Antwerp Handles Tourist Crowds.. Less Overcrowding Than Ghent and Bruges Revealed

Antwerp Manages Tourist Crowds Better Than Ghent and Bruges

Antwerp city guides reveal that unlike Ghent and Bruges, large tourist groups don’t cause major issues here—curiously, the city’s size helps spread the crowds.

Marie Dupont30 May 2025Last Update : 1 day ago

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Tourism in Belgium’s cities is a hot topic, especially when comparing the experiences of Antwerp with those in Gent and Brugge. The Antwerpse stadsgidsen (city guides) have recently shared insights on how large tourist groups impact their city. Unlike Gent and Brugge, which have raised alarms about overcrowding and disturbances, Antwerp seems to manage these challenges more effectively.

5 Key Takeaways

Antwerp guides downplay tourist overcrowding issues
Ghent and Bruges report major tourist disturbances
Cities raise alarms over large tourist groups
Antwerp manages tourist spread effectively
Frank Van De Heijning highlights city size advantage

On 2025-05-30 19:23:00, Frank Van De Heijning from the Antwerpse stadsgidsen explained that Antwerp’s larger size allows for better distribution of visitors, reducing the pressure on specific areas. This nuanced approach contrasts with the more intense tourist congestion reported in the other historic cities. But what does this mean for local residents and businesses?

Understanding the differences in tourist impact helps US ask: How can Antwerp maintain this balance? And can Gent and Brugge learn from Antwerp’s experience to ease their own tourist-related issues?

Fast Answer: Antwerp’s larger city area allows for better spread of tourists, preventing the severe overcrowding and nuisance seen in Gent and Brugge, according to local city guides.

Why does Antwerp experience less tourist overload despite attracting many visitors? The answer lies in its urban layout and management strategies. Key points include:

Antwerp’s greater geographical size enables tourists to disperse more evenly across the city.
Local guides note that large groups do not cause the same level of disturbance as in smaller, more concentrated cities.
Gent and Brugge have expressed concerns about overcrowding that affects daily life and heritage sites.
Antwerp’s approach may serve as a model for managing tourism sustainably in Belgium’s historic cities.

This insight is crucial for Belgian tourism stakeholders aiming to balance visitor numbers and local quality of life, especially as tourism rebounds post-pandemic.

Looking ahead, Antwerp’s example invites other Belgian cities to explore innovative ways to distribute tourists more evenly. Can Gent and Brugge adapt similar strategies to protect their charm and residents’ comfort? The conversation continues as Belgium seeks sustainable tourism growth.