Antwerp, a city for everyone

Julien Burlat divides his time between Domestic Bakery (three branches in Antwerp) and consulting hotels on how to run their kitchens. 

“I fell in love with Sophie from Belgium and for seven years I travelled between Paris and Antwerp. When we were ready for our own business, we didn’t hesitate to choose Antwerp. Our restaurant Dôme was an instant hit. After two-and-a-half years we received a Michelin-star. Later we started Domestic Bakery. After 15 years we decided to focus solely on the bakery. Antwerp is a perfect place to open a business. During the week, there’s a lot of businessmen and during the weekend, many tourists visit the town. They love to spend money on quality products. You have to work hard to succeed, but the clientele is here. And furthermore Antwerp is super easy to travel around and very diverse.” 

James Kruger is co-founder of FCKLCK.STUDIO, a multidisciplinary creative studio. 

“I’m originally from Cape Town. When I got a job offer from Saatchi & Saatchi Brussels, I picked Antwerp as a place to live because the language in South Africa, Afrikaans, is so close to Dutch. I was very lucky to meet Rizon Parein (founder of USBYNIGHT, a design and creativity festival) the moment I arrived here. We became good friends and he introduced me to a lot of people. I live in Borgerhout, a beautiful multicultural neighbourhood where I feel very much at home. Antwerp is also an immensely creative city across all sectors, with an abundance of art, culture and food. My tip: always be honest. 

No matter how hard it might sound and even if it means earning less money. Being honest builds unbreakable trust and that pays off in the long term.” 

Débora Gomes de Oliveira is founder of boter.dev. A company active in IT services and IT consulting. 

 “Antwerp is very unique in that it’s small and charming but at the same time international, diverse and culturally vibrant. So many talented people have chosen to live here. It feels like a privilege to share the city with them. The city has managed to keep a balanced investment strategy in infrastructure, entrepreneurship, education, social security and the arts. To me, it’s one of the most liveable and authentic cities in Europe and that’s why I chose to move here. You can walk and take the bike anywhere and it’s filled with local shops. Integrating into Antwerp community takes a bit of effort and time, but you`ll be absolutely accepted.” 

David Gotlib is president of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse, diamond dealer and the creative mind behind a stylistically diverse cufflinks brand. 

“When my grandfather returned to Antwerp after the atrocities of the Second World War, he was welcomed with open arms and given the opportunity to start his diamond business by the mayor. The generosity of this city towards my family, and how it created our future, is something I still cherish deeply. Antwerp is a vibrant city. The quality of life here is excellent, the unique blend of history, culture, innovation, creativity and connectivity make Antwerp a very pleasant and inspiring place. We are a very diverse industry, with people from all corners of the world, yet we’re a tight-knit community where personal, face-to-face relationships are indispensable.”