beautiful boat-like panorama tower, the Mas and the rooftop that you can always visit for free, with a great view over Antwerp, the Muhka, the Fotomuseum, and in the south area several nice galleries, every first Thursday of the month you can visit them at night.

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Is the nightlife good in Antwerp? Where is good to go?

The nightlife used to be a big thing, people came from far and beyond to taste the Antwerp nightlife, for a while it was silent as several amazing places shut down, as the city is ever changing there are some great new places popping up: Bagger is a new kind of underground dance-bar at the Kattendijkdok, the watch-club on the Rijnkaai (is a club for holebi's ), not new but very famous is Café d'Anvers in the red district for house music-lovers, as there is as well Piaf in a more underground atmosphere in the south of the city.

What advice would you give future students heading to Antwerp?

Welcome!