🇧🇪 Antwerp

Meir

Hidden Gem ★ 4.4 · 5k reviews

Meir is the main shopping street in Antwerp, Belgium. It is the most important shopping area in the country, both by number of shoppers and by rent prices. The street has been mostly pedestrianised since 1993. Between 2002 and 2004, it was the most expensive shopping street in the Benelux. Since the opening of the historic Stadsfeestzaal shopping centre in 2007, Meir regained that position. It has the highest rents of any street in Belgium, at 1,700 €/square metre/year. The name comes from the old Dutch word 'meere' (lake). Meir used to be a so-called 'wood lake' (houtmeer), where wood destined for use in furniture would be kept wet for a time.

Visitor Info

Rating ★ 4.4 5,000 reviews

Visit Time ~45 min

Best Time Weekday mornings

Insider Tips

· Combine it with Stadsfeestzaal for a classic Antwerp shopping stop
· Go early if you want the street before the busiest retail crowds arrive

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Meir really Belgium's most important shopping street? ▾

Yes — Meir ranks first in Belgium by both shopper footfall and retail rents, drawing around 100,000 visitors on busy Saturdays.

When was the street pedestrianised? ▾

Meir has been mostly car-free since the 1970s, though the full pedestrian zone was extended and modernised in subsequent decades.

What is the Stadsfeestzaal? ▾

It is a grand 1908 neoclassical shopping arcade located at Meir 78, featuring a barrel-vaulted glass ceiling — free to enter and worth a look even if you don't shop.

Are there historical buildings along Meir? ▾

Yes, including the Paleis op de Meir (no. 50), an 18th-century palace that once hosted Napoleon and now operates as a luxury brand store with a café.