Final weekend Winter in Antwerp: “The Dutch saved our season” (Antwerp)
Winter in Antwerp continued this year in a slimmed-down version, without a Christmas chalet village, New Year’s fireworks or New Year’s reception, but with an ice skating rink, winter bars den Après and Bar Den, stargazing at Het Steen and the Joe Xmas House on the Grote Markt. And here too the Dutch were omnipresent. “Buses were even put in.”
The city of Antwerp chose to let some aspects of Winter in Antwerp continue despite corona. “Safe with respect for the current framework”, says Johan Vermant, and mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA). “After that, we put maximum effort into the assets and capabilities of the city center, so that residents and visitors could enjoy a warm and cordial atmosphere. We have placed an impressive number of lights – no less than 340,000, good for more than 28 kilometers of lights – and Christmas trees – 130 running meters – in front of it.”
That was appreciated, even on the very last day of Winter Antwerp, there was a queue of a few tens of meters in front of the entrance to the skating rink and winter was on the Groenplaats. Here too, a selection of Dutch people, including Leon, Bianca and Lana from Bergen op Zoom. “The ice rink is still open with us, but this is something different,” says Bianca. This winter it will be the first time that they will come to Antwerp. “And we don’t just let Lana skate, we participate fanatically ourselves,” she laughs.
Leon, Bianca and Lana from Bergen op Zoom. — © Patrick De Roo
Peter Veekmans of UC Belgium, the event agency behind the skating rink and Den Après, looks back with satisfaction on this edition of Winter in Antwerp. “Despite corona, it went well. But we owe that mainly to the fact that everything is closed in the Netherlands. The Dutch came here by bus. We received daily reservations, including from Rotterdam and Amsterdam. I think this year we had 60% Dutch and 40% Belgians.”
But the level before the corona crisis was not reached. Partly due to the mandatory closing time. “Normally we don’t close until 2 am on Friday and Saturday. And the last hours are the best hours.” But he’s not complaining. “The Dutch have made up for a lot. They do make a bit more noise, but there is not much difference for the rest. To the started. there are even videos of Den Après on social media. These were picked up by reality stars who then also came here and completed and shared videos. That is why we receive fifty to telephone reservations every day.”
![Also on the day of Winter in Antwerp was the last queue at the skating rink.](https://img.gva.be/ekvTzyvKiQeimKhjGrKxLlfjHjg=/fit-in/960x640/https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.gva.be%2FAssets%2FImages_Upload%2F2022%2F01%2F09%2F545d9403-fcbe-4bd5-a9c8-ff6e0574f83f.jpg)
Also on the day of Winter in Antwerp was the last queue at the skating rink. — © Patrick De Roo
Season bye
Wasted story at Bar Den on Steenplein. “I think this year more than 80% of our customers came from the Netherlands,” says Steff Hesbeens of Kollektiv Productions, the company behind the winter bar. “I think that’s a lot locals have stayed away. It’s a different crowd, but we can’t complain. They have matured our season. This edition turned out better than expected. Our large outdoor terrace has also attracted many people. The first weeks in particular went very well. Traditionally, the last week is always a little less. This year was no different.”
Outside on the winter patio, friends Lucas, Remco, Cheyenne and Roos are enjoying a fresh pint. “Although the beer tasted a bit better yesterday,” Lucas laughs. The four of them had a lot of fun on Saturday evening in a restaurant on the Suikerrui, they tell us. “It’s quite cozy here. We are from Rotterdam. At home we are not allowed anything, so we come here to a restaurant, we come to shop, walk around and have a drink.”
![Lucas, Remco, Cheyenne and Roos on the terrace of Bar Den.](https://img.gva.be/OHZlTt01JTPOpo8lsGNWyLTpSFo=/fit-in/960x640/https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.gva.be%2FAssets%2FImages_Upload%2F2022%2F01%2F09%2F21d1eb00-b6b2-4f87-b20d-5d321934ac2b.jpg)
Lucas, Remco, Cheyenne and Roos on the terrace of Bar Den. — © Patrick De Roo
Antwerp Viert
To compensate for the disappearance of the New Year’s fireworks and nightlife, the livestream ‘Antwerp Viert’ was organized for the second year in a row on New Year’s Eve, a collaboration between the nightlife sector and the city of Antwerp. Once again DJs played from some iconic places in Antwerp: Het Steen and the Handelsbeurs. “The stream of ‘Antwerp Viert’ attracted 135,000 viewers, with fans from the United Kingdom, the US and Mexico on behalf of participants from neighboring countries,” reports Dirk Vermeiren, spokesman for the Aldermen of the Middle Class and Tourism Koen Kennis (N-VA). Het Steen itself attracted about eighteen visitors during the Winter period in Antwerp.