Antwerp — Fashion, Diamonds and Queer Scene

Gay Antwerp is small, but a permanent fixture for Belgium, and much of it takes place on a few streets. Around the Van Schoonhovenstraat, not far from the central station, the focus of the scene is the district often referred to as the Gay Village with most of the bars within walking distance. In addition, there are individual shops in other districts, such as Café Strange, one of the oldest gay addresses in the city. Because Antwerp is manageable, almost everything in the centre can be reached on foot, and the distances between the hotel, restaurant and scene are short.

In addition to nightlife, the city has its own queer history, which has been strongly influenced by the community centre Het Roze Huis since 1995. If you come in the summer, you will find a full program: Antwerp Pride 2026 runs from August 5 to 9, with the big parade on Saturday, August 8, and the Antwerp Queer Arts Festival accompanies the season with exhibitions and events. Early summer and early autumn are suitable for a quieter visit, when the weather is mild and the city is less crowded. Antwerp is also known as a fashion city, which is reflected in the cityscape, in the cafés and in the appearance of many locals.