Eilandje

Eilandje, literally 'the little island', is the part of Antwerp where the city meets its port. Once a working dockland between the historic centre and the modern harbour, it has been reborn over the last two decades into a waterfront quarter of converted warehouses, sleek apartment towers and broad public quays. The sculptural MAS museum, clad in red Indian sandstone, presides over the skyline with a free rooftop terrace, while the Red Star Line Museum tells the story of millions who emigrated to America from these very docks. Life here plays out along the water. The Felixpakhuis heritage warehouse hosts a covered market and cafes, the floating Badboot becomes a pool in summer and an ice rink in winter, and the enormous Park Spoor Noord lies just inland with playgrounds, sports fields and a skate bowl. Restaurants range from the two-Michelin-star 't Zilte atop the MAS to easy-going dockside brasseries. For investors, Eilandje offers modern stock, river views and a regeneration trajectory that still has room to run, all within a short cycle of Antwerp's medieval core.

Eilandje in Antwerp, Antwerp Province, Belgium