Flemish creamy stew of chicken or fish poached in a vegetable-laden broth thickened with cream and egg yolks. Originally a Ghent classic, adopted in Antwerp.
Waterzooi originated in medieval Ghent as a fish stew using Schelde and Leie river catch. The chicken version became dominant in the 20th century. The dish reaches Antwerp through Flemish brasserie traditions. Antwerp brasseries serve the chicken version in winter; the fish version turns up on fine-dining tasting menus.
3 editor picks for Waterzooi in Antwerp, ranked by editorial score. All Antwerp signature dishes · Waterzooi across every city.
Bistrot du Nord ★ 4.4
eilandje · Lange Dijkstraat 36, 2060 Antwerp
Bistrot du Nord in Antwerp keeps one Michelin star for hearty classical bistro cooking. Michaël Rewers leans on meat and tripe in a tiled vintage room.
Elfde Gebod ★ 4.1
historisch-centrum · Torfbrug 10, 2000 Antwerp
Elfde Gebod sits in a 16th-century building beside the cathedral, walls covered in religious statues. Belgian classics with beer sauces and a list of more than a hundred brews.
Marolus ★ 3.9
historisch-centrum · Hendrik Conscienceplein 14, 2000 Antwerp
Marolus in Antwerp is a lunch restaurant on Hendrik Conscienceplein, a tree-lined square between the cathedral and the Carolus Borromeus church.