Every year, tens of thousands of passengers on their cruise trip to Antwerp enjoy the beautiful views along the way: the Dutch port of Vlissingen, the typical landscape of Hansweert, nature reserve Het Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe, the picturesque village of Lillo and the famous Berendrecht lock.

From Gothic to Art Deco

The highlight is of course the arrival in Antwerp city centre, where the architectural gem MAS | Museum aan de Stroom (65 metres high), the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady (123 metres) and an art deco skyscraper (the first in Europe, 96 metres) dominate the skyline. But the first striking building passengers see is the Red Star Line Museum. Until 1935, tens of thousands of emigrants boarded here to try their luck in the United States or Canada.

Europe's second largest port

Of course, the port of Antwerp, Europe's second largest, cannot be missed either. Virtually all economic port activity takes place in the north of Antwerp. In the old port area in the city centre, there are marinas on both banks and many recreational opportunities on and around the water.

Oldest building in Antwerp

Finally, passengers arrive at the state-of-the-art cruise terminal at Het Steen. This 800-year-old castle is home to the City of Antwerp's official visitor centre. From there, it is only a 5-10-minute walk to attractions such as the Grote Markt and the cathedral, and the main shopping streets.

Facts and figures about the approach

Easily accessible
Picturesque mini-cruise: nature reserve, small villages, windmill, port activities, marina, historic buildings, architectural gems
2 approach routes
- Western approach:
- distance to berth: 82 nautical miles
  average journey time to berth: 5-6 hours
- maximum draught destination Antwerp: 15.54 metres (51 feet)
Northern call:
- distance to berth: 67 nautical miles
- average voyage time to berth 4-5 hours
- maximum draft destination Antwerp: 8.30 metres (27 feet)