Koen and me outside of the Fiskebar
For Koen’s birthday, we celebrated with lunch with the family at the Fiskebar in Antwerp! Even though it was cold outside, the sun was shining. So it was a perfect day to go for a walk and then enjoy delicious wine and seafood with great people!
An appelbol and a worstebroodje (a curryworst to be exact)
I’ve lived in Antwerp for over 3 years and never really understood Verloren Maandag. All I knew is that the Monday after Driekoningen, or Epiphany (Koen’s birthday) bakeries were open on Monday and closed on Tuesday (usually the opposite) and in every bakery there are mountains of appelbollen (apples wrapped in pastry dough and baked in the oven) and worstenbroodjes (sausage wrapped in pastry dough and baked in the oven). This year I decided to partake and learn more about the tradition.
Antwerp Christmas Market in the Grote Markt
I always look forward to Christmas-time in Antwerp. Not only are the streets and trees filled with lights, but the Christmas market begins! Spread out around the city, little wooden stalls are set up where you can buy trinkets and sweets, and of course warm and strong drinks!
Aquatopia – located at the entrance to Chinatown
Koen and I visited Aquatopia around Halloween! The entire aquarium was Halloween themed, so amongst the fish we found cobwebs, ghouls, ghosts, and grim reapers! I also don’t remember the names of the fish I took photos of, but I will describe them as best I can. There was also an incident where a snake slithered out of his habitat – so scary!
Lombardia
When my sister-in-law Barbara came to visit we had to decide where to lunch. I have a long (and growing) list of restaurants I’d like to try and Lombardia was on it! Lombardia serves organic, natural, eco-friendly food and drinks and is most known for it’s drink Ginger Love. The Wall Street Journal even listed the drink in its top 5 to-do list for Antwerp! Barbara and I enjoyed huge sandwiches loaded with vegetables and I of course ordered a Ginger Love!
Bourla, the building with the orange awning and outdoor seating
My colleagues and I finally celebrated Christmas dinner! Although the late dinner is attributed to scheduling conflicts, we wound up really enjoying the sunny weather by eating outside. The Bourla is located in the Graanmarkt, alongside many other cafés and restaurants – it’s nice area to relax for a drink, lunch, or dinner. Because the weather was warm outside, my menu consisted mostly of North Sea Shrimp!
Ladurée in Antwerp
I was so happy to find out earlier this year that Ladurée was not only opening it’s first Belgian store in Antwerp, but also on my street only a couple of doors down from my apartment! I have such fond memories of the original Ladurée in Paris. Koen proposed to me on the Champs-Élysées and then we celebrated with lunch at Ladurée. I love having a touch of Paris down the street.
Grayson and Tamar in Antwerp’s Central Station, fresh off of the train!
Before I can start posting my photos from New York City, I first want to make a post about Grayson and Tamar’s (my brother and sister-in-law’s) first trip to Antwerp! In early August they were traveling around Western Europe and made sure to stop over in Antwerp. Not only was it their first time visiting me in Antwerp, but also their first time in Belgium. We drank plenty of Belgian beer and ate a lot of Belgian chocolates and fries.
Jumping Antwerpen
This past Sunday, Koen and I were invited by a friend to enjoy Jumping Antwerpen, a horse jumping event located in downtown Antwerp by the harbor. We had never been to any sort of horse event, so we gladly decided to attend! The weather was great and we really enjoyed watching the events!
The Antwerp Christmas Market has begun! The Christmas market is spread out around Antwerp, and you’ll find cute wooden stalls with a variety of vendors. A trip to the Kerstmarkt isn’t complete without first sampling spekpatatjes met looksaus (bacon potatoes with garlic sauce) and Glühwein (“glow wine”, mulled wine). Koen and I ventured into the huge crowd the opening night, Saturday the 8th of December. Unfortunately I didn’t check my battery level and could only take 2 photos! But I went back Monday to take more photos!
Me enjoying spekpatatjes met looksaus and Glühwein the first night of the Kerstmarkt!
An American in Antwerp 
