A Film Buff's Guide To Antwerp Belgium

Cinema has traditionally been a popular pastime for the people of Antwerp. Even today the port city boasts several household names committed to keeping the cinephile flame alive and well. In our list of essential Antwerp spots for film lovers, a passion for the classics as well as a fondness for fresh, offbeat programming shines through.

Europe’s best at Cartoon’s

The coziest city cinema in all of Antwerp, Cartoon’s (open since 1978) is the place you’ll find that quality European movie you’ve heard your cinephile friends raving about. Only a stone’s throw behind City Hall, the small theater combines a winning location in the historic center with tasteful and alternative programming.
When the household name went down in 2013, Antwerp’s cinephiles saw a dry spell on the horizon they couldn’t possibly live with. Action was undertaken to save the Antwerp landmark and a year later Cartoon’s was back up and running. The renewed plush seating, perfected digital projection and refreshing spirits from the basement bar downstairs make for an even better viewing experience at the most authentic theater in town.
Kaasstraat 4-6, Antwerp, Belgium, +32 3 232 96 32
https://instagram.com/p/8AXSplEKHy/

Classics and live soundtracks at Cinema Zuid

Another great alternative for those shunning the 24-auditorum megaplex outside the city center is Cinema Zuid. Named after the neighborhood where a lot of cultural giants have found a home of late, Cinema Zuid is located inside the FOMU, Antwerp’s photography museum. Somewhat of a cousin to Brussels’ Cinematek, the small two-screen theater keeps the gems of a rich film history in our hearts and at our fingertips.
Tuesday and Thursday evenings show pictures from the thirties through fifties, with the silent ones accompanied by live tunes from the resident pianists. Weekly matinees of beloved classics are perfect for waxing nostalgic while the youngest film lovers among us can enjoy animation and kid’s movies on Sundays. Regular extras include small festivals, director talks and a platform for new talents to show their stuff.
Waalsekaai 47, Antwerp, Belgium, +32 3 242 93 57

Open-air magic at Cinema Urbana

Watch a movie atop a blanket and a makeshift beach with the soft summer breeze caressing your face. Cinema Urbana’s winning formula draws a larger film-loving crowd to its open-air screenings every single year. Organized within the larger context of the Summer of Antwerp initiative, 2015’s edition in the cozily decorated hangar next to the river Schelde was a great hit and no wonder. Free entrance, free soup during the break and a different thematic program every season. We can think of few better ways to spend your summer nights.
Locations differ depending on the season. 2016’s edition will be held next to the Schelde, at the Plantinkaai.

Cinema Urbana, an open-air movie delight

Engaging stuff at Film House Klappei

Over on the other side of the city, in the area known as ‘North’ or ‘Seefhoek’, lies proof that love for cinema really does pervade all of Antwerp. Film House Klappei forms the resident haven for cinephiles and especially those with a sweet tooth for documentaries or Italian film. The most socially engaged of them all, Klapei frequently hosts film nights and debates for active Antwerp organizations and gladly welcomes schools to teach the young ones a thing or two about the magic of the movies.
Klappeistraat 2, Antwerp, Belgium, +32 3 272 51 10

A nostalgic setting at the Roma

Not only the most luxurious setting for a night of film but also the most nostalgic one, the Roma in the neighborhood of Borgerhout breathes film history. Once the biggest movie theaters in the entire city with a whopping 2,000 seats, the building stands tall as a surviving pillar of Belgium’s early cinematic history. Besides film there was room for variety shows and spectacles of all kinds, with a gorgeous view from the upper balcony that still exists.
Today the renovated temple of culture is a shining example of what a tightknit community of art lovers can accomplish. After being abandoned for twenty years the Roma was spruced up by volunteers in 2002. The glorious space again became a cultural force and place for people from all walks of life to meet, with two to three weeknights dedicated to maintaining its tradition of diverse movie programming.
Turnhoutsebaan 286, Antwerp, Belgium, +32 3 600 16 60

The grand hall of the Roma, right before a 2015 renovation

Catch the bug at the Youth Film Festival

Hoping to give every young soul the film bug is Jeff, mascot to the European Youth Film Festival. As a microbe he has the power to infect anyone with the film virus and does the best he can in Antwerp and Bruges to make sure Belgian kids discover the wonders of cinema at an early age. Several days filled with screenings, animations, media labs and all sorts of side activities are meant to get the creative juices going and maybe even get some young ones dreaming about an illustrious movie career for themselves some day.
Timmerwerfstraat 40 at Zuiderspershuis and Turnhoutsebaan 139 at EcoHuis Antwerpen

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.