Tatt time in Antwerp this weekend
Here’s the GOOGLE MAP!
If you are into your ink, then it’s the 18th Antwerp Tattoo Convention this weekend, at Waagnatie on both Saturday and Sunday.
(pic courtesy of Yael Greenhalgh)
Friday
It is the Easter edition of Critical Mass. Assemble as usual at Theaterplein at 6pm, with your bike. Enjoy a spring bike ride with other cyclists around Antwerp. Rumour has it that this edition involves chocolate.
Saturday
7000 cyclists will be taking part in a warm-up event (We Ride Flanders) for the Tour of Flanders (see Sunday) They are going to be setting off between 7 and 8am and following the same course as the Tour
Sunday
The Tour of Flanders bike race starts today from Antwerp! It sets off from Het Steen at 10.30 but the festivities will be up and running from 8am on Grote Markt which will be transformed into a fan village for the day, with music, DJs and big screens to follow the action until 6pm.
It’s the first Sunday of the month, so many of the shops in the center and the old town will be open for Sunday shopping.
Alternatively head to Parkloods (Park Spoor Noord) for Goegekregen’s rommelmarkt (secondhand with lots of retro and vintage bargains) from 9am -6pm, or to Markt van Morgen on Kloosterstraat from 12 -6pm. This market offers clothing, jewelry accessories, stationery and household goods made by local creatives. There are usually snacks and drinks available, and it is a great place to pick up a special card or gift that you won’t find in the high street.
Or why not Tango on Draakplaats from 3 -8pm?
The weather is predicted to be warm and pleasant again, with some clouds at times; a 50% chance of a bit of rain on Saturday.
Miscellaneous
If all the biking this weekend has strengthened your resolve to cycle more, then check out Antwerp’s City Bike Scheme (Velo). And don’t forget kids: kids love to cycle but children’s bikes can be pricey. Apen op Wieltjes enables you to pay a one-off annual fee and then borrow bikes for your kid(s), returning them when they have grown out of them. They also offer workshops in bike maintenance and other activities. If you have a kid’s bike knocking around in your cellar or garage, you might want to donate it to this scheme, whose aim is to to ensure that every child in Antwerp gets to have a bike.
Random rec: Cafe de Kat (Wolstraat 22) an established, attractive ‘bruine kroeg’ in the old town, which I found myself in recently. It doesn’t look special from the outside but inside it’s roomy, fairly noisy and with a lovely, authentic interior.
There’s still a small funfair on St Jansplein until 9th April.
Write a post for Nessascityblog. Go on. You know you want to.
Don’t forget to find and follow Nessascityblog on …
Facebook (in conjunction with London Calling)
NEXT POSTING: 6th APRIL
