Antwerp is a city with many aspects that welcomes foreigners from all around the world. We'll advise you on how to find the perfect accommodation in the Diamond City.
Antwerp, the Belgian city everyone admires
If you thought that Belgium revolved around Brussels, you were wrong. Indeed, Antwerp is also one of the pillars of the country. Antwerp, a Dutch-speaking city in the Flanders region, has no reason to envy the Old Continent capitals. The city is a center for the diamond, port, and petrochemistry industries and a cultural capital.
Antwerp's districts
Antwerp is divided into nine distinctive districts, which used to be municipalities (deelgemeenten in Dutch): Antwerp, Berchem, Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo, Borgerhout, Deurne, Ekeren, Hoboken, Merksem and, Wilrijk.
Find out more about each of them below.
Antwerp
The district of Antwerp is a result of the fusion that happened in 1958. Old city Antwerp and Lillo, Zandvliet, and Berendrecht villages were fused. This Dutch-speaking district is composed of 22 neighborhoods, sharing different tourist attractions. Two of them are the Diamond Museum and the famous Zoo of Antwerp.
Berchem
Berchem is a small district of 6.1 square km. Nonetheless, it offers tourist attractions such as the Basiliek van het Heilig Hart and the Flemish Tram and Bus Museum in Groenenhoek. In addition, over 40,000 people live here.
If you enjoy Art Nouveau and fin-de-siècle style townhouses, you'll fare well in Zurenborg. Many houses here were built between 1894 and 1906 and have been preserved after the area obtained monumental status.
You'll go to the high street of Driekoningenstraat - Statiestraat to shop. It's recently refurbished, which makes walking through much easier and safer.
Berchem is home to the second-largest railway station in all of Antwerp: station Antwerpen-Berchem. There are also plenty of tram lines and buses that run throughout the city.
Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo
This district resulted from the fusion of three cities, which are all located along the seaport docks. It's home to the biggest floodgate in the world; it's 500 meters long and 68 meters large. The floodgate links the Escaut and the Eastern docks of the river.
Borgerhout
This is the smallest district in Antwerp, with a size of 3.93 square km. Thanks to a highway and historical walls, it's divided into two parts. The area inside these walls is called “intra muros”.
The most prominent shopping street in Borgerhout's intra muros is Turnhoutsebaan. This is home to lots of trendy bars for the younger crowd. You can also buy clothing and food on this street.
Deurne
Deurne is the second-biggest district in Antwerp. Deurne is relatively populated (over 80,000 residents) and is 13.06 km square wide.
For eco-conscious people, you'll feel right at home in Deurne. This district is well-known for its park, Rivierenhof, the largest park in Antwerp. It spans 130 hectares and has lots of greenery and an open-air theater.
The district also has an airport: Antwerp Airport. It's one of the oldest in the world, built in 1923. Go in and have a look at its Stampe & Vertongen Museum.
Ekeren
Before 1983, Antwerp had several municipalities. Then, they were all merged in 1983. However, the Antwerp city council decided to create districts in 2000. From this, the first district council of Ekeren was born.
This is another natural-lover district since it has a 1-square-kilometer area called Oude Landen. Up until 1972, it was a military area. And because it was hardly used, it became a place of nature. Today, it's a natural sanctuary with eight more distinct miniature ecosystems, which is fascinating for those interested in biology and nature.
Hoboken
This district spans 10.67 square km and has a population of around 35,000. Its name originates from the Medieval Dutch words Hooghe Buechen or Hoge Beuken. This translates to “high/tall beeches”.
The neighborhoods in Hoboken are divided by railway line 52. West of the rail, the prominent areas are Moretusburg, Hertogvelden, and Polderstad. East of the rail, the central neighborhoods are Hoboken-center, Hertog van Brabantwijk, Vogeltjeswijk, and Zwaantjes.
Beer lovers will find Hoboken a wonderful place to live in. This district hosts an annual 5k beer server race that supposedly started back in 1777.
Merksem
The district of Merksem has a population of around 45,000. The most famous part of Merksem is Bredabaan (which means “Breda Road” in Dutch). It runs up north, past the border of the Netherlands, and ends in the city of Breda, where it got its name.
Soccer is a massive part of the culture in Merksem. This district has both the Lotto Arena and the Sportpaleis. So it should come as no surprise that many sports events are hosted in Merksem, festivals, and live music events.
Wilrijk
The district of Wilrijk has an amusing nickname: Goat Village. Every five years, the district holds the Goat Parade ("Geitestoet" in Dutch). They also have an annual fair ("Jaarmarkt" in Dutch) where farmers show off their livestock, and people can participate in fun activities and the fun fair.
Neighborhoods in Antwerp
Chances are, you want to settle down in Antwerp city. Here are the Antwerp neighborhoods you should consider moving to and some of the choice districts above.
