Our story

^{How Antwerp Design Week came to life}

^{Antwerp Design Week started with a simple idea. What if Antwerp’s design world could come together, not only in spirit, but in place. That idea grew gradually and with intention.}

From a shared vision to a shared guide

^{More than fifteen years ago, Geert-Jan Van Cauwelaert of XLBoom and Philippe Delaisse of Ethnicraft launched a curated guide featuring Antwerp based design brands and the city as a design destination.} 

^{The guide became a yearly collaboration between fifteen Antwerp companies. Over time, trust grew and a shared way of working developed. This collaboration laid the groundwork for what would later become Antwerp Design Week.}

When circumstances shifted

This photo was taken at Antwerp City Hall, the place where all participating brands came together for the very first time, ahead of the inaugural edition. Present were Bart De Wever, former Mayor of Antwerp, Koen Kenis, Alderman for Tourism and Finance, and Geert-Jan Van Cauwelaert, founder of Antwerp Design Week.

During the pandemic, international fairs came to a standstill. Like many others, we used that moment to reflect. To rethink how we wanted to meet, present our brands, and connect with partners and visitors.

We felt the need for something different. Not a replacement for existing fairs, but a complementary format. One rooted in real places, meaningful encounters, and genuine hospitality.

That reflection marked the beginning of Antwerp Design Week.^. 

A non-profit organization was raised

Antwerp Design Week is organised by a non profit, supported by those fifteen Antwerp based brands that were in the guide each year. What truly happened went beyond organisation alone. We saw CEOs supporting one another, strengthening each other, and consciously choosing to rise above individual interests. By lifting each other up, we created space to see the bigger picture

The first edition in 2023

The first edition came to life thanks to the dedication of the teams behind each participating companies.

Together, we truly put our shoulders behind the event.

We launched with 31 brands, spread across multiple locations throughout the city.

Today, we look back on this moment as edition 0, a true pilot edition. With 31 brands and just 700 visitors, it was a conscious test. A moment to explore, learn, and discover what this event could become.

A city based design week

From there, we continued to grow. As a team. In partners. In exhibitors. In visitors.

From the very beginning, Antwerp Design Week has been shaped by the city itself. It truly takes a city to build an event like this.

Our initial focus was on professionals, but the format gradually evolved. Today, Antwerp Design Week welcomes a broader audience, with different moments and programmes tailored to different visitors.

The event unfolds across showrooms and locations throughout the city. We prioritise curated encounters over volume, and quality time over speed.

Our mission

We connect brands, professionals, and design lovers through meaningful experiences in the city of Antwerp.

Our goal is to support Belgian design internationally, encourage long term relationships between brands and buyers, promote thoughtful discovery, and offer a human, high quality alternative to traditional fairs.