Experience

ANTWERP | Culinary delights during Smaakmeesters 2025 on 4 and 5 October

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On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October 2025, Antwerp will host the eleventh edition of Smaakmeesters or Taste Masters, the city’s culinary festival. More than 100 hospitality businesses and speciality shops will present their finest creations, with culinary hotspots in Antwerp-North included for the first time this year. 

Visitors can also taste free regional products in Het Steen or join a culinary walk.

Smaakmeesters

Smaakmeesters is the festival where food lovers can set off on a culinary journey of discovery in the Historic Centre, on the Zuid, on the Eilandje and, for the first time, in North Antwerp. For just 7 euros they can try a house speciality, without having to book in advance. The range is wide and diverse: from fine dining to ice-cream parlours, from cocktail bars to coffee bars, from bakeries to bistros. Participants can be recognised by a large white-and-red balloon at their entrance.

All participating businesses are listed at smaakmeesters.be, with a handy map.

Alderman for Tourism Koen Kennis (N-VA) said: “Every edition of Smaakmeesters is a joy. More than 100 hospitality businesses and speciality shops serve food lovers from everywhere with a wonderfully diverse range of the very best. There are no fewer than five different culinary walks to choose from, and you can taste regional products for free in Het Steen. Antwerp shines once again with the eleventh edition of this culinary festival in the gastronomic Champions League!”

Culinary walks

For those who find it difficult to choose, five themed culinary walks are available. Each route passes five participating businesses where visitors can try a house speciality.

On the vegetarian route, foodies enjoy southern-inspired vegetarian dishes such as Indian street food, canelés from the South of France and Mediterranean quality pita. 

The Italian route reveals Italian influences in Antwerp’s streetscape, with pizza, pasta and gelato along the way. The alleyways route combines culinary specialities with strolls through the city’s smallest hidden streets. The art deco walk links a tour of Antwerp’s art deco architecture with tasty stops along the route. Brand new is the North route, which takes visitors to culinary addresses in the lively Slachthuiswijk or Slaughterhouse Neighbourhood, a district undergoing major development.

The participating businesses on these walks and all other information about Smaakmeesters can be found at visit.antwerpen.be.

New culinary tour for real explorers

For adventurous gourmets, Smaakmeesters launches a paid tour in Antwerp-North for the first time. This is a neighbourhood brimming with flavours, stories and history. The walk takes place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October, twice a day, departing from the foot of the Antwerp-Central Railway Station stairs.

Guided by the experienced teams of Expeditie De Stad and Food for Foodies, participants discover authentic eateries, lively squares, hidden speciality shops and personal stories in two hours. The guides know the district inside out and have unearthed unique stories and flavours for this walk.

Each tour is limited to 16 participants. The price is 30 euros, including tastings along the way. Tickets and further information are available at smaakmeesters.be.

Free tastings in Het Steen

On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October from 12.00 to 18.00, visitors can sample a wide selection of Antwerp’s finest regional products free of charge in the cruise terminal of Het Steen. 

These include Koffie Verheyen, Antwerpse Handjes, marzipan from Louis D’Anvers, Elixir D’Anvers, luxury drinks from MM Anverpia and many more. New this year are samples from Chocolate Nation.

During the weekend, visitors will also receive a 20% discount on the purchase of all these regional products in the Antwerp City Shop.

Accessibility

The city advises everyone to come to the centre by bicycle, shared mobility, public transport or park-and-ride. Visitors can plan their route in advance at Smart Ways To Antwerp.

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