I have two very energetic sons. At Mokkakapot, at the end of our street, they can get away with being their usual boisterous selves. They have a shelf full of vintage toys, a table where kids draw, and a menu full of child-friendly options. Owner Femke is an amazing hostess and very clever with language. Her menu and even her holiday announcements are always a pleasure to read.

Sergeyselsstraat 2, 2140 Antwerp

At Falafel Tof they call me Mrs. Cauliflower because I always pillage the delicious cauliflower from their buffet of delicious toppings. Owner Israël is known for his severe but charming style and ‘signature moves’ when he fills the hand-baked pitas, making you feel as if you’ve suddenly ended up in Tel Aviv.

Hoogstraat 32, 2000 Antwerp

Going running always feels a little less like torture when I can stop to catch my breath in front of the window of Studio Helder. The concept store in Provinciestraat mixes its own designs with objects from other Belgian and international labels. Founders Diana and Brecht have a diverse and poetic aesthetic. I find their candle, which cries tears of wax, or their seed hand to feed the birds quite moving.

Provinciestraat 100, 2018 Antwerp

In addition to wearing Belgian clothes, I also use Belgian skincare, thanks to the amazingly diverse and qualitative array of locally-made beauty brands. My fave is Maiwe, a skincare line with Chilean rosehip, that was developed in Antwerp. But you'll also find Cîme’s body scrub, Aayali’s scented candles and suntan lotion by Skin by Dings on my bathroom shelf. I find them all at Fin du Jour.

Nationalestraat 37, 2000 Antwerp

Atelier Content is the brainchild of shoe designer Nele Content. I'm a fan, as you can tell by the fact that I have a pair of shoes from every collection she’s designed to date. Nele’s clean aesthetic, superb shoe designs and preference for fresh and bold hues always convince me that I need just one more new pair of shoes. You can find a wonderful selection of her beauties at shoe shop Thiron, which now also produces its own shoe collection, combining timeless designs with avant-garde details.

Sint-Antoniusstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp

Until recently, I had the pleasure of working for Katrin Wouters and Karen Hendrix as the marketing manager of their jewellery label. I got to know them as visionary creatives with an exceptional eye for beauty and a wealth of ideas. You can really sense this in their flagship store in Antwerp, where they seamlessly combine vintage finds with art objects and precious jewellery. The shop is a little like a Wunderkammer and I never know where to look first.

Steenhouwersvest 52, 2000 Antwerp

Owner Johan is always singing the praises of his food and drinks. As a result, I’ll order anything he tells me to because it sounds too good for words. While Brutal’s menu is limited, it’s always a hit with guests! Think qualitative ingredients in surprising combinations at affordable prices. Fortunately the moelleux au chocolat is one of the mainstays on the menu.

Kerkstraat 72, 2060 Antwerp

I live in an old house and I often fantasise about the families that walked across the creaking floor boards, climbed up the steep stairs or enjoyed a dreamy night under the ceiling rosettes. The same applies to preloved fashion. At Labels Inc. I buy items by Belgian designers at affordable prices, but I also enjoy the fact that someone else owned the item in question and fell in love with it just like I did.

Nationalestraat 95, 2000 Antwerp

Several times a year, the Belgian fashion chain JBC organises a ‘Local Market