The year in Antwerp
The big moments of the year in Antwerp: Boektopia book fair, Sinterklaas arrives, Night of the Proms and more, with their dates.
Boektopia book fair
The book fair is back in Antwerp: Boektopia fills Antwerp Expo with thousands of Dutch-language books, author talks, signings and readings for children.
Sinterklaas arrives
Sinterklaas arrives by boat at the Steenplein around 14:00, walks past Het Steen and along the quays to the Grote Markt, and speaks to the children from the town hall balcony around 14:50. VRT and Ketnet broadcast it live.
Night of the Proms
Pop artists with an orchestra and a choir, every year since 1985, now in the AFAS Dome (the old Sportpaleis).
Winter in Antwerpen (Christmas market)
The biggest Christmas market in Flanders, spread over the old centre: the Grote Markt, Groenplaats, Suikerrui, Handschoenmarkt and Operaplein, with an ice rink and a winter bar. Open from noon every day; closed on 1 January.
New Year's Eve fireworks
The city sees the new year in with a fireworks show as part of Winter in Antwerpen. The market stalls close at 18:00 that day.
Antwerp 10 Miles
The biggest running event in Flanders: the 5 Miles and the Kids Mile on Saturday and the classic 10 miles through the city on Sunday.
Jazz Middelheim
The jazz festival of the city, back since 2025, in the green of Park Den Brandt.
Sinksenfoor
The biggest funfair in Flanders: five weeks of rides and food stalls on the Spoor Oost site in Borgerhout.
Zomer van Antwerpen
All summer long: circus, theatre, open-air film and concerts in the districts, from the Zonsondergang stand on the quays to music on neighbourhood squares. Much of it is free.
Antwerp Pride
A week of LGBTQIA+ parties, talks and events, ending with the parade through the city on the Saturday.
Rubensmarkt
On 15 August, the Antwerp Mother's Day, more than 200 stallholders in 17th-century costume fill the Grote Markt, the Suikerrui and the quays from morning to evening.
Bollekesfeest
A free city festival named after the bolleke, the local De Koninck glass: three days of bands and DJs on stages on the Grote Markt and the Groenplaats.
