The many local specialities, including the Antwerp ‘handjes’, the ‘Bolleke’ beer and the ‘Elixir d’Anvers’ liqueur all bear testimony to the city’s rich culinary tradition.
Antwerpse Handjes
Antwerpse Handjes have been a local culinary speciality since 1934. These chocolates or biscuits, with or without marzipan filling dipped in Elixir d’Anvers, are made in the shape of a hand and refer to the legend of Silvius Brabo and the giant Druon Antigoon.
Mokatine
The confectionery shop Confiserie Roodthooft was founded in 1925 and makes its products in the heart of Antwerp. The best-known of these is the Mokatine, a hard coffee sweet that was developed in 1934. The distinctive packaging shape and the wrapper with an image of an Arab with a striped cloak are iconic features.
Website: www.roodthooft.be
Fries
Fries are an integral part of Belgium’s gastronomic heritage. Belgian fries are often called the world’s finest. Traditionally, they are sold in a paper cone or a cardboard tray with a large dollop of sauce on top. Vendors offer a very wide range of sauces and meat products. Antwerp also has a ‘fries stand museum’ on the Groenplaats above the famous Max fries shop.
Chocolate
Belgian chocolate is world famous. By the way, did you know that you'll find the largest Belgian chocolate museum in the world in Antwerp? Come to Chocolate Nation and discover the story of Belgian chocolate through an interactive tour.
You will start your experience in the jungle, to then end up in the Port of Antwerp. You will see how a life-size, mobile, imaginary machine makes Belgian chocolate and discover why Belgian chocolate is so famous. In short, not to be missed if you love chocolate.
As well as finding every large Belgian chocolate brand in Antwerp, you will also discover artisanal chocolatiers with some heavenly creations. Listing all the chocolate shops is impossible. The following are the favourites of many bloggers and journalists who have visited Antwerp: Burie, Goossens, Günther Watté, Pierre Marcolini, Dominique Persoone (The Chocolate Line), Del Rey ....
Beer
De Koninck brewery brews the famous Bolleke, De Koninck Triple d’Anvers and Wild Jo. Since October 2012, the brewery belongs to the group of breweries around Duvel Moortgat, and cheesemaster Van Tricht (whose store was singled out as the best cheese shop in Europe by the Wall Street Journal) has housed a cheese ripening centre in the brewery.
In the summer of 2015, De Koninck brewery opened a visitor centre. The brewing process, Belgian beer culture and beer tasting are central to this innovative beer experience centre.
Website: www.dekoninck.be
Huisbrouwerij ’t Pakhuis brews Antwerps Blond, Antwerps Bruin and Nen Bangelijke.
Vlaamsekaai 76, 2000 Antwerpen
Seef or Seefbier is the name of a historic local beer from Antwerp. The Antwerp Brouw Compagnie brought it back onto the market in 2012. It is a cloudy blonde beer with a spicy kick. The Compagnie also brews Bootjesbier
Elixir d’Anvers
A digestive liqueur made of 32 plants and herbs, prepared according to a time-honoured tradition by the De Beukelaer distillery since 1863.
Website: www.elixir-danvers.be
Koffie Verheyen
Crazy though it may sound, coffee is definitely a regional product, in the sense that roasting methods vary from region to region. The Antwerp coffee Amberes made by Koffie Verheyen from Deurne is typical of the local coffee preference. This coffee is made up of South American and African coffee types including Maragogype, Costa Rica Tarazu, Guatemala Antigua, Zimbabwe Chïhosa, Sulawesi Makassar, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, Nicaragua Las Brisas, Santos Fancy Screen and 3% Robusta Flores.
Website: www.koffie-verheyen.be