Antwerp - June 2025

On the annual trip to Antwerp for Beer Passion Weekend in late June, our group also visited Brussels and Lillo (Tim) or Ghent (Andrew, Keith, Richard & Simon) as described in separate posts:

Antwerp - Beer Passion Weekend 2025 at Handelsbeurs

Antwerp & Lillo by Waterbus 20 June 2025 + Ghent

As usual, we also visited several bars and taprooms in Antwerp during the trip including several favourites mentioned in previous posts. This post will start with a first visit to Station 1280 and include a few details of bars earmarked for a visit in future. 

Station 1280

In previous years, Station 1280 was always closed when an attempt was made to visit this bar, tucked away inside a neglected arcade of shops known as the Beehive, Winkelcentrum Oudaan, which lies just east of a landmark tall building, Politietoren.

Inside the main building, Station 1280 is next door to Uncharted Brew Co, a microbrewery which was closed as on previous visits.

Right: Andrew, Keith & Richard outside Station 1280

Having just met up with Andrew, Keith and Richard outside a favourite bar, Oud Arsenaal, which was closed this week, Station 1280 was Tim's first opportunity for a beer in Antwerp, the others having already enjoyed a beer at De Kroon van Hopland. On Thursday 19 June, Simon was still on his way to Antwerp.

Inside, there was a limited range of draught beers including some imported beers. The bar's current tap list with prices can be found on Untappd. Tim enjoyed Saison Dupont Biologique. Cheers to Richard who paid for our round of beers.

Bars to visit in future

The weather was very warm and it was tempting to stop at every bar but some had not yet opened and the temptation was resisted in other cases.

On the south side of Paardenmarkt, near the university, there are two colourful beer cafes that may be popular with students - Cafe Cousteau and Cafe Het Kleintje.

Bar Nest     +    Bar Noord

In the green area of Park Spoor Noord which is reclaimed railway land near the docks, with little shade to offer, there are two buildings which include contemporary spacious bar cafes with pleasant views and shade - Bar Nest and Bar Noord.

Near Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) and the docks are traditional warehouses including Felix Pakhuis which now includes a Wolf Sharing Food Market on the ground floor. There are various street food type kiosks and food / drinks are ordered online with a notification when ready for collection.

The draught beer range includes two Wolf beers - Wolf Blond and Wolf White both brewed at nearby Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie. Other beers include Cristal Pils and Triple d'Anvers.

Favourite bars and taprooms revisited

Panorama at Pelikaan with Simon, Keith, Andrew and Richard

Later on the Thursday evening, we chose Cafe de Pelikaan, on a Melkmarkt corner, near the cathedral, as a rendezvous for Simon. With tables inside, facing the bar, we were in a convenient position for service and to observe the constant activity behind the busy bar. The doors and windows were open on this warm evening. 

There's a good range of draught beers including Westmalle Duo and Tripel d'Anvers. Tim later ordered a local bottled beer not previously noticed - Bolder. This Antwerp brewed 7.5% Belgian Pale Ale, served in a delicate stemmed glass, was on the dry side and cost €4.60. A variety of music was playing including tracks by Nick Cave and Sam & Dave. On a busy Thursday night we stayed here until it was late before walking back to our various destinations, all quite near to the central station. 

On Friday, after a boat trip on the river Scheldt, Tim revisited De Ware Jacob and his visit to this favourite bar is covered in the Antwerp & Lillo by Waterbus post.

On Saturday, after Richard's traditional Saturday run, a double circuit of triangular Stadspark when in Antwerp, our lunchtime rendezvous was at the Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie taproom in Eilandje, the docks area. Tim's 9000 step walking route here was via Park Spoor Nord where Bar Nest and Bar Noord are located.