Historic City Center
One of the most appealing places to live in Antwerp is the Historic City Center. Not only is it more densely populated here (meaning you're more likely to encounter other expats, but it gives you a firsthand look at Antwerp's history.
For example, you'll see the old cathedral and the market square ("Grote Markt" in Dutch). Other points of interest include the city hall, the medieval fortress Het Steen, and many museums in the city.
Because it's a centrally-located neighborhood, Historic City Center properties will cost a bit more and be smaller.
Het Zuid
“Het Zuid” means “the south” in Dutch, so you'll find this neighborhood south of Antwerp city. This is a lovely area for art, as plenty of art museums are scattered around. There's even an open-air art market every Sunday.
Het Zuid is great for young professionals; the nightlife is fantastic here, but it's also an excellent neighborhood for families since there's an international school here.
Het Eilandje
“Het Eilandje” means “the small island” in Dutch. Looking at how popular it is nowadays, you'd be surprised to learn that living here used to be quite undesirable.
This neighborhood is located in the north part of Antwerp city and is in the oldest port area. Many old warehouses have been converted into apartments and lofts, perfect for small families and younger professionals.
Considering that this neighborhood is very popular, expect rent to be higher in this area.
Find help when looking for accommodations in Antwerp
You can search for accommodation in Antwerp on dedicated websites. However, contacting professionals face-to-face or over the phone is highly recommended. If you're already in Antwerp and have a network of friends and family, don't hesitate to use word of mouth.
Temporary accommodations in Antwerp
When you first arrive in Antwerp, you probably won't have a more permanent place to stay. In that case, you'll want to learn about your temporary accommodation choices.
A popular choice is to stay in a hotel, holiday cottage, bed & breakfast, or Airbnb. While these will be on the more expensive side of things, you can book as many nights as you want, so it'll be more flexible while you're looking for an apartment to rent.
You can stay in a hostel if you're on a tighter budget. However, it might not be ideal if you've got lots of luggage. You can mitigate this by staying in a private room, which will increase the price. In this case, staying in a hotel or B&B will be more worth it since you'll get your room and bathroom.
There are also some studios available for both short and long-term stays. They come fully furnished, so you don't have to worry about purchasing things to bring to your apartment. These are also typically in a central location, so you won't have to go far for apartment viewings, grocery shopping, dining out, etc. Plus, you'll get to experience the heart of Antwerp while you get your bearings. These studios are also serviced, so you don't have to worry about cleaning while searching for housing and taking care of administrative things.
If you're wondering about camping, this is not commonly done in Antwerp. So if you're bringing your car and are considering staying at a campsite as a short-term solution, it can be done, but it might be a bit difficult.
Student accommodation in Antwerp
In general, the university you're attending will let you know if you have housing options available. This is true for even exchange students, although their accommodations will be more limited. For example, the University of Antwerp will only send exchange students one offer for rooms, so if you're in this program, you should take that offer to eliminate the hassle of searching for housing yourself.
Do note that some universities don't have campus dorms. Ensure you check ahead to allow ample time for an apartment search.
If you don't want to stay in a dorm setting, you're always free to search for private accommodations yourself. Considering an apartment's price might be outside your budget, looking for shared flats and houses might be better. Renting out a room instead of a whole property can cut costs drastically, especially since utilities (like electricity, gas, water, and internet) are included.
Accommodations in Antwerp
When you're looking to rent in Antwerp, you usually have three choices: rooms, studios, and apartments.
The cheapest option is, of course, renting a room. It's common to share an apartment with a roommate to save on costs. So you'll find quite a few listings for private rooms. This doesn't give you much space (rooms are around 16 square meters) or privacy.
If you value your privacy, want more space, and are willing to pay more, consider renting a studio around 40 square meters. These are open-plan living spaces that can accommodate one person or a couple. It can be ideal if you're moving alone or with your partner since the studios can be small.
At the top tier are apartments; one-bedroom apartments are typically 65 square meters large. They're the most expensive option, but they offer you the highest quality of life if you can afford it.
Furnished vs. unfurnished vs. unfurnished shell
You should rent a furnished property for those who don't want to bother sourcing furniture and appliances. These will be more expensive, and you'll have to pay for any damages to the existing things inside.
Going for unfurnished property can be cheaper, but you'll have to source furniture and appliances yourself. The good news is, if you move to another apartment, you can bring everything.
You should also know there's a third option: unfurnished shell. Many expats are shocked when they move into an “unfurnished” apartment, and there's nothing inside, not even light fixtures or carpet! In Belgium and the Netherlands, it's common to see unfurnished shell apartments. These can cost much less to rent out, but you'll have to source practically everything, including light fixtures, bulbs, curtains, etc.
Rent prices in Antwerp
According to professionals, one square meter costs an average of €8.74 or an average monthly rent of €675. For student accommodations, you can expect to pay around €365 a month for a fully furnished room. The average price for a bedsit is €460 and €590 for a studio.
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