5 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. The theatre also has a play area and bar Het Geluk where families can gather before the performance.

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.

The restored KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts) has become a welcoming place for children. They can wander around looking at (and climbing onto) strange installations by Christopher Coppens, including a camel and a dinosaur skull. Or they can pick up a sketch pad to create their own art.