As the busy 2023 summer period makes way for autumn, Antwerp‘s visitor centre Het Steen has a lot in store for visitors and Antwerp residents this autumn. This varied program includes a visit to a professional puppet theater with the performance ‘Nello & Patrasche‘, an exhibition by fashion designer Flora Miranda and a four-day fair for creative startups that offer original city products. 

This autumn, visitors can also visit the cozy Offline winter bar for a drink. Het Steen is still the ideal base for a visit to Antwerp and with this program the city continues to focus on the experience for young and old.

This year, Het Steen can once again look back on a top summer with 150,000 visitors, and continues to prove itself as a hotspot for tourists and Antwerp residents. Het Steen will once again be presenting a varied offering this autumn.

Councilor for Tourism Koen Kennis (N-VA): “The visit figures prove it: after years of vacancy, Het Steen is once again buzzing with life. This autumn there are plenty of reasons to visit again.”

Rubens House painting guest in the reading room

During the renovation of the Rubens House, the museum’s collection is a guest at other locations in the city. In Het Steen, visitors can admire ‘The Lady at the Fish Market in Antwerp‘ by Adriaen van Utrecht and Marten Pepijn in the reading room. A painting bursting with Antwerp history and hidden symbolism. Het Steen is the ideal place to show this 17th-century market scene, because the old fish market where fish used to be sold was close to the castle.

Expo ‘Router’

In the ‘Router‘ exhibition, Flora Miranda presents her new collection, in which data, art and fashion merge into special creations. Visitors can marvel at the unique garments in the lounge of Het Steen, with data stories from the financial world, IT, industry and research.

Until 29 October.

Puppet ‘Theater Nello & Patrasche’

In the cruise terminal of Het Steen, which will be transformed into an intimate theater hall for the occasion, children and families can enjoy the ‘Nello & Patrasche’ performance. ‘Nello & Patrasche’ is a moving story about friendship, loyalty and making choices in life. This performance in collaboration with Figurentheater Mirantibus is performed with puppets and live music.

On 11 and 12 November.

Takeoff Antwerp Startup Fair

Once again this year, the Startup Fair returns to the Het Steen cruise terminal. At this four-day entrepreneurial fair, creative startups get the opportunity to put their product in the spotlight for a broad and international audience. 

In this way, visitors are introduced to a wide range of original city products, which fits in with the range in the Antwerp City Shop. In addition, with this event, Takeoff Antwerp encourages young student entrepreneurs to take the first steps towards independent entrepreneurship. At the end of the fair, one of the entrepreneurs has a chance to be permanently admitted to the Antwerp City Shop in Het Steen.

From 30 October to 3 November.

Offline winter bar

After the success of the summer bar in Het Steen in recent months, the young entrepreneurial company Offline will open a winter version of the bar this fall, in the cozy courtyard of the visitor center. Visitors can enjoy a drink in a magical winter setting.

Dates: 25 November 2023 to 7 January 2024. Location: Het Steen courtyard.