The main shopping street is the Meir, but most of the smart boutiques can be found along the Huidevetterstraat, Schutterhofsraat and Leopoldstraat. Other good shopping streets include the Eiermarkt and Korte Gasthuisstraat.

Antique and bric-a-brac lovers should head for Kloosterstraat, crammed with wonderful antique shops; you won't find any bargains, but there are bound to be several things which catch your eye. If diamonds are your best friend, head for the shops along Pelikaanstraat, in the heart of the diamond district.

The city has been on the fashion map since the ‘Antwerp Six’ (a group of influential designers including Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten) emerged from the Fine Arts Academy in the early 80s. The area around Lombardenvest is where you will find boutiques stocked with local and international names.

The following are the main shopping zones in the city:

Central Station

The world’s largest diamond centre covers less than one square kilometre near Central Station along the Pelikaanstraat, Vestingstraat, Rijfstraat, Hoveniersstraat axis. Renowned and high quality jewellers are easy to recognise by the ADJA (Antwerp Diamond and Jewellery Association). You can pick up the ADJA brochure from the Tourism Antwerp Office. The largest showroom of diamonds and Jewellery is at Diamondland on Appelmansstraat 33a.

Opposite Central Station is the city’s ‘China Town’, located in Van Wesenbekestraat. This area contains a variety of specialised stores selling Chinese, Thai and other exotic foods and products.

Meir

A good place for clothes and shoes. The 18th and 19th century buildings along this busy shopping street are now home to branches of large European clothes chains.

Historic City Centre

The Grand Bazaar Shopping Centre with over 50 stores is the largest shopping centre in the inner city and connects Eiermarkt and Schoenmarkt.

The Hoogstraat shopping street will lead you to Kloosterstraat, a must-see for lovers of bric-a-brac, featuring an extensive range of old paintings, furniture and accessories for the home. They normally open on Sundays too.

De Wilde Zee

The Wilde Zee neighbourhood, Huidevetterstraat and Lange Gasthuisstraat are the places to go for fashion.

Quartier Latin

In Schuttershofstraat and in the Horta complex, along Hopland, you’ll find the chic boutiques and speciality stores. This trend continues along Leopoldstraat: a must see for antique lovers. Towards the Zuid lies Mechelsesteenweg with stores specialising in antiques and interior décor.

The Fashion District

The Antwerp fashion scene is clustered in and around Nationalestraat and serves as a source of inspiration for the entire neighbourhood. Antwerp is known worldwide for its fashion, partly due to the fashion designers who graduated from the Antwerp Academy of Arts. Some of their surprising collections and designs can be found in shop windows dotted around the neighbourhood.

The South District

Art and culture are the assets of this district, with three important museums and some major art galleries. There’s an interesting mix of exclusive design stores and the Volstraat concentrates on lighting and bric-a-brac.

Leien

From the Amerikalei in the Zuid district to the Opera on the Frankrijklei, there’s a whole range of quality and speciality stores.