Along the way we count a lot of yellow numbers, but on the Meir the Dutch accents are rather strange compared to previous weeks. No wonder: it’s not a shopping Sunday, so most shops are closed. A setback for Gijs Vandebuurt (19) and Eva Van den Dool (17) from Amsterdam. “We came to Antwerp especially to shop, but now it appears that almost everything is closed. Although I already have nice leather pants and a shirt found,” said the latter. “And soon we will have dinner with a nice glass of wine. That will make up for a lot.”

Closed at home

Friends Marloes Mazzei (39) from Wormerveer and Joa Kerkvliet (31) from Hilversum don’t let it get to their heart. Joa: “We are mainly here to eat and drink. After being locked up at home for a long time, we finally wanted to go out for a day, even have a normal social feeling.” She works in the distant sector and until her time spent in faraway places. “It has been March 2020 since I was abroad. And the fact that I call Antwerp ‘abroad’ says a lot. Before corona that didn’t even occur to me, then it was just a trip. And spend some of the money we’ve earned here. Is he?”

Immensely cozy

Unlike the clothing stores, the Dutch catering industry is locked for the time being. The covered terraces on the Groenplaats remain very popular with our northern neighbors.

For example, Doris Matin (24), Ken Van Oss (24), Yves-Alexander Deppe (21), Tijm Van Weert (25) and Machte Schuermans (22) from Breda and Den Bosch have settled on the terrace of Eetcafé ‘t Klokske. , met a Trappist at hand. “As students, we were a bit tired of sitting at home all the time, so a weekend in Antwerp was a good idea. We arrived on Saturday and are sitting here having a beer. And we don’t have two days to go,” they chuckle.

About the different corona rules in the Netherlands and Belgium: “The virus does not stop at the border. As far as we are concerned, the catering industry can also open again with us. Even then we will continue to come to Antwerp. Because it is immensely cozy here, with very nice people and better beers.”

Trappists = Heineken

Mee Ran Van Uytsel, manager of ‘t Klokske, has positive feelings about the rush of Dutch tourists. “You can hear and see them clearly. But above all to hear. They digest very well. They think that a Trappist from a Duvel is the same as a Heineken. And they are also big fans of shots. It can sometimes get a bit too exuberant in the evening. That is certainly not a bad thing for our turnover, but as far as I am concerned it can sometimes be a little less.” And what after the funeral of corona? “The past months have been very good advertising for Antwerp. I am certainly convinced that the Dutch will continue to come.”

During our visit on Sunday afternoon, according to Mee Ran, approximately two thirds of her clientele were Dutch. “But from about 5 pm that rises to at least 90%. I hardly see my regular customers anymore. They do not necessarily stay away from the Dutch, but mainly because it is so busy here. Finding a table is already very difficult. It is not possible to eat or drink something here for the time being.”

bird market

One of those staminees is Paula Peeters (80) from Deurne: “I’ve been coming here for a long time, but in recent months it’s almost fully booked. If I can’t find a table, I’ll go have a drink with the oldest. And if the situation was specific, I would go to the Netherlands myself. So I have no problem with it.”

Her daughter Patricia Maes (62) from Schilde and dog Beli regularly go to cafes: “Mama likes to stay at the Groenplaats and if possible, I accompany her. She has her favorite destinations, including ‘t Klokske. And we already know when to come: before the end of the Vogelenmarkt. It is now slightly busier, but it is always full of Dutch people here every Sunday. A tradition that will hopefully never disappear.”