March in Antwerp is the tail end of winter trying to pass itself off as spring. Daytime temperatures hover around 11.8°C (53°F), and mornings still dip to 3.8°C (39°F), which feels sharper when the wind channels up the Schelde. You'll see about 58mm of rain spread across 12 days, so grey skies outnumber blue ones by a good margin. The real story, though, is the light. Daylight stretches from roughly 11 hours at the start of March to nearly 13 by month's end, and that shift changes the city's mood more than the thermometer does.
This is low season, and you'll feel it. The Rubenshuis draws maybe a third of its July crowds. You might stand alone in front of the Descent from the Cross at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal on a Wednesday afternoon. Hotel rates in Het Zuid and near the Meir sit comfortably below the summer average. If you prefer museums without queues and restaurants without a 45-minute wait, March tends to deliver.
The honest trade-off is the outdoors. Café terraces along the Scheldekaaien sit mostly empty and stacked with chairs. The Middelheim sculpture park feels raw in the wind. Evening walks through Zurenborg's Art Nouveau streets get cut short by the chill. Some years, the first genuinely warm weekend lands in late March, and when it does, Antwerpenaars pour into Stadspark and along the quays as if they haven't seen the sun since October. But you cannot plan around it. March in Antwerp rewards patience and a willingness to spend time indoors, and the indoor Antwerp is genuinely world-class.
Why visit in March
- Antwerp's major museums, including KMSKA, Rubenshuis, and Plantin-Moretus, are nearly empty compared to summer, so you can take your time with the collections without being herded through.
- Hotel rates drop significantly from peak season. A 4-star room in Het Zuid or Het Eilandje typically costs noticeably less than summer rates, sometimes by a third or more.
- The late-winter light in Antwerp has a particular quality that photographers prize, flat and silvery off the Schelde, with none of the harsh midday glare you get in summer.
- Restaurant reservations are easy to come by at places that book out weeks ahead in June and July, particularly along Nationalestraat and in the Sint-Andries neighborhood.
Worth knowing
- The weather is genuinely cold and damp. An average high of 11.8°C (53°F) with 76% humidity means the chill gets into your clothes in a way that dry cold at the same temperature would not.
- Outdoor attractions lose much of their appeal. The Scheldekaaien promenade, Rivierenhof park, and Middelheim are all better experienced from May onward.
- Daylight, while improving, is still limited compared to summer. By 6pm the light is fading, which cuts into sightseeing time for anyone on a short trip.
- March has no signature festivals or headline events in Antwerp. If you want a cultural anchor for your trip, April through September offer considerably more.
Best for
Think twice if
March in Antwerp is cold and grey with improving daylight. Expect overcast skies on roughly two-thirds of the days, with a persistent dampness that makes the 11.8°C (53°F) highs feel cooler than they read. The wind off the Schelde adds a bite, particularly along the quays and in Het Eilandje. Mornings at 3.8°C (39°F) can have frost in early March, though this becomes less common by the 20th. Rain falls on about 12 days, typically as light drizzle rather than heavy downpours, accumulating 58mm total. Humidity sits at 76%, which is lower than winter's peak but still noticeable. By late March, you'll occasionally get a day that reaches 14-15°C (57-59°F) with partial sun, and those days feel transformative after the long Belgian winter.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | 2 | 91 |
| Feb | 9 | 3 | 62 |
| Mar | 12 | 4 | 58 |
| Apr | 14 | 6 | 55 |
| May | 19 | 10 | 85 |
| Jun | 23 | 14 | 77 |
| Jul | 23 | 15 | 83 |
| Aug | 23 | 15 | 59 |
| Sep | 21 | 13 | 68 |
| Oct | 16 | 10 | 92 |
| Nov | 10 | 6 | 82 |
| Dec | 8 | 4 | 70 |
Best things to do in March
Explore KMSKA's Flemish Masters Wing
museumThe Royal Museum of Fine Arts reopened in 2022 after an 11-year renovation. The Flemish Masters collection spans Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, and Ensor across a newly designed gallery sequence. The renovated building itself is worth the visit, with its dramatic light wells and the contrast between the 19th-century neoclassical shell and the contemporary interior.
