3h15 | € 55 p.p., all-in. Max. 10 participants.
Waterbus tickets and drinks included.

We meet at the 'Steenplein', a little square in front of the 'Steen' castle, in the old town. Most hotels are walk distance away, a parking lot is 2 minutes away.
Your guide has worked in the port for at least 10 years and knows it inside out: he or she will guide you and share a perspective that you can't get anywhere else.

Bad weather? No problem. During the boat tour, you can stay sheltered from the rain and cold, or face the elements like a real sailor. It’s up to you, no judgment 😉.

A 5 min walk away from the Cathedral, we meet each other

1: Rendez-vous at the city centre

Your guide will provide you with comfortable Superlux headphones with a radio receiver, so you can hear them clearly over the noise of roaring boat engines and open-water winds. They are lightweight, fit all head sizes, and have their own volume control.

Even though this audio kit is one-way only, you are free to ask your guide any questions during the tour: we welcome all interaction!

So you can hear your guide crystal clear throughout the tour

2: Audio-kit handout

The Waterbus is part of Antwerp’s public transport system and mainly serves commuters, so it has very few passengers during the day. When we board, your guide will take care of the tickets, you don’t need to show or pay anything.

Are you traveling with children who will not follow along with the guide? No problem: they can join you at € 9 per child.

Tickets are included in the price

3: Boarding of the Waterbus

Did you know that the city and port of Antwerp have over 1,000 years of history? As we begin our journey along the river, we’ll spot interesting details that reflect this rich past, while at the same time witnessing how quickly the city is growing today.
We won't spend too much time dwelling over the past, as we soon pass the Port Authority building, designed by Zaha Hadid, and officially enter the port of Antwerp.

Antwerp is meant to be viewed from the river

4: Off we go for a beautiful view on the city skyline

The Port of Antwerp is the largest contiguous port area in the world. Even so, it is not considered the biggest port globally, ranking second in Europe and not even making the global top ten. How is that possible? As soon as we enter the port area, it will become clear, as we pass by the second-largest chemical cluster in the world.

As soon as we enter the port of Antwerp: the unexpected awaits

5: Something strange is going on...

We pass by locks and impressive maritime infrastructure, and as we round the third bend in the river, we begin to grasp just how massive this port is. We’re already farther out than any other public tour goes, yet we’re not even halfway through the port area. Your guide explains what this means for the port, for entrepreneurs building their businesses, and for Antwerp, Belgium, and Europe.

And this boat is going fast!

6: 30 minutes in, we're not even half way through the port

This is big-business: vessels with a capacity of over 24,000 containers call at the terminal we pass on an almost daily basis. Towering cranes of up to 130 metres high and a whole fleet of straddle carriers operate 24/7 to service them. This is the engine that keeps our world turning.

We keep a safe distance while your guide explains exactly what’s happening and how safety is managed. Did you think we would avoid sensitive topics like drug smuggling? Antwerp Port Tours is 100% independent: there are no subjects we avoid, even the darker sides.

6 km of container quay to moor the largest container vessels in the world

7: The largest container terminal of Europe

We disembark at Lillo Fort, an authentic and picturesque port village where about 100 people still live today. We are catapulted back 100 years as we walk through the restored remains of what used to be a military base protecting the city of Antwerp. The contrast with the industrial scenery along the river couldn’t be greater. A nature reserve surrounds the village, offering a moment of calm and quiet.

Time to trade sea legs for solid ground

8: In the middle of it all: an authentic port village

Marleen is one of the village’s best-known inhabitants, as she ran a small café on the village square for years. A few years ago, she thought it was time to retire and sold it, but she is now back with a new café on the edge of the village. It is more quiet, cosy, and spacious, and it does not have a kitchen, which suits her just fine!

We’ll have a drink there, which is included in your tour, which is the perfect time to ask your guide more questions. There are also restrooms available.

6 km of container quay to moor the largest container vessels in the world

9: Time for a drink at Marleen’s living room café

We return to the city along the same river, but now that you have gained some basic insights about our port, it is time for your guide to take you to a deeper level of understanding. You will hear about the world-famous port mentality and work ethic, and how this translates into top-level operations we pass by. We focus on the headquarters of one of Belgium’s wealthiest individuals, who made his fortune in this port and has placed remarkable, politically charged works of art facing the river. Even though it is the same river, this is a completely different journey altogether.

Your guide continues to build on insights

10: Back to town, now with new knowledge.

• You will get an automated email from our booking platform to confirm your booking on where to meet your guide.
  Please contact us at info@antwerpporttours.com if you have not received an email, as it means there is most likely something wrong with your booking.

• Payment is required in full at the time of the booking.
• We create an invoice for every client: please provide your invoice details at the time of your booking, if you have any.
  

We aim to provide optimal flexibility, any change requests can always be discussed.

To change a booking:

• You can follow the link provided in the automated email you receive after booking a tour
• Let us know via Whatsapp-chat at +32 456 89 02 03
• Send us via email at info@antwerpporttours.com

In order to avoid mistakes, we don't process changes based on phone calls.

Cancelling a booking is possible without any fees if done prior to 14 days prior to the tour.

• Any cancelations earlier than 14 days prior to the tour can be processed with a full refund.
• Any cancelations later than 14 days and earlier than 1 day prior to the tour can be processed with a 50% refund.
• Any cancelations later than 1 day prior to the tour can be processed with a 20% refund.

We preserve the right to cancel a tour from our end in case of:

• Extreme weather conditions
• Sudden illness or emergency of our guide (we always try to find a replacement)
• Technical issues (we always try to find an alternative)
• Force majeure due to external factors such as strikes, local events or government-imposed restrictions

We provide maximum flexibility to move your booking to another date, if desired.