The Brooklyn
of Antwerp is
Borgerhout.

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The case for Borgerhout

Borgerhout is the coolest neighborhood in Antwerp for Turkish bakeries, natural wine bars, and Friday nights at De Roma.

Borgerhout is where Antwerp gets real. Turnhoutsebaan runs right through it, Turkish bakeries next to natural wine bars next to Congolese hair salons. Friday nights the old cinema De Roma fills up and the surrounding streets come alive. It's loud, it's multilingual, and the food is absurdly cheap.

De Roma on Turnhoutsebaan packs up to 2,000 people into a 1928 Art Deco hall run by a team of 600+ volunteers.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Antwerp.

Het Zuid

Het Zuid is Antwerp's museum district with wide boulevards, gallery openings, and overpriced terraces. Beautiful to walk through on a Sunday. Better for looking than living.

Sint-Andries

Sint-Andries is compact and fashion-obsessed. Tiny concept stores on Kammenstraat, good Vietnamese food, and the kind of people who dress like they're always on their way somewhere.

Zurenborg

Zurenborg has the prettiest streets in Belgium. Art Nouveau houses stacked side by side like a fever dream. Quiet, residential, gorgeous on a bike ride.

See the full shortlist, ranked →
Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Borgerhout.

01
Stay in Borgerhout

Borgerhout's places to stay are small, personal, and right on top of the action.
02
Eat & Drink in Borgerhout

A €3 lahmacun from a Turkish bakery on Turnhoutsebaan, then a €9 glass of orange wine at Glou Glou two blocks later.
03
Do & Shop in Borgerhout

De Roma is the anchor - a restored 1928 cinema that pulls crowds from across Antwerp on Friday nights.
All 24 spots mapped out

Borgerhout, corner to corner.

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Our 24 top picks

The Borgerhout guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyEUR
LanguageDutch
Cost level $$$Moderate to expensive
Best monthsMay to June and September
Local time UTC+2
Plug type EU plug · 230V/50Hz
Emergency112
Local tip
Walk Turnhoutsebaan on a Saturday morning. Hit the Turkish bakeries first, then loop back through Moorkensplein for wine at Glou Glou.
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Head to head

How does Antwerp stack up?

All comparisons →

Amsterdam vs Antwerp

Europe

Antwerp vs Bilbao

Europe

Antwerp vs Brussels

Europe
Common questions

Things to know about Borgerhout.

What is the Brooklyn of Antwerp?
The Brooklyn of Antwerp is Borgerhout. Borgerhout is where Antwerp gets real. De Roma on Turnhoutsebaan packs up to 2,000 people into a 1928 Art Deco hall run by a team of 600+ volunteers.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Antwerp?
Borgerhout is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Antwerp. Borgerhout is where Antwerp gets real. Turnhoutsebaan runs through it all: Turkish bakeries next to natural wine bars next to Congolese hair salons. Friday nights the old cinema De Roma fills up and the surrounding streets come alive. It's loud, it's multilingual, and the food is absurdly cheap.
Where should I stay in Borgerhout, Antwerp?
The best boutique hotels in Borgerhout include B&B Borgerhouse, Via Antwerp, and Le Tissu. B&B Borgerhouse is the one to book first. Two-room B&B right on car-free Moorkensplein, in a 1957 modernist house run by sisters Liesbeth and Marijke. Shoes off at the door, slippers provided, and the kind of hands-on care that only a two-room house can manage.
Is Borgerhout in Antwerp safe at night?
Yes. Borgerhout has a reputation among older Antwerpenaars that hasn't matched reality for years. The area south of the ring road is residential, family-heavy, and quiet after 22:00. Standard city precautions apply around the train station corridor late at night. Walking back from central Antwerp after dinner is fine; the route is well-lit and busy.
Is Antwerp expensive?
Antwerp sits at the higher end for Belgium, but Borgerhout softens the blow. Hotel rates climb fast given the small stock, though January and February still turn up rooms under 120 euros. Service is included, so tipping stays optional, and Turkish bakeries serve breakfast for under 6 euros.
When is the best time to visit Antwerp?
May, June, and September are the picks for Antwerp: long daylight, temperatures around 18-22C, and less rain than midsummer. July and August stay warm but draw crowds and frequent thunderstorms. Terrace season holds roughly from April to October. Between November and March the city turns grey and damp with steady drizzle, so build your days around indoor anchors.

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