March crowds at KMSKA are a fraction of summer levels, so you can stand in front of Rubens' Adoration of the Magi without jostling for position.Booking tipWeekday mornings are the quietest. The museum tends to be busiest on the first Sunday of the month, when Belgian residents get free entry.
Walk the Zurenborg Art Nouveau District
sightseeingThe streets around Cogels-Osylei in the Zurenborg neighborhood hold one of Europe's densest concentrations of Art Nouveau and eclectic architecture from the 1890s-1910s. Transvaalstraat and Waterloostraat have particularly striking façades. The overcast March light brings out the details in the stonework and ironwork that harsh summer sun tends to wash out.
The flat grey light of March is surprisingly good for appreciating architectural detail, and the streets are quiet enough to stop and look without blocking foot traffic.Booking tipNo booking needed. Start at Berchem Station and work your way north along Cogels-Osylei.
Tour the De Koninck Brewery Experience
food_and_drinkAntwerp's city brewery has been operating since 1833. The interactive tour takes you through the brewing process of their signature Bolleke amber ale. The tasting room at the end overlooks the working brewery floor, and the warm, malty smell of the space is reason enough to visit. The attached restaurant serves food paired with their different brews.
An indoor activity that pairs perfectly with cold, damp March weather. The brewery stays warm from the brewing process, and a Bolleke in hand takes the edge off a grey afternoon.Booking tipBook online in advance even in low season, as tour group sizes are capped.
Visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum
museumThis UNESCO World Heritage Site is the only museum on the list. The former printing workshop and publishing house of Christophe Plantin dates to the 16th century and still contains the original printing presses, a library of rare editions, and rooms furnished as they were 400 years ago. The smell of old leather and paper hits you in the first room.
In March, you might have entire rooms to yourself, which lets you appreciate the quiet, scholarly atmosphere that crowds obliterate in summer.Booking tipAllow at least 90 minutes. The courtyard garden is small but worth a look even in March.
Browse the Kloosterstraat Antique and Design Shops
shoppingKloosterstraat in the Sint-Andries neighborhood runs about 500 meters of antique shops, vintage stores, design galleries, and small cafés. The mix ranges from mid-century furniture to Flemish religious art to 1970s ceramics. Each shop has a distinct personality, and the owners tend to be knowledgeable and happy to talk.
Indoor browsing that fills a cold afternoon. March means fewer tourists competing for finds, and some dealers bring out new stock after the quieter winter months.Warm Up at Kulminator
food_and_drinkKulminator on Vleminckveld has been serving rare and aged Belgian beers since the 1980s. The cellar list runs to several hundred bottles, including vintages of Trappist ales and lambics that you won't find at any other bar. The space is small, dark, and decorated with decades of beer memorabilia. The couple who run it know every bottle personally.
March is a month that demands good beer bars. The cold outside makes Kulminator's dim, warm interior feel like exactly the right place to spend 2 hours working through a vertical tasting of Chimay Blue.Explore the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom)
museumThe MAS tower in Het Eilandje stands 60 meters high with a free rooftop panorama over the port, the Schelde, and the old city. The museum's permanent collection covers Antwerp's history as a global trading port. Each floor is clad in red sandstone and curved glass, and the escalator ride up through the building offers views out at every level.
The rooftop panorama is free year-round, and on clear March days the low-angle light over the port and the Schelde is particularly striking. The museum floors are uncrowded.Booking tipThe rooftop is open until 10:30pm on Fridays. Check closing times for the museum floors, which differ from the rooftop.
What to eat in March
On menus now
Mosselen (Mussels)
The Belgian mussel season runs through the months with an 'R' in the name, and March (Maart) qualifies. North Sea mussels are still plump and briny this late in the season. You'll find moules-frites at nearly every brasserie in Het Zuid and along the Schelde, typically served in a black iron pot with a side of crispy frites and mayonnaise. It's one of the cheaper full meals you can get in Antwerp, and portions tend to be generous.
