Take a walk through one of the largest sculpture parks in Europe or swim in one of the largest ecological swimming ponds. Take the ferry to a green city district or find peace and quiet in a monumental park cemetery. Experience Antwerp with these free activities.

Middelheim Museum

On the southern edge of Antwerp is the Middelheim Museum, one of the largest and most beautiful sculpture parks in Europe. Admire work by big names such as Auguste Rodin, Rik Wouters, Panamarenko, Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, Erwin Wurm and Ai Weiwei. In total, there are some 400 works of art in the open air. Here, art and nature go hand in hand.

Middelheimlaan 61, 2020 Antwerp

Schoonselhof Cemetery

Even further south, you will find Schoonselhof Cemetery, the Père-Lachaise of Antwerp. Not only is this the final resting place of many famous Belgian and Antwerp citizens, it is also a beautiful park with leafy avenues and canals. You can spot woodpeckers, geese and herons, among others. Some 150 moorland sheep 'mow' the sides of the canal there. Several walks will lead you past famous graves, historic grave monuments and military honorifics.

Krijgsbaan 100, 2660 Antwerp

Man with dog walks by Menno Meewis' artwork in Middelheim museum park

Person on bike rides past artwork in Middelheim museum park

Woman and child walk through Schoonselhof cemetery

Swimming pond Boekenberg

Swimming pond Boekenberg in the east of Antwerp is one of the largest ecological swimming ponds in Europe. Special soils and plants purify the water naturally. The large pond is wonderfully cool and is about 73 metres long and 1.80-2.50 metres deep. There is also a small play pool with a depth of 50 centimetres and a large sunbathing area. The pond is open from mid-May to the end of September.

Van Baurscheitlaan 88, 2100 Antwerp

People swimming in the Boekenberg swimming pond

Young people take the wooden escalators in the pedestrian tunnel

Ferry or St. Anna's pedestrian tunnel

With the St. Anna ferry you can reach the green city district of Linkeroever (Left Bank) in a quick and fun way. You can also bring your bike for free. You can board the ferry from the pontoon on Het Steen in the Historic centre. On Linkeroever (Left Bank), you will find, among other things, outdoor swimming pool De Molen, Antwerp City Camping, city beach Sint-Anneke and the Galgenweel, the largest semi-natural brackish water lake in Flanders.

A fun (but slightly longer) alternative is the nearly 100-year -old St. Anna Tunnel (pedestrian tunnel) with its authentic wooden escalators. Whatever you choose, you get the best view of the Antwerp skyline for free.

Museums in Antwerp

Apart from the Middelheim Museum, all museums in Antwerp charge an entrance fee, but there children (-18) enter free of charge! Visit https://visit.antwerpen.be/en/sights and select 'Museum' for an overview. Note: at Chocolate Nation, you do have to pay for children (although at a reduced rate) while Museum De Reede is free of charge for children up to 13-years-old. Reserve your tickets on the website of the museum you want to visit.