The 5 most fun activities for children in Antwerp

The romantic-sounding Nachtegalenpark, or Nightingale Park, has a large adventure playground where kids can climb and dig while their parents sit on the terrace of De Melkerij. When the kids get hungry they can pick up a hot dog at a little wooden cabin.

This is an imaginative city theatre where most productions are aimed at children. The programme includes plays, readings and concerts. Children who share the same name as the director of the performance get admitted free.

Fun activities for kids are organised in an abandoned industrial site in the old harbour. Formerly based in the castle Het Steen, the workshops moved in 2018 to a new location. The aim is to offer adventurous workshops that introduce kids to concepts like ecology and science. Activities are done in Dutch but the friendly organisers can explain everything in English if necessary.

Look out for the rows of colourful suitcases hanging from a tree inside the main building at Middelheim sculpture park. You pick up a suitcase in the colour corresponding to your child’s age, ranging from 5 to 11 years. It will contain puzzles, games and information on five sculptures in the park.

A huge industrial shed in Park Spoor Noord is turned into a relaxed urban bar every summer. There are long wooden tables indoors where families gather for lunch and deckchairs outside on the terrace. It stands next to a shallow water feature where kids can cool off in the water jets.