Borgerhout is the Brooklyn of Antwerp.
Borgerhout named the Brooklyn of Antwerp
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Borgerhout the Brooklyn of Antwerp.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Antwerp's verdict went to Borgerhout ahead of Het Zuid, Sint-Andries and Zurenborg, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Borgerhout the Brooklyn of Antwerp. It is loud, multilingual, and absurdly cheap to eat well in, the kind of place where the whole street feels like it is still deciding what it wants to be. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Borgerhout's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Antwerp verdict: brooklynof.com/antwerp
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/antwerp
Runner-up neighborhoods: Het Zuid, Sint-Andries, Zurenborg
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.