The 2023 Winter in Antwerp or Winter in Antwerpen, Antwerp‘s Christmas and winter market and fair, will not be organised at the Scheldt Quays or Steenplein, but at Operaplein and Hendrik Conscienceplein. The quays and Steenplein will effectively be unusable due to renovation works. 

The Conscienceplein will only host four stalls. Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) says this was decided in conjunction with neighbours and the local bars and cafés. 

The Operaplein will be a new place to be during Winter in Antwerp. “The winter fair in the centre along the Scheldt Quays and the stalls of Steenplein will move to that square”, the mayor explained in Gazet van Antwerp.

Renovations

This is because the renovation of the Scheldt Quays near the Jordaenskaai will soon start. The area under the Noorderterras will be completely refurbished, so no events can take place there.

The Steenplein will also be completely renovated this fall. The square will be completely redeveloped as part of the so-called Via Sinjoor. That is the already largely car-free pendulum from Antwerp-Central Railway Station to the Scheldt.

Groenplaats and Grote Markt

The stalls on the Grote Markt will be retained, as well as the ice rink on the Groenplaats. Although in the latter case that will be the last time at least for the time being. The reconstruction of the Groenplaats is also imminent and will probably take place in 2024. So after this edition there is no longer room for the ice rink on the square.

Definitive?

What the future of Winter in Antwerp will look like in the long term and at which locations it will take place remains to be seen for the time being. Whether the Operaplein, for example, will become a fixed value, has not yet been decided.

“After this edition, a solution will have to be found for the ice rink on the Groenplaats. At the same time, we are taking advantage of this situation to see how we will organize Winter in Antwerp in the future and which locations are or will remain eligible for this”, the Mayor concludes.

Operaplein?

The Operaplein is a relatively new square in Antwerp, At Antwerp’s Opera House. It  has hosted a few events now, including Antwerp Pride in 2021. For me personally, it will bring the Christmas Market way closer to home. Which sounds fun and daunting at the same time.