Here’s your GOOGLE MAP to help you find the events listed in this post.
This weekend, it’s the Asia In Antwerp event which takes place over both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be reserved online here. There will be food and drink stands from all over Asia (as well as cooking and food preparation workshops) and performances of Asian music and dance from a variety of countries: Bali, Indonesia, Korea, China and Thailand. (Images courtesy of Azie in Antwerpen)
Antwerp Pateekesweek continues until 11th February. During Pateekesweek, various bakeries, patisseries, coffee & tea houses take part, and the idea is to allow cake-lovers to sample a variety of treats at different places. To take part, you buy a Pateekes Pas for 10 euros which has 10 bonnetjes (vouchers) on it. These can be exchanged in the participating venues which are listed here and you can buy the Pateekes Pas at the tourist offices on Grote Markt or at Antwerp Central Station.
Friday
Hear a musical story in English at ‘T Werkhuys (Inter-Musikas – ‘Measure 23 of Life’): Adam Clarke, Canadian composer who studies here in Antwerp. Adam composes pieces for guitar, guitar duo, bagpipe and- for the first time- flute. He will tell his migration story and how it changed his way of thinking, and his style of composing. The story will be told totally in English.
Saturday
This weekend you can view the foundations at Kipdorpbrug which are exposed as a result of the building work on the Noorderlijn in the center of Antwerp. Last year, a similar opportunity occurred on the Frankrijklei, when the old city wall was visible and it was possible to go and see it. It’s worth doing as it is just for this weekend that the public are able to go this archeological site. You can visit the site from 1pm -10pm. This continues onto Sunday (10am -6pm). The pop-up café Opera Plein 1 will be exhibiting some of the objects found at the site. The site is likely to be muddy, so wear your sturdiest boots. A food archeologist will be around between 2 and 6pm, and DJ Barok will be playing very old-school hits, so you can party like it’s 1799.
More music at this free choral concertat 8pm at St Andries Kerk. “Inner Voices” is a youth choir from London established in 2011, and with a wide repertoire of different songs.
If you have younger kids, you will know Het Steen Café. We have been here often since we moved here, for play facilities, workshops and even our son’s birthday party. Het Steen is closing this weekend and is holding a free closing party (from 3pm) to say goodbye. The kids facilities will move to Droogdokkensite (in the Eilandje area) and re-open in June under the new name “Stormkop”.
Sunday
Kipdorp archeological event -see above (Saturday)
It’s the annual Rivierenhof Valentines Run with 5k and 10k runs, you can arrive from 9.30am and the starting pistol is fired at 11am. To take part costs five euros on the day itself, but is free if you register beforehand.
It’s Goegekregen in the Parkloods (Park Spoor Noord) a secondhand/ retro/ vintage market with something for everyone -free.
It’s not exactly bikini weather. Friday looks particularly chilly (2 degrees) even with the possibility of some snow. It’s a little warmer on Saturday and Sunday, but Sunday could be showery.
Miscellaneous
This month sees the start of some blog posts that I am writing for Visit Antwerp this year. Check out my FIVE FEBRUARY FAVOURITES
At the Permeke Library the free exhibition Legends of Liondance is on until 25th February. I recommend this as I went last year with my kids. It’s also a good chance to see the relocated children’s section of the Permeke library.
Schools are off next week for the February break (aka Krokusvakantie). Museums across Belgium are putting on some special activities for kids. Here’s the selection from the Antwerp area.
Valentine’s Day is next Wednesday.
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