Antwerp

Events

About Antwerp Events

Although its calendar is not packed like that of Brussels, Antwerp is host to several annual festivals and fairs. Each June the world is treated to a sneak peek of the "future of fashion" when the Royal Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts holds its yearly fashion show. June is also the month for the Sinksenfoor, a giant carnival held in the newly gentrified southern district of Antwerp. Each August 15, the Grote Markt transforms itself into a 16th-century marketplace reminiscent of a Rubens painting. During the Rubens Market, tradespeople dress in traditional costumes and sing to customers, tempting them to buy their wares. Every autumn, then, Antwerp revives its reputation as a printing center by hosting a prestigious book festival. Authors and publishers from Belgium, Denmark and other European nations gather for signings and panel discussions. And in late September the government hosts a cultural "open house" where parks, churches and museums extend their hours and waive admission fees so that visitors can enjoy Flemish culture free of charge. -- Kelly Boland, Contributing Writer