The Antwerp district of Borgerhout has been named among the coolest neighbourhoods in the world by travel magazine Time Out, which praises its lack of pretension and “DIY spirit”. The magazine produces an annual ranking based on the culture and spirit of a neighbourhood.
Culture
Time Out names Antwerp’s Borgerhout among world’s coolest neighbourhoods
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Borgerhout doesn’t always have the best reputation, due to news reports about drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour, but the district also has a good side that caught the eye of Time Out's local writer.
“While most visitors stay wrapped up in Antwerp’s historic centre, the locals know the city’s creative heart beats just northeast,” the magazine writes. “Divided by a roaring ring road but knitted together by bike lanes, this compact, multicultural district is where Turkish and Moroccan grocers rub shoulders with vegan coffee bars, artist-run galleries, and leafy terraces.”
While most visitors stay wrapped up in Antwerp’s historic centre, the locals know the city’s creative heart beats just northeast
According to Time Out, the perfect way to start the day in Borgerhout is with a visit to Café Josee, in Te Boelaerpark.
“I was very surprised,” says owner Griet Van Roye. “Customers who have read it have mentioned it to me, and I’ve received lots of messages from family and friends. Thursdays are usually quieter days, but today it’s packed here.”
Only Jimbōchō in Tokyo ranked higher than Borgerhout in Time Out’s list. Barra Funda in São Paulo, Brazil, ranks third.
“Locals call it BoHo, and the vibe is unpretentious and collaborative,” the magazine writes. “It’s Borgerhout’s residents that make it one of Antwerp’s most vibrant and welcoming corners.”
Residents who spoke to VRT agreed with Time Out’s assessment . “I’ve only just moved here, and many of the tips I get about nice places in Antwerp are in Borgerhout,’ said one man who delivers fruit to a local school. “There's a lot to do here, and I think it will be even more so in a few years. It’s clearly a neighbourhood in development, but it has a lot of potential.”
One senior resident was surprised by the rating, “even though I really like living here”. “I’ve been living in Borgerhout for 30 years and I find it a very pleasant neighbourhood,” she said. “Everything has become much more pleasant. Turnhoutsebaan looks much better than it used to, and there's always plenty to do here.”
“I’ve seen it change into a trendy neighbourhood,” says the owner of restaurant Briquet. “Lots of nice cafés and restaurants have opened and people are coming out onto the streets more. There are also some less pleasant things happening here, such as vandalism, but that doesn’t outweigh the positive aspects. You get help immediately if something is wrong; there’s a lot of solidarity.”
There's a lot to do here, and I think it will be even more so in a few years. It’s clearly a neighbourhood in development, but it has a lot of potential
The magazine asked its global network of writers to nominate the coolest district in their area. It then ranked each one on criteria including culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food and drink and street life to come up with a list of the 39 coolest neighbourhoods around the world.