Antwerp is a young and buzzing city with its 10,000 or so students ensuring a lively nightlife around the clock. The docklands is becoming the centre for clubs but good bars and cafes can be found all over town, many in the historic centre.

Bars: Den Engel on Grote Markt is atmospheric and traditional; De Vagrant on Reyndersstraat offers a choice of over 200 types of jenever (Dutch/Belgian gin); visit Elfde Gebod (the 11th commandment) on Torfbrg in the shadow of the cathedral, for its weird and wonderful ecclesiastical-themed interior; Pelgrom on Pelgrimsstraat for its 15th-century cellar; Appelmans Absinthe Bar, on Papenstraatje, to sample the world's most potent drink; or Horta, a grand art nouveau style conservatory cafe, at Hopland in the Quartier Latin area.

Clubs: Of the city's many clubs, Café d'Anvers (Anvers is the French name for Antwerp), off Falconplein (website: www.cafe-d-anvers.com), and Club Industria at the Eilandje (website: www.industriaevents.be) are established favourites.

Live Music: Jazz is a city passion; catch it nightly in De Muze, Melkmarkt next to the cathedral, or at Café Hopper (website: www.hopperjazz.org), on Leopold de Waelstraat by the Fine Arts Museum.