Royal Antwerp FC is a story apart. It’s Belgium’s oldest football club in one of the country’s biggest cities with an enormous fiery fanbase. Something you rarely see in Flanders. You’re guaranteed a good atmosphere in the Bosuil.
It drove Antwerp’s fans insane when they were struggling to promote back to the Belgian top flight after struggling for years in the second tier. A true definition of a sleeping giant who couldn’t keep up with their illustrious past. In 2017, one of the biggest names in Belgian football finally returned to the first division and immediately became one of the top clubs again. As the oldest club in the country, Royal Antwerp is the proud owner of matricule number 1 hence their nickname The Great Old.
The Bosuil Stadium, or simply Bosuil, is known as ‘the hell of Deurne-Noord’. And not without reason, because in Antwerp it can be a whirlwind. The stadium was on the brink of collapse for years and the fanatical fans made it a particularly intimidating ground for players and away fans. Nowadays, the Bosuil has been completely rebuilt, which has given RAFC a much-needed new stadium. Unfortunately, it’s also taken some charms away from the old home ground. However, the fans of Antwerp still sing loud and proud and have been rewarded with success on the pitch.
Belgium’s most intense local derby is the one in Antwerp. The images of one of the most recent outings between the two only prove that, with many incidents on and off the pitch. Beerschot comes from the south of Antwerp and Royal Antwerp has been playing for almost 100 years in Deurne-Noord, in the east of the city. After having witnessed Beerschot play at a higher level for years, Royal Antwerp has reclaimed its title as the city’s best football club: RAFC plays in a higher division and often wins the derby.
There are quite some pubs that live and breathe Royal Antwerp, but our favourite is Taverne Great Old, which is on the corner of the Ter Heydelaan and the Alfons Schneiderlaan. A variety of beers and a great amount of fun and sociability on match days. The stadium is only a five-minute walk away.
Near the river Scheldt, you’ll find the city’s most beautiful square: The Grote Markt, with its picturesque houses and magnificent city hall. It’s where Antwerp’s players are usually honoured by the city’s mayor if they’ve won a trophy in front of thousands of fans.
Antwerp is a true football city, which offers more besides Royal Antwerp and Beerschot. In close proximity to Bosuil, you can find the home ground of the City Pirates Antwerp. A horrible name – most people will still know the club as Merksem – but the Jef Mermans Stadium is surprisingly nice. Even more renowned is the stadium of Berchem Sport: Ludo Coeck Stadium. But unfortunately, they demolished the stadium a couple of years ago. However, it’s still worth a visit because the monumental main stand and entrance still remain. In the south of Antwerp, you will also find Maccabi Antwerp, which has long been the club for the large Jewish community in Antwerp, with a beautiful main stand.
Not far from Antwerp Central Station, you can find Café Feyenoord, on the corner of the Pijlstraat and the Van Stralenstraat. It’s a typical Belgian pub, but the interior is completely decorated with Feyenoord memorabilia. A piece of Rotterdam in the heart of Antwerp. The pub was owned by a Feyenoord fan from Rotterdam who moved to Antwerp a couple of decades ago. The owner is not with us anymore, but Café Feyenoord still continues to support the Dutch club Feyenoord.
Royal Antwerp is popular and there’s a high demand for tickets. Sometimes you can buy last-minute home game tickets, provided you have a One-account on the club’s website. Often they will check how long you’ve had an account (to keep away fans out), so creating an account today is a good first step to getting tickets.
From the metro station Astrid, which is underneath the train station Antwerp-Centraal, you can take line 5 to the Antwerp Stadion.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