Stoofvlees (Flemish Beef Stew)
This slow-cooked beef stew braised in Belgian brown ale is the kind of dish that makes cold March evenings feel intentional rather than endured. The meat turns tender and slightly sweet from the beer and onion base. Traditional versions use a brown abbey beer like Westmalle Dubbel. The aroma of caramelized onions and dark beer hits you before the plate arrives. Look for it at old-school eetcafés and brasseries rather than fine dining spots.
Antwerpse Handjes
These hand-shaped biscuits and chocolates are an Antwerp specialty year-round, named after the legend of the hand-throwing giant Antigoon. In March, the chocolate versions feel particularly appropriate as a warming treat. The better chocolatiers along Kloosterstraat and near Groenplaats make them by hand, and the quality gap between a handmade version and a factory one is obvious once you try both. The biscuit version has a buttery, crumbly texture with a hint of almond.
Gentse Waterzooi (Chicken or Fish Stew)
Originally from Ghent but widely served in Antwerp, this creamy stew made with chicken or North Sea fish, leeks, carrots, and cream is pure comfort in cold weather. The broth is silky and rich, somewhere between a soup and a stew. March's persistent chill makes it feel like exactly the right thing to order, especially at a brasserie with fogged-up windows on a drizzly evening.
In markets
Witloof (Belgian Endive)
March is the tail end of witloof season in Belgium, so you'll still find it at peak quality. The classic preparation is witloof met kaassaus, endive wrapped in ham and baked under a gratin of cheese sauce. The slight bitterness of the endive against the rich cheese is the kind of combination that makes sense only when you taste it. Also appears raw in winter salads with apple and walnut.
Regular events in March
Antwerp Coffee WeekFree
A week of events, tastings, and workshops at independent coffee roasters and cafés across the city. Participating spots along Kammenstraat and in Het Zuid typically offer special brews and behind-the-bar sessions.
Mid-March (dates vary)Cinema Zuid Film Screenings
The arthouse cinema near KMSKA runs themed programming cycles that often align with early spring. The building itself, a converted 1920s cinema, is worth seeing for the interior alone.
Throughout MarchBest places this March
KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts)
museumReopened in 2022 after 11 years, with one of the world's strongest Flemish Masters collections. The Rubens and Ensor rooms are the highlights, but the building's renovation is a draw in itself.
Het ZuidOnze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal
landmarkAntwerp's 14th-century Gothic cathedral holds 4 major Rubens paintings, including the Descent from the Cross. The nave reaches 40 meters high, and on overcast March days the stained glass casts muted, shifting color across the stone floors.
Historisch CentrumPlantin-Moretus Museum
museumThe only museum with UNESCO World Heritage status. A 16th-century printing house with original presses, a rare book library, and period rooms that still smell of leather and old paper.
Historisch CentrumHet Eilandje and MAS
neighborhoodThe old port district has been redeveloped into a mix of residential, cultural, and dining spaces. The MAS tower anchors it, and the surrounding warehouses now hold restaurants, galleries, and the Red Star Line Museum.
Het EilandjeZurenborg (Cogels-Osylei)
architectureOne of Europe's best-preserved Art Nouveau neighborhoods. The streets around Cogels-Osylei date to the 1890s-1910s and mix Art Nouveau, neo-Renaissance, and eclectic styles. Best approached from Berchem Station.
ZurenborgRubenshuis
museumThe former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens, with a restored Baroque garden, period rooms, and a rotating selection of his works. The portico between the house and garden is one of Antwerp's most photographed structures.
Historisch CentrumDe Koninck Brewery
food_and_drinkAntwerp's city brewery since 1833. The interactive tour covers the brewing process and ends with a tasting of their Bolleke amber ale overlooking the production floor.
BerchemStadspark
parkAntwerp's central park sits between the old city and the Meir. In March, the trees are still bare but the crocuses and early daffodils start appearing by mid-month. On any warm day, the benches fill within an hour.
Stadspark
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Insider tips
The KMSKA offers free entry on the first Sunday of each month for Belgian residents, which means it's actually busier those days. If you're visiting from abroad, pick any other day for the emptiest experience.
