Where Antwerp shops, snacks and lunches: the markets worth your morning.
Food markets, farmers markets and covered halls: where Antwerp shops, snacks and lunches.
The Vogelenmarkt in Antwerp has run on Theaterplein since 1912. Sunday-morning stalls cover produce, prepared food, antiques and household goods.
Go for: Sunday morning, Produce, Street food, Antiques
Tip: Animals are no longer sold from 2026. Arrive before 11:00 for the fullest stalls.
The Exotische Markt in Antwerp on Theaterplein runs every Saturday with a Mediterranean and North African lean. Olives, spices, fresh produce, street plates.
Go for: North African, Mediterranean, Spices, Street food
Tip: Bring cash. The food stalls clear quickest; the spice merchants stay until close.
The Antwerp Christmas Market runs across Grote Markt, Groenplaats and Handschoenmarkt from early December to early January. Glühwein, frites, speculoos.
Go for: Glühwein, Belgian winter snacks, Speculoos, Frites
Tip: The Ferris wheel returns to Steenplein each year. Hot chocolate stalls cluster near the Cathedral.
Vrijdagmarkt in Antwerp is a Friday auction market on the square of the same name. The lots run furniture and antiques; the surrounding cafes serve lunch.
Go for: Antiques, Auction goods, Lunch stalls
Tip: Wednesday and Friday morning are the active days. The square hosts other small markets at other times.
The Wednesday and Friday morning weekmarkt on Sint-Jansplein is the closest food market to Eilandje and the old town. Belgian produce, cheese, bread and a handful of cooked food stalls anchor a no-frills neighbourhood scene popular with the surrounding apartments.
Go for: Produce, Belgian cheese, Bread, Cheap weekday lunch
Tip: Friday is the busier of the two days. Buy bread early; the bakers clear out by mid-morning.
The weekly Thursday morning market on Dageraadplaats fills the tree-lined square beside the art-nouveau Cogels-Osylei mansions with about fifty stalls of fresh produce, bread, cheese and prepared foods. The same square hosts the Rommelmarkt Dageraadplaats, a flea market that runs roughly five Sunday dates between May and September.
Go for: Zurenborg produce, Bread, Cheese, Sunday flea-market browsing
Tip: The square fills with the brunch crowd from Dome and surrounding bistros after 11:00. Sunday flea-market dates are listed in advance.