Experience

Winter in Antwerp 2025-2026 reimagines Hendrik Conscienceplein and succeeds at drawing crowds

Posted by Timothy on

Winter in Antwerp has returned with its most refreshed edition in years, centred on new culinary concepts, upgraded experiences and a stronger emphasis on atmosphere and interaction. The biggest transformation is on the Hendrik Conscienceplein, which has been completely reimagined after drawing few visitors last year. 

The square now hosts Your Divine Xmas, a new winter concept by top sommelier Sepideh Sedaghatnia. Instead of hot chocolate and bratwurst, the area has become a small gastronomic village with fire pits, long communal tables and refined comfort food prepared on-site. 

New dishes include wagyu burgers, filled potatoes, quiches, smoked salmon, oyster preparations, bone marrow and even caviar. Prices start at accessible levels and the square also offers children’s dishes. The venue adds live jazz on Fridays, DJs on Saturdays and workshops on Sundays.

Novelties

Across the city, several other novelties appear alongside the familiar bratwurst and mulled wine. 

On the Grote Markt, The Rebel Smoker introduces a new barbecue chalet with smoked pulled pork, pulled chicken, black angus and vegetarian burgers. Peruvian stallholder Mama Sara returns after several years with her classic butifarra sandwich. A quieter newcomer on the Steenplein is Bar Brabo, a wooden chalet with a relaxed atmosphere beside the fairground rides.

The Suikerrui hosts smashed burgers from Meat District, and the Christmas Market continues to expand its range of sweet treats and artisanal products.

A major new addition can also be found on the Groenplaats: Orbit, a fast-rising food concept launched earlier this year, now occupies a prime spot for the full winter run. They offer fried chicken burgers, a Szechuan variant, wings, snacks and even chicken tenders topped with caviar. Orbit plans to open its first restaurant in March.

Winter in Antwerp also upgrades its overall experience with new lighting across the city centre, interactive installations on the Grote Markt and Operaplein, a storytelling Christmas bauble for children on the Handschoenmarkt, and expanded covered areas. The Operaplein features glühgin, a carousel and winter sweets.

Winter in Antwerp runs until Sunday 4 January 2026.

Winter in Antwerp

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  1. Pingback: Antwerp hotels and entrepreneurs want Winter in Antwerp to start two weeks earlier: winter wonderland or urban pressure cooker? – Trip By Trip
  2. Pingback: WINTER IN ANTWERP 2025-2026 | 1.5M visitors, 120K for New Year’s fireworks – Trip By Trip

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