OUR *SLIGHTLY CURSED* TRIP TO ANTWERP 🇧🇪 ❤️

In this episode, Michelle and Alex explore the food scene in Antwerp (and see some sights!), starting with authentic Flemish cuisine like freshwater eel and stoofvlees, Belgian chocolate (of course), and smos, a *deliciously messy* sandwich popular in this part of Belgium.

Episode 168 · Filmed on April 3 and 11, 2025 · Antwerp, Belgium

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0:00 Introduction
0:45 Antwerpen Centraal is GORGEOUS.
1:16 Is this really a thing here? We don't know
1:58 Yep, it's an eclair
2:38 Soooo... round two when?
2:56 The Chocolate Line
3:26 An Alex vs. Michelle competition!!!
4:07 Let's start with Michelle's box
4:48 And now, Alex's box
5:50 And the winner is...
6:25 Antwerp vibes
6:51 Life is like a box of chocolates
7:26 Ciro's (an authentic Belgian brasserie)
7:48 Paling in 't Groen (freshwater eel)
9:12 Stoofvlees (Flemish stewed beef)
9:50 We forgot to rate the food
10:13 Seeing the sights in Antwerp
10:32 There's some drama in Belgium
11:31 Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal
11:59 Brabofontein
12:58 Panorama at Museum MAS
13:49 Deli Box (frituur or snack bar)
14:07 Fries with andalouse sauce
14:31 Fries with mayo, hehe
14:53 Our first broodje smos
15:57 Broodje smos Mexicano
16:34 Should we be rating in waffles?
16:51 WOW, that place was great
17:37 We can't leave without a Bolleke
18:00 Our thoughts on Antwerp
18:39 Wrap up

#belgium #expatlife #antwerp #antwerpen

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WHO IS BUNCHARTED?

We're Michelle and Alex, two American expats living abroad in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱

In 2020, we quit our jobs to travel the world, and... well, that didn't happen. So in 2022, we decided to make an even BIGGER change: to pack up our lives (and our cats 🐈) and move to the Netherlands from Austin, Texas (in the United States). Subscribe for new videos like this every week!

[RikFTK]

Smossen in Flamish means to spill your food, like spilling sauce on your shirt. A smos is called that because a good smos can't be eaten without making a mess.

[timothysegal]

I have lived in Antwerpen for 41 years. This video is really well done and fun. Great work guys!

[Dremni]

Eclairs being the deserts of our pastry breakfast. Aka "koffiekoeken" more traditionally done on a sunday morning.

[Andrew-jvtc]

About the eclairs, my professor in Brussels described Belgian cuisine as French influence and technique with German portion sizes, so eclairs being elite in Belgium is spot-on. Rarely am I disappointed leaving a bakery in Belgium. I miss it so much ❤🇧🇪

[pietduym]

YEAAAH CIRO'S. Amazing that you immediately found the best place to eat in Antwerp. Loved by locals and tourists alike. My favourite. I grew up right around the corner

[sonjaverbist]

As a Belgian and an inhabitant of Antwerp, I loved your video about my city❤

[MrDikketet]

A martino is the ultimate Belgian broodje

[psyaviah]

So happy you tried broodjes/smos, most people don't try it.

[tns]

I used to go to Antwerp frequently but that's at least two decades ago. Thanks for the update, I will visit again.

[karentjeuuuh]

The cathedral is 123m tall I learned that in our first outing into Antwerp when I was in first grade it never left my brain. I love seeing tourist blogging our little Belgium.
Yes our country is complicated but really pretty. I hope you enjoy some more of it

[Rimpelmans]

This video was well worth the wait! I have two things I'd like to comment on: The Paling in het Groen looked so good, I am surprised it got only 3 stroopwafels and I am proud of Alex making the "Broodje Gezonder" joke in Dutch.

[roelchik]

Thanks for highlighting my city that much. Real Antwerp love.
We have snack places in every small town in Flanders. They are everywhere. The best frituren are also more outside the bigger cities.
The warm smos is more a Brussels, Wallonia kindof thing.

Thank God you ended that video with a Bolleke, can't leave without that!!

[TomMurrath]

And so many hidden gems in my city that are really kept unknown for tourists...

[gabrielsanzu]

As a citizen of Antwerp, i must say, this is a really nice vlog of my city! If i can suggest something, the chocolate museum close to central station is also a must do!

[irukandji_gaming]

Next time when you visit a broodjeszaak try a Broodje Martino. It is the same kind of bread you had with the smoske but there is no 'smos' on it but 'preparé' with fresh raw onion, pickles, (tomato) ketchup and mustard. Prepare is verry fine minced raw meat that is mixed with a sauce. It becomes a creamy paste. Maybe it sounds horrible but yeahh.. try this classic and you'll be suprised by the wonderfull Taste! Every Broodjeszaak sells Martino's.

Our beloved youtuber Average Rob made a 'broodjes tierlist'
There he also rates the Martino

[Greshah]

Welcome to our beautiful city! Lovely to see you enjoy it.

[dirtyblackrats]

Nice to see you in Belgium ! Come back more often :)

[marlyd]

Eclairs are pretty ubiquitous in Belgium, every bakery and supermarket (with bakery) will have them. They are understatedly part of the fabric of our identity, now that you mention it.

[ShreddingSwords]

Hello, I am from the Netherlands and when I visit Belgium (atleast once a year) I try to get my hands on a bicky burger! They are good imo!!

[eltarb]

Nice video! now I want to visit Antwerp and eat as much as I can 😁. Oh and btw I like the colour in Michelle's hair, looks great 👌✅