Two design events in one weekend: Antwerp Design Week x Antwerp Design Market.

You are organizing the Design Market in Antwerp for the second time. What convinced you to choose this city for your vintage market?

People in Antwerp have a strong sense for refined interiors. They collect, observe and choose with care. That relationship wit

h objects and materials is deeply rooted in their identity, in their DNA.

Antwerp is cosmopolitan: 150 nationalities live together there. The port, culture and modernity make the city international without losing its character. It attracts exhibitors and visitors from all over Europe precisely because it has such a distinct identity. Waagnatie fits perfectly into this story. A building connected to the city’s port history, located along the Scheldt quays, today part of one of the largest ports in the world. A fitting setting for Antwerp Design Market.

The timing intentionally coincides with Antwerp Design Week. What makes this combination so interesting?

Antwerp Design Week brings together brands, designers, professionals and enthusiasts around contemporary design. Antwerp Design Market adds another perspective: 20th century design, with its objects, materials and stories. Both complement each other.

Vintage is not disconnected from the present. Many pieces from the 20th century still influence the way we live and design interiors today. During Antwerp Design Week, that story gains additional context.

For visitors, the combination is rich: one weekend, one city, multiple perspectives on design. Past and present side by side.

Vintage design takes center stage. Why do you believe so strongly in its place within contemporary interiors?

An interior with personality combines different eras. Vintage brings history, materiality and character that new design cannot replicate. It is not a contradiction, but a complement.

People increasingly want to give their interiors an identity. A lamp from the 1960s, a discovered armchair or a family heirloom creates a story. That is what makes a space memorable.

Antwerp Design Market is the place where these pieces come together, with 150 specialized exhibitors.

What kind of profiles are you hoping to attract?

A broad audience: collectors, interior architects, curious visitors and international buyers. What connects them is a strong selection. Every exhibitor brings their own vision and specialization. That quality attracts a diverse audience.

What can visitors concretely expect?

150 exhibitors from across Europe presenting furniture, lighting, decoration, jewelry and accessories.Every edition is different. The best discoveries are often made on site: unique pieces you did not expect to find.

Why is Waagnatie the ideal location?

The scale, atmosphere and location. Large enough without being overwhelming, raw and authentic. Its historical connection to the port adds extra meaning to a market filled with objects that carry a past.

Why should visitors not miss this?

Only once a year. Two days filled with unique objects and passionate dealers.

A unique selection you will not find anywhere else.

How do you see the synergy with Antwerp Design Week?

Both events showcase design from different perspectives: present and past.

Together, they offer a complete view of design.

In addition, visitors can also explore the MAS with the exhibition “Fret”, and the MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp with the exhibition on the Antwerp Six. For the design community, this is an important moment to connect.