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Belgium Antwerp Flanders Tourist attractions

Sint-Annatunnel

About

The Sint-Annatunnel, often simply called the Underpass by locals, is one of Antwerp’s most surprising and atmospheric landmarks. Completed in 1933, this pedestrian and bicycle tunnel was built to connect the historic city center with the growing Linkeroever, or Left Bank, without obstructing the busy shipping traffic of the River Scheldt. While modern cities might have opted for a bridge, Antwerp chose to go deep underground, creating a passageway that sits thirty-one meters below the riverbed. The journey begins with the tunnel's most famous feature: the original wooden escalators. These vintage marvels are rare survivals of pre-war engineering, and their rhythmic clicking and distinct scent of old wood and oil offer an immediate sense of nostalgia. The tunnel itself stretches for nearly six hundred meters, a long, white-tiled corridor that echoes with the sounds of passing bicycles and footsteps. Walking through it feels like moving through a quiet, subterranean time capsule, isolated from the bustling city above. Once you emerge on the other side, the effort is rewarded with the most spectacular panoramic view of the Antwerp skyline, featuring the spire of the Cathedral of Our Lady and the historic waterfront.

Antwerp Belgium
Sint-Annatunnel
Location

Sint-Annatunnel Antwerp is located beneath the River Scheldt, connecting Sint-Jansvliet on the right bank (near Ernest Van Dyckkaai) in the city center to Frederik van Eedenplein on Linkeroever (left bank), with entrances at 2000 and 2050 Antwerp postal codes. This 572-meter-long 1933 pedestrian and cyclist tunnel, 31 meters below the riverbed, features iconic original wooden escalators and Art Deco buildings, open 24/7 as a protected heritage site. Nearby on the right bank are Grote Markt and Cathedral of Our Lady 500m east, Het Steen fortress 300m north along the quays, vibrant cafes at Groenplaats, and tram stops at Sint-Andries; the left bank offers riverside parks, Sint-Annastrand beach, bars, and free ferry piers, with sweeping skyline views of MAS museum and port cranes, ideal for urban explorers.

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