Fancy experiencing a wonderful evening in Antwerp? Just for you, we made a list of the best venues to enjoy music, theatre and/or dance.
Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen
Theaterplein is a well-known Antwerp attraction, thanks to the popular exotic market on Saturdays and the Vogelenmarkt (Birds market) on Sundays. But many Antwerp residents and visitors also know the square as the home of the Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen (City Theatre), a striking modernist building. The venue seats about 2,000 people and you can go there for musicals, comedy shows, stage performances and more.
Arenberg
A few steps away from Theaterplein, you will find the Arenberg centre for culture. Discover the best comedians, surprising theatre performances, spoken word and musical performances. In the summer, Arenberg organises special concerts in the beautiful open-air theatre of Rivierenhof.
deSingel
deSingel is an international arts campus for dance, music, theatre and architecture. In the architectural building, with its striking location on the Antwerp ring road, art lovers will discover a varied programme. In addition to the concert halls, you'll find studios, an exhibition space and a library in this fascinating complex.
The Roma
Once the largest cinema in the city, it is nowadays a beautiful concert hall on the lively Turnhoutsebaan in the Borgerhout district. More than 400 volunteers ensure that you enjoy music, film, dance and theatre, with big names from home and abroad on the programme.
Toneelhuis
The Bourla theatre is a magnificent theatre temple, built in a neoclassical style. You can go there to see theatre performances by the famous company Toneelhuis, and enjoy a drink before or after in the stylish Foyer.
hetpaleis
Want to introduce your kids to great theatre performances? Then you have to go to Theaterplein. At the Stadsschouwburg, hetpaleis puts on performances for all children and young people. It is the largest production house for youth theatre in Flanders. In hetgeluk, you can enjoy a snack and a drink afterwards, while your children read, draw or romp.
De Studio
De Studio, formerly known as Studio Herman Teirlinck, is housed in a former city palace. The neoclassical building houses a stage for young audiences, where you can enjoy performances by numerous Antwerp theatre companies. It is also a hotspot for dance, film, literature, festivals and parties.
The Joker
This café on Kleine Markt is the comedy hotspot of the country. Every Sunday and Wednesday, you can enjoy stand-up comedy there, from emerging talent as well as from big names in the comedy world. Want to try your chances on the stage yourself? You can do so during the Open Mic evenings.
Art house Opera Ballet Vlaanderen
At the renovated Operaplein, you cannot fail but notice the impressive façade of the historic opera house. In a beautiful setting, with a fantastic ceiling mural, you can enjoy high quality opera and ballet performances. Opera Ballet Flanders is home to both the Flemish Opera and the Royal Ballet of Flanders, the largest ballet company in the country.
AMUZ
What could be more atmospheric than a baroque church transformed into a modern concert hall? AMUZ can be found in the former Saint Augustine Church on the trendy Kammenstraat. In this beautiful historical setting, you can enjoy music from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Queen Elisabeth Hall
Next to Antwerp ZOO, you will find the beautiful Queen Elisabeth Hall. This concert venue has been a fixture in Antwerp for decades, but since its thorough renovation it has become an absolutely world-class venue. Thanks to its unsurpassed acoustics, you can enjoy performances from all genres here: from classical music to theatre shows and musicals. The hall is also home to the well-known Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.
TRIX
TRIX is a concert hall on the outskirts of the city, near Spoor Oost. On the programme, you will find a variety of concerts from a variety of genres: from rock to pop, from hip-hop to metal and from urban to electronica. Come along and make discoveries for yourself or choose a concert of popular Belgian and international artists.
AFAS Dome and Lotto Arena
Two well-known concert halls in one location, situated on the city's border with the districts of Merksem and Deurne. The biggest international artists choose the AFAS Dome or the Lotto Arena during their world tours, drawing tens of thousands of fans to Antwerp. The Sportpaleis is also one of the most visited event venues in the world.