Saturday 17th October 2015

There is a flea market on Sint Jans Plein, starting at 9 am. I like this part of town and, if the weather is good, it is a short walk away from the Park Spoor Noord, which is handy if kids need to play or to kick a ball around. Free.

Saturday is shaping up to be a good day for thrifty shoppers because it is also Dag van de Kringwinkel (Thrift Shop Day) which means that there will be extra bargains around in the second hand shops on that day:
– vintage clothing on Abdijstraat 104, Antwerpen
– retro videogames, mirrors and frames at Sint-Jorispoort 29, Antwerpen
– musical instruments at Kroonstraat 166, Borgerhout and at Vosstraat 305, Deurne
– comics and vinyl in Bredabaan 397, Merksem

Also on Saturday, there is a brewing fair fair on the Rijnkaai. Note this is a fair for small brewers and micro-brewers, rather than a beer festival, and the ticket price is 9 euros.

Foodwise, if you enjoy oysters, head to Docks Cafe by the river on Saturday between midday and 3pm

Strangelove Queer arts festival will still be going on in Borgerhout at Cafe het Werkhuys, but the afterparty is on Rijnkaai at 23.30 and costs 5 euros.

If you would like to see some theatre in English, take a look at this production from BATS which opens on Friday 16th October and runs for two weekends. BATS provides English speaking theatre in Antwerp that you might want to watch or even get involved with. You can also count on them to produce a fun Panto each year: this year it’s Red Riding Hood, and tickets are already on sale, via their site.

Sunday 18th October

You can no longer register (“inschrijven”)  online for the Linkeroever half marathon but you can do so on the day itself, from midday. There is also a kids’ run.  It does cost 15 euros, but proceeds go to a children’s cancer charity.

Permeke, on de Coninckplein, is Antwerp’s best known public library. On Sunday there will be an open-air book fair (also comics and graphic novels) staring at 10am. If you are new to Antwerp, you can easily reach de Coninckplein from Astridplein (next to central station): walk through the Chinese district- down the street with the lion statues, next to Aquatopia, and you are there.

If the weather is not great, and you are looking for something indoors, don’t forget that the Town Hall on Grote Markt is open as part of its 450th anniversary, and you can tour the inside. This is free, but you should reserve online.

Have a great weekend. Don’t forget to keep an ear to the ground for anything happening next weekend, and let me know.

Vanessa