Experience in Antwerp, Belgium by Jenta

Source

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

Antwerp is a beautiful city, and on every corner there is something you can do. I would definitely recommend going there, since it is a university city with beautiful surroundings and an old culture, mixed with the vibrant lifestyle of a modern city.

What is the student lifestyle like in Antwerp?

What's great about Antwerp that it's not a city that's overcrowded with students, but they are a big part of it. In the student area, which is located just 5 minutes north of the big shopping street, the Meir, there are numerous student bars with pretty low prices. Same with snackbars with sandwiches, wraps, juices and coffee. On Thursday the clubs that are not situated in the student neighbourhood and that usually have an entrance fee, are free for students so you know you'll always be in a place where like-minded people go to have fun.

How much does it cost to live in Antwerp?

I think regarding accommodation, Antwerp is quite average. Of course there is a danger in living in a city with lots of fashion, food and fun : you'll spend more. It's not necessarily an expensive city, there's just a lot of things you can spend your money on.

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

I'm not really familiar with living in a student 'kot' because i live at home and commute (30 min). But as i have seen with some of my friends, it's not that hard at all. The entire university neighbourhood is packed with student housings, just go online, type 'studentenkot Antwerpen' or just 'kot', and you'll get loads of options. Just make sure that you're in the right area, there is also a university in Wilrijk just outside of Antwerp, but there's rarely anything to do over there.

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

People always come to Belgium and the first thing they want to eat are Belgian waffles. In my experience, these are not that great and it's definitely not something we eat often. What you should do is go to a 'fries-house', 'frietkot' in dutch, and order 'frietjes met mayonnaise and stoofvlees'. Trust me on this one.

What places would you recommend visiting in Antwerp?

I love sitting by the riverside, or on one of the many many little squares you find all over the city. Het MAS is a cool new museum situated near the docks with different expos every so often. Just stroll around Antwerp to see the lovely arhitecture and the pretty houses. There is honestly not an ugly place in Antwerp that I can think of. There is the museum of Fashion, of Modern Art and ofcourse many many churches.