FINALLY! After a long period of waiting the sun has arrived and temperatures have risen with it. It’s the perfect occasion to go outside with friends, watch the sun set, look at the stars, fall in love…. yes, i’m a true fan of summer. In Antwerp there are lots of places where you can enjoy the sunny weather (it’s too hot to sleep anyway), but there is only one place where you can do all of the above mentioned activities together at once. Yes, even falling in love.

Every year, the city of Antwerp organizes a sort of “festival” which takes place all summer long. It is called “de Zomer van Antwerpen” (Summer in Antwerp). Next to theater shows in open air, a circus, live music in streets that are otherwise quiet, and so many other festivities, they also organize “de Zomerbar”. The first time I discovered this huge hide-away just out of the city center, was 2 years ago.

Walking on the long torch-lit path, feels like walking into a fairytale (please don’t insult it by comparing it to walking towards “the island council” of Temptation Island, thank you very much): there’s a forest with tables and chairs made out of tree trunks. There’s a beach with matching beach chairs and umbrellas. There are lights and hammocks hanging quietly in between the trees. Big plus for book-fanatics like myself: during the day you have access to an open air (!!) library. You can rent a book and just lay yourself down on the grass, or in a hammock, covered by the shade of a tree.

There’s a restaurant with delicious food, a wine bar, a bar with excellent mojito’s… It’s a little piece of heaven (in summertime) on earth. Oh and when you bring back your empty glasses yourself, you get some money back. Smart way to keep the grass clean!

Pictures by Sigrid Spinnox (c) & Stad Antwerpen

Zomerbar,Ledeganckkaai
2000 Antwerpen

from 07-07-2012 untill 19-08-2012
during the week: 16u-24u / in weekends: 14u-24u