Kulminator on Vleminckveld doesn't take reservations and seats about 40 people. Arrive before 5pm on weekdays to get a table without waiting, and ask the owner for a recommendation from the vintage cellar list rather than ordering off the regular menu.
The Scheldekaaien promenade between Sint-Anneke beach and Het Steen is exposed to the river wind, but the section south of the Steenplein is more sheltered. Walk that stretch late in the day when the low sun comes off the water.
The Nationalestraat area in Sint-Andries has the densest concentration of independent restaurants in the city. At lunchtime in March, most places have open tables, and the daily lunch menus tend to be the best value.
The free rooftop of the MAS stays open later on Fridays, until 10:30pm. On a clear March evening, the view over the lit port and the Schelde at dusk is one of Antwerp's best free experiences.
Avoid these mistakes
- Packing for spring. March in Antwerp is still winter by most standards. The 11.8°C (53°F) average high with damp river wind feels colder than the number suggests. Bring proper cold-weather layers.
- Skipping Het Eilandje because it looks like a construction zone on the map. The old port district has been largely redeveloped, and the MAS, Red Star Line Museum, and surrounding restaurants are worth the 15-minute walk from the center.
- Planning a full day of outdoor sightseeing. The cold and fading daylight after 6pm mean you'll want to alternate between outdoor walks and indoor stops. Build museum visits, cafés, and brewery tours into your schedule.
- Assuming Belgian restaurants take walk-ins at dinner. Even in low-season March, the better restaurants in Sint-Andries and Het Zuid fill up at weekend dinners. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Practical tips for March
March daylight runs from about 7am to 6:30pm at the start of the month, stretching to 7am-7:45pm by the 31st. Plan outdoor walks and photography for midday when the light is strongest, and save museums and indoor activities for mornings and late afternoons. Most museums close on Mondays, including KMSKA and Rubenshuis, so plan that day around the MAS (open daily), Plantin-Moretus (open daily), or shopping and food. Public transport in Antwerp runs on De Lijn trams and buses. A day pass covers unlimited travel and is the easiest option if you're visiting Het Eilandje or Zurenborg from the center. The main train station, Antwerpen-Centraal, connects to Brussels in about 40 minutes and to Amsterdam in roughly 2 hours, making day trips straightforward. Tipping in Belgium is not expected but rounding up is appreciated.
FAQ
Is March a good time to visit Antwerp?
March is a fair time to visit if you prioritize museums, food, and indoor culture over outdoor activities. The weather is cold and often grey, with highs around 11.8°C (53°F), but the trade-off is near-empty museums, lower hotel rates, and easy restaurant reservations. It's not the best month for Antwerp overall, but it has genuine strengths for the right kind of trip.
What should I wear in Antwerp in March?
Dress for cold, damp weather. Layers work better than a single heavy coat because you'll move between heated interiors and cold streets constantly. A waterproof shell jacket, warm sweater, scarf, and waterproof shoes are the essentials. The rain tends to be light drizzle, so waterproof footwear matters more than a heavy-duty umbrella.
Are Antwerp's museums open in March?
Yes, nearly all of them. KMSKA, Rubenshuis, Plantin-Moretus, the MAS, and the Red Star Line Museum all operate on regular schedules. Most close on Mondays, so plan that day differently. The major advantage of March is that you'll share these spaces with far fewer visitors than in summer.
Can I do day trips from Antwerp in March?
Antwerpen-Centraal station connects to Brussels in about 40 minutes by train and to Ghent in about 50 minutes. Amsterdam is roughly 2 hours north. Bruges is about 80 minutes by rail. All are straightforward day trips, though the same cold, grey weather applies across Belgium and the Netherlands in March.
What food is in season in Antwerp in March?
March falls within the Belgian mussel season (months with an 'R'), so mosselen met frietjes is widely available and still at good quality. Stoofvlees, the Flemish beef stew braised in brown ale, is at its most appealing in cold weather. Witloof (Belgian endive) is at the tail end of its season, and the classic gratin preparation with ham and cheese sauce is on most brasserie menus.
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