Yesterday - 13th March - the Antwerp 13 finally arrived in Antwerp. We were stoked, but they were ecstatic. Even the worst jetlags didn’t seem to affect their enthusiasm. The prospects for D.A.T.E. 2.0 were already looking good. But after we took them out for diner and drinks, we knew: this week is going to rock. Hard.
After our guests had a good night’s sleep, we started off the day with an energizing breakfast and briefed them about what this sunny Monday would bring them.
Our guide for the day was Erik Anken, a police detective. Don’t worry, we trust our friends from Italy, Holland, the U.S., etc. completely. But Erik is such a unique guide and awesome storyteller, we just had to book him for the first day of D.A.T.E. 2.0.
He introduced the Antwerp 13 to the history of Antwerp. He told about the many foreign invasions the Antwerpians had to endure and the liberation of the river Scheldt. With those stories in mind, our guests could take off on a trip through the creative history of the city. They visited the Mecca for antique and vintage lovers - the Kloosterstraat - the renowned art gallery (“The Black Panther”) the notorious jazz pub , the fashion district and the beautiful .
The last place they visited this morning, was . A creative hub where different creative entrepreneurs work in the same building. A building where lectures and network events are organized and with a coffee bar and an adorable roof terrace.
If you want to see what other places they went to see, click . We mapped out their route, with tiny bits of information and some pictures.
After lunch, we took the Antwerp 13 to Wonderbüro.
Wonder-what?
is an empty office building, seven floors large, and empty. Well, not entirely empty. The people of Wonderbüro filled the empty architecture with tons of “inspired spirits following their imaginative path”. All with one goal: for you to meet them.
We sent one of our locals along with the Antwerp 13 and tomorrow she will bring a full report on the Antwerp 13’s encounter with Wonderbüro.
Today was rad. Our foreign friends will enjoy a fine dinner at Native and go out for some drinks. Tomorrow we’ll show them the best architecture Antwerp has to offer, by bike. And they’ll visit the famous , home to Antwerp’s legendary Bolleke.
Sleep tight, folks. We’ll do the same. And tomorrow we’ll go full throttle again.
Text and pics by This Is Antwerp