Meet your guide at the 'Steenplein', a little square in front of the 'Steen' castle, in the old town. Most hotels are within walking distance, and a car park is 2 minutes away.
Your guide has worked in the port for at least 10 years and knows it inside out. He or she will guide you and share a perspective that you can't get anywhere else.
Receive comfortable Superlux headphones with a radio receiver, so you can hear your guide clearly over the noise of roaring boat engines and open-water winds. This set is lightweight, fits all head sizes, and has its own volume control. Even though this audio kit is one-way only, you are free to ask your guide any questions during the tour.
Board the Waterbus, part of Antwerp’s public transport system that mainly serves commuters, so it has very few passengers during the day. When you board, your guide will take care of the tickets, you don’t need to show or pay anything.
Begin your journey along the river, and spot interesting details that reflect the city's rich past, while at the same time witnessing how quickly the city is growing today. Pass the Port Authority building, designed by Zaha Hadid, and officially enter the port of Antwerp.
Pass by locks and impressive maritime infrastructure, and as you round the third bend in the river, begin to grasp just how massive this port is. Learn what this means for the port, for entrepreneurs building their businesses, and for Antwerp, Belgium, and Europe.
Pass by vessels with a capacity of over 24,000 containers that call at the terminal on an almost daily basis. Towering cranes of up to 130 metres high and a whole fleet of straddle carriers operate 24/7 to service them. Keep a safe distance while your guide explains exactly what’s happening and how safety is managed.
Disembark at Lillo Fort, an authentic and picturesque port village where about 100 people still live today. Walk through the restored remains of what used to be a military base protecting the city of Antwerp. A nature reserve surrounds the village, offering a moment of calm and quiet. And in the middle: a cosy café where we'll have a drink (included in the price!) before heading back to the city.
On our way back, you pass by the same locations but this time you look at is with new knowledge. Your guide builds further on these insights and really gets into the nitty-gritty of what makes the port of Antwerp one-of-a-kind in the world.