As one of the brewery's original crowdfunders, this visit is a tradition encouraged by Keith. We sat outside at a table with a parasol and went inside the taproom to order beers from the bar. New beers on this visit included Cadix Pils 'the only and original Antwerp Pilsner', a smooth and refreshing 5.2% ABV lager, not to be confused with Super Cadix, a dry hopped IPL variant. From the bottle, Martin's Populus is a limited edition 8% ABV lime blossom Tripel. 

However, draught Eilandje, named after the neighbourhood and now a regular ABC beer was Tim's favourite beer of those selected on this hot afternoon. It has tropical flavours and is an 'Antwerp interpretation of NEIPA'.

On the way to Dr Beer we had a look inside the historic Felix Pakhuis. However, after getting separated in the maze-like interior, both sub groups gave up on the idea of ordering a drink from the bar which is part of the Wolf Sharing Food Market.

Reunited at Dr Beer, Tim was excited to spot Boskeun, the strong Easter beer from De Dolle brouwers on draught tap 6. Apparently Boskeun is a childhood nickname given to Jo, one of the two Herteleer brothers and brewers, and means a hare. This would prove to be his favourite beer of the day.

Left: Simon & Richard + Right: (photo: Richard R) Tim & Andrew

While most customers, including Keith, Richard and Simon were outside, Andrew persuaded Tim to take advantage of a suspended cane chair for a unique seating experience! 

Jeroen Peeters arrived before our departure and Tim appreciated being greeted by the bar's owner just as we were leaving. 

Het Souke, on a corner of pedestrianised Hoogstraat, looked different with an A-board for LePlan outside and a Le Plan sign above the window. The translation of the words chalked on the A-board is 'More than 40 Antwerp beers' and several of these are from Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie as illustrated by the red enamel Seef sign at the entrance. 

Subsequent research revealed a March 2025 report that Erwin Liekens (41) is the new operator of Het Souke. Tim remembers visits in previous years when Jacob Gouka ran the bar with a friendly attitude and an interesting choice of music.

LePlan is the name of a relatively new brewery based in Westmalle linked to Dirk Vermeersch, a former rally driver who also owns a Rhone vineyard. Draught LePlan Extra 5 (photo above left) was Tim's first beer at Antwerp Beer Passion in Handelsbeurs on Friday, but the 4.8% ABV Blonde was too dry for his taste.

Near Het Souke and up the road from De Ware Jacob, De Vagant has been a group favourite for many years. Once it was the bar to enjoy flavoured Jenevers before or after a meal at De Groote Witte Arend opposite. 

Since May 2022, run by Bart Daems, it has become an uncluttered natural space with high windows and ceiling, a table reserved for chess and a well chosen range of beers including seven on draught. On Saturday evening, Tim enjoyed a bottle of Radio Minerva Tripel (€4), now a regular Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie beer which is named after a popular Antwerp radio station.

Antwerp - Beer Passion Weekend 2025

The 24th Bierpassie Weekend had a new (to Tim) setting in 2025 - Handelsbeurs Antwerpen. 

Since Tim's first attendance in 2016, the festival has been held in the paved open space of Groenplaats with views of the cathedral. 

However, longer serving members of the Belgian beer loving group, that Tim joined in 2016, advise that Handelsbeurs (Old Trade Exchange) was the setting for the first two events in 2000 and 2001.

The entrance to the festival is via Twaalfmaandenstraat, off Meir, Antwerp's main pedestrian street, near one of the inconspicuous entrances to Antwerpen Meir metro station.

At the entrance counter, one can purchase an entrance package including a tasting glass and beer tokens. Those returning with a tasting glass from a previous session or year can simply purchase the number of plastic beer tokens they require. This year tokens cost €3.50 for each 20cl tasting glass pour. 

A useful illustrated programme with a plan (above), music programme and tasting notes by beer sommelier and festival organiser Ben Vinken is also available.

The official opening was at 5pm on Friday 20 June. Tim arrived at 7pm and was joined by Andrew, Keith, Richard and Simon about half an hour later. 

Richard & Andrew    +     Keith, Tim & Simon

Seats were available on one of the two long tables covered with white tablecloths. With a view of the stage from the middle of the room, this was our base for the rest of the evening.

Friday's musical entertainment was supplied by Floris and the Flames - a high energy set featuring Floris Willem playing violin.

Out of seven beers tasted at this session, Tim's favourite was Kasteel Tropical (7% ABV) with four others rating highly: Duvel Imperial Blond (10% - limited edition),  Paix Dieu Nova (6%), Stuut Juicy Dolly (5.8% - NEIPA) and Gulden Draak Blond (8%). These were all new beers since the last festival, marked Nieuw in red in the programme.

Handelsbeurs proved a welcome change of setting for the festival. As well as being good for socialising in an historic environment, another benefit was toilet facilities that were free to access, in contrast to the charge made at Groenplaats. We were among the last to leave at midnight.

Our group returned to Handelsbeurs on Saturday 21 June around 8.30pm and were again able to find seats at one of the central tables.

Saturday's musical entertainment was provided by Big Band Ekeren Brasschaat.

Tim's first two beers were disappointing but Brugse Zot Blond (6% ABV) was as good as ever.

Andrew's kind gift of a surplus token was a welcome chance to enjoy another glass of Kasteel Tropical before we left. Cheers!

Dates for the 2026 Bierpassie Weekend at Handelsbeurs, Antwerp, have been announced: 19-21 June.

Antwerp & Lillo by Waterbus 20 June 2025

View of Antwerp docks and Museum aan de Stroom from DeWaterbus

After arriving in Antwerp the previous day and with a day to enjoy before the opening evening of Bierpassie / Beer Passion Weekend 2025 on the evening of Friday 20 June, our group went in two directions. While long time festival goers Andrew, Keith, Richard and Simon would meet at Antwerpen Centraal for the train to Gent / Ghent, Tim, a relative newcomer to the group, decided to take his first trip on De Waterbus from Steenplein on Antwerp's waterfront downstream to Lillo.

Hollandstraat - the shady side opposite my apartment

Tim's morning started with a walk from his holiday apartment on Hollandstraat to Lidl on van der Wervestraat. This walk involved crossing Sint-Jansplein with its busy market and discovering two interesting structures at opposing corners of the open space. 

There's a monument dedicated to Panamarenko, the Belgian inventor / artist who lived nearby and a colourful curved kiosk for community events. Lidl proved useful for breakfast foods and coffee pads that would fit the old Senseo espresso coffee machine in the apartment.

   University    -    'T Kleintje    -     Het Steen

After breakfast, keeping to the shade where possible, a walk down Paardenmarkt, Klapdorp, Zirkstraat and Zakstraat gave glimpses of the university and passed some interesting bars and shops and the inevitable roadworks.

A sign at the entrance to the Steenplein landing stage on the river Scheldt, near Het Steen, gives details of routes, times, rules and fares. These details are also available from the DeWaterbus website. 

Tickets can be purchased online or on board the ferry when staff check tickets and destinations. The Zone 3 (North) fares for Lillo are €4 / €6 return with reduced rates for 65+ years (€3.50 / €5 return).

The landing stage offers virtually no protection from the sun / rain but there are railings at the edges. Bicycles are parked in the rear open section which may not leave much room left for passengers preferring to travel in this section rather than the large enclosed cabin which has full length windows.

The route passes docks and industrial sites and possibly freight ships. It takes almost an hour to reach Lillo after three stops on the other bank of the river. Passengers are expected to know when to get off. Stops are not displayed on the cabin screen and may not be announced. Ask a crew member if you have arrived at Lillo if necessary.

There is a narrow pier from the landing stage at Lillo to dry land. A panoramic view towards the landing stage includes cooling towers of the Doel nuclear power station on the opposite bank.

Limited shelter is available for passengers to the right of an information board.

There's a board with a map of Lillo a little further inland. Sections of the moat remain and there is a yacht club harbour near the river. It was time to explore the settlement and find a bar for a lunchtime beer.

The main street leads to a square by a church with a corner bar Taverne 't Pleintje.

With De Koninck listed in the menu as one of the draught beers (€3.30), a Bolleke was the obvious choice for a first beer of the day, brewed nearby in Antwerp. All the customers were sat at tables in the square and table service was efficient.

Duly refreshed, an exploratory walk around Lillo and its raised perimeter was interesting and there was some welcome shade from trees in some parts. The square brick building behind a high wall in the central photo above is the Kruitmagazijn (gunpowder magazine). It was built in 1810 by order of Napoleon to store 50 tons of gunpowder. 

Returning to the central square, an attempt to enter the premises under the sign In de 7 Saeligheden with an exterior featuring beer signs, was refused with the explanation that it is now just an ice cream store with a counter for the street.

Instead I was invited to buy a home made ice cream but another beer had more appeal so apologies were made and a promise to recommend the establishment to friends - please tell them Tim sent you when you visit Marktje 7!

Returning to Taverne 't Pleintje an opportunity was taken to order another classic beer from  Antwerp - Seef bier brewed by Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie reasonably priced at €4.20 for a 33cl bottle. Bootje's bier (brewed with ginger and coriander) and Radio Minerva Tripel are also available.

A short walk back to the pier was timed to coincide with the 3pm departure of DeWaterbus back to Antwerp. 

Don't miss an opportunity to explore the river Scheldt and Lillo c/o DeWaterbus if you find yourself in Antwerp on a fine day.

R,A,K & S at Het Waterhuis (Photo Richard R) - A,K,S & R at Trollekelder (Photo Andrew B)

I could tell from WhatsApp messages that Andrew, Keith, Richard and Simon were having a good day out in Gent / Ghent visiting canalside Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant and two of my recommendations: Artevelde and Trollekelder. 

A message from Andrew on WhatsApp advised that they would arrive back in Antwerp by train at 19.07 and head straight to Handelsbeurs for the opening session of BierPassie Weekend. With another three hours in Antwerp before the rendezvous, Tim had time for a light meal at Msemen and a couple of beers at De Ware Jacob. 

Located on the pedestrianised Hoogstraat, Msemen has a delightful calm inner courtyard with shade and the sound of running water from a water fountain. The Msemen Aladin is a freshly baked crisp Moroccan pancake filled with ricotta cheese, honey, rocket, cherry tomatoes, paprika, chickpeas and spicy olives costing €9.90 and is recommended.

A visit to nearby De Ware Jacob in nearby Vlasmarkt is an essential component of any Antwerp visit for Tim and on this afternoon its nautical theme seemed especially appropriate.

There were customers at the outside tables but the interior, beyond a closed door with a handwritten 'AIRCO' sign, was a more attractive on this hot day.

Among other notable features, the availability of Brasserie Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux on draught, is always a reason to return and Guy kindly poured and delivered a glass of this distinctive 9.5% ABV beer to my table in return for €5. His shorts, t shirt and bucket hat, as seen above, suited the heat of the day.

Late afternoon on a weekday is a good time to visit De Ware Jacob. The soundtrack included music from Lucinda Williams, Chicken Shack, The Pogues, Johnny Cash and Van Morrison but the volume still allowed conversations across the room to be heard. A visiting American told Guy that he had been in the acclaimed Cafe Kulminator earlier when two customers had been thrown out. The only explanation he could offer for this happening was that one had placed a heavy item on a tray which was supported by two crates!

The monthly guest draught beer was Chimay 175, a 6.5% ABV pale Blonde, available exclusively in casks to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Scourmont Abbey, the home of Trappist monks and the brewery. A rare treat and one to savour.

Once the sun had dropped, Guy opened the door and it would soon be time for Tim to take the 10 minute walk to Handelsbeurs. 

The Antwerp Beer Passion 2025 post has a description of Friday and Saturday evenings spent at BierPassie Weekend.