Antwerp proved itself irresistible to tourists once again in 2024, with a rise in both day-trippers and overnight stays, as well as an increase in sleepover business visits. New figures show that the historic northern Belgian port city experienced a 10.6% hike in day tourism, welcoming 15.8 million day-trippers in 2024. Overnight stays also rose, by 6%, which adds up to 2.7 million overnight bookings made during the year.
Antwerp’s tourism alderman, Koen Kennis, described the year as “remarkable” and pointed out the city’s popularity with both domestic and international visitors. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the majority of day tourists (69%) were Belgian, but 31% came from abroad, with the neighbouring Netherlands, Germany, and Spain being the biggest source markets.
December festivities and cultural capital
Christmas shopping and yuletide festivities across the “Winter in Antwerp”-branded markets and attractions were a big draw in December – a month that saw the city’s busiest day. Over 87,000 people hit the streets on 28 December 2024.
Cultural attractions throughout the year also continue to bring in the crowds. The city’s museum and gallery offering, which includes spotlights on world-renowned Flemish masters, was enriched in 2024 by the freshly-renovated Rubens House and Gardens which re-opened in August with a new entrance, an embrace of immersive technology, and garden design influenced by Belgian fashion maestro, Dries Van Noten.
Major exhibitions such as the Ensor showcases and the Come Closer festival at Middelheim Museum also appealed to culture vultures.
Breweries, history, and underground mysteries
Meanwhile, on the non-art front, Het Steen, a medieval fortress on the quays of the River Scheldt, comprises a visitor centre, cruise terminal, and interactive Antwerp Story and is considered a must-see for anyone wanting to gain an insight into the evolution of the city over the centuries.
Other non-museum attractions such as Antwerp Zoo, De Koninck Brewery and the underground Ruien canal and sewer network gave visitors an alternative view of the city, its history and commerce throughout the year.
A mixed picture in business travel
On the subject of commerce, overnight MICE stays (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) also went up by 3.6% during 2024, confirming the “city’s position as an attractive congress destination”, alderman Kennis said. Though it was a modest increase, it comes in a context where individual business travel witnessed a drop of 12.8% – a decline that reflects a wider post-Covid 19 trend of corporate cost-cutting, with travel and face-to-face meetings replaced by online conferences, seminars and meetings.