Best Street Art in ANTWERP – From Merksem to the City Center

In the first part about the best street art in Antwerp, I introduced the brand-new murals around the Zomerfabriek in Antwerp’s Berchem district. Well, that’s certainly not all the city has to offer in terms of urban art. You’ll stumble across amazing murals not only all around the city center. The northeastern suburb of Merksem, in particular, is a fantastic open-air gallery showcasing some of the best street art in Antwerp.

Beauty beneath the Mask is a large mural created by Nils Westergard and Joachim Lambrechts in May 2017.
Beauty beneath the Mask is a large mural Nils Westergard and Joachim Lambrechts created in May 2017.
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Best Street Art in ANTWERP – Fresh Murals at Zomerfabriek

Anyone entering the area around Zomerfabriek in Antwerp’s Berchem district immediately feels its unique vibe. Where the old Nieuw-Zurenborg gasworks burned tons of coal until the mid-20th century, the blaze of top-notch urban subculture now glows brightly. I was lucky enough to visit Antwerp in early summer as the annual Meeting of Styles festival takes place. Hence, I saw the new works almost before the paint had even dried. Therefore, I can present you with the best street art currently adorning the walls of the Zomerfabriek.
And let me tell you: these murals are fresh in every sense of the word!

Best Street Art in Antwerp.
Two very different motifs in almost identical color schemes.
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Best Street Art in ROTTERDAM, Part 2: South of the Nieuwe Maas

The number of amazing murals in Rotterdam is so overwhelming that it was simply impossible to squeeze it all into one single post. Therefore, after having guided you through the best street art that you’ll find in the northern part of the city in my post Best Street Art in ROTTERDAM, Part 1: North of the Nieuwe Maas, here comes what Rotterdam has to offer in the calmer, more residential neighborhoods south of the Nieuwe Maas River.

Mural by Lauren YS in Rotterdam.
Bright portrait by Lauren YS in the Beverwaard neighborhood.
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Best Street Art in ROTTERDAM, Part 1: North of the Nieuwe Maas

I’m a street art truffle hound. My trained nose lured me to Rotterdam to see its amazing murals. To be honest, before my visit, I had no idea what an impressive city awaited me. And although Rotterdam repeatedly tried to distract me from my street art mission with breathtaking buildings, incredible sculptures, and its multicultural vibe, I stayed true to my task.
Therefore, in this post, I can introduce you to the best street art in Rotterdam. Due to the headspinning abundance of outstanding murals, I’ll focus on the works north of the Nieuwe Maas River. Then, in a second part, I’ll introduce you to the murals that beautify the residential neighborhoods in the southern part of the city.

Sunflowers by Kunst & Vaarwerk
Van Gogh-Oren is a street art installation by the Dutch artist collective Kunst & Vaarwerk, consisting of Cor Kraat, Hans Citroen, and Willem van Drunen, in which the famous Sunflowers ​​have been replaced by human ears. The work was created as part of the historic Rotterdam art project De Verborgen Stad, hence The Hidden City, curated by art historian Guus Vreeburg.

Of course, I’ve also put into writing what else there is to discover in this all-too-often overlooked city. My post Why ROTTERDAM Is Worth Visiting: A Complete Guide to the Urban Heart of the Netherlands is a complete guide to this fantastic city.

But now, with no further ado, let’s get to the murals in the so-called Chinatown, the Witte de Withkwartier, and beyond.

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Best Street Art in SINT MAARTEN

You will find tons of street art in Sint Maarten, and what all the local artists have contributed to the ColorMeSXM project is absolutely remarkable. Therefore, you shouldn’t miss out on a self-guided tour with the help of this comprehensive post.

Some of the Best Street Art in Sint Maarten by Daphne Prevoo
In her collage, Daphne Prevoo has brought together local icons such as the national flower yellow sage and a brown pelican which is the national bird. Also, you can spot pottery of the indigenous Arawak, and of course a portrait of a man native to Sint Maarten.
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Best Street Art in PALERMO

While Palermo as such is very much underrated, the city’s best street art also thrives in the shadows. Very unjustly so!
In this post, I’m taking you on a tour of the city’s hotspots for urban art.
Prepare for some truly powerful murali!

Best Street Art Palermo: Portrait of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino
Immortalized in the heart of Palermo: Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.
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Best Street Art in TENERIFE

Tenerife is by far not just about beaches’n’volcanos: In this post, I’m introducing the best in street art the island has to offer.

Best street art in Tenerife
In Tenerife, you can find great street art at literally every corner.
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Best Street Art in RIGA

Since Latvia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the city has gradually embraced public art as a form of expression, moving from underground subculture to more mainstream recognition. Today, street art in Riga combines Eastern European influences with the best of contemporary urban creativity.

Street Art in Riga.
With this mural, you can even become part of the motif.
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Best Street Art in CHELTENHAM

Cheltenham is the proverbial Cultural Heart of the Cotswolds for a reason. And a trip through the Cotswolds was actually the main reason for my stay in the city. However, since Cheltenham, in addition to its magnificent architecture and lush parks, boasts a considerable number of fantastic murals, I’ve taken my stay as an opportunity to compile the best street art the city has to offer.

Mural depicting sentimental farewell scenes combined with train tickets, one of the best pieces of street art in Cheltenham.
Sentimental farewell scenes, depicted by street artist Johnman from Dublin.
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