Hidden Belgium: The oldest bar in Antwerp

Hidden Belgium: The oldest bar in Antwerp

The oldest bar in Antwerp is hidden down a quiet cobbled lane in the heart of the old town. Founded back in 1565, when Pieter Paul Rubens was 12 years old, Quinten Matsijs has hardly changed in all those years.

The interior resembles an old Flemish painting with its oak beams, leaded glass windows and solid oak tables. Locals drop in here for a beer, a spicy sausage and maybe a few rounds of the old Flemish bar game called De Ton.

Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.


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