24 hours by Renske Barnhoorn
WE ASKED THEM TO CAPTURE 1 DAY (24HOURS)
By Michel Bruynseels and Renske Barnhoorn | Michel works as a primary school teacher and marketing freelancer, and Renske has a background in various sales and marketing roles. Together with their two children, Sef (8) and Flo (4), they live in Amsterdam-Oost.
Antwerp is heaven on earth for anyone who loves cute cafés with great coffee, vibrant restaurants, and leisurely strolls through lively streets and green parks. It’s the perfect place to spend 24 hours with your kids, if you ask me.
A stylish and dynamic place to stay is the newly opened Hotel VIA Antwerp. The hotel offers spacious family rooms (hello, bunk bed!) and a lovely downstairs area for playing games, enjoying a glass of wine, or having breakfast in the morning.
Just around the corner, you’ll find the up-and-coming neighbourhood Borgerhout. According to Time Out Magazine, this is the coolest area in Europe, bringing progressive energy to an otherwise traditional city.
“Boho,” as the locals call it, is known for its great brunch and coffee spots, beautiful parks, and cultural diversity - a vibrant mix that makes this part of Antwerp so unique.
Our first stop was Butchers Coffee, a re-opened hotspot you might know from its previous location in the city. They serve excellent coffee and an amazing breakfast menu. You can even take home their homemade bread and pastries. After breakfast, we headed to Krugerpark, which has one of the best playgrounds imaginable, complete with a fun water play area. Bar Leon, located right next to the park, is perfect for an afternoon drink and snack while the kids play. A win-win, if you ask me.
Need groceries to take home, or just craving a croissant on the go? Bakkerij Boulot is your spot. They offer homemade sourdough pastries and bread, but be prepared to queue, as it’s a local favourite. Luckily, waiting with kids isn’t a problem: the bakery provides pavement chalk to keep them entertained.
Time for a bit of culture! Antwerp has plenty to offer. FOMU Antwerp (the photography museum) is always worth a visit, as is the Middelheim Museum, a bit outside the city centre. On the way, we love stopping by Stadspark, a beautiful green space with a suspension bridge that gives off total NYC vibes.
Back downtown, we couldn’t skip HYGGE, a lovely kids’ store with a wide selection of brands including Repose AMS. It’s also the perfect spot to find unique gifts or hunt for vintage treasures, as they carry a great range of pre-loved children’s clothes. From there, we headed for lunch at Camino, a classic that never disappoints. There’s a playground right next to the terrace - ideal for parents who want to relax while the kids play. Camino is also a great dinner option, but we were in the mood for pizza, so we booked a table at Licoli, a small, cosy Italian spot. All seats are arranged around the big pizza oven, and every table comes with scissors so you can cut your pizza the easy-peasy way.
The next morning, on our way out of the city, we stopped by Oktober Café, a charming corner café with the dreamiest Scandinavian-style breakfast (think fresh bread, boiled egg, Comté cheese, and whipped butter). It’s the perfect energy boost to start your day right. And when you order a babyccino, they’ll even throw in some marshmallows. Party guaranteed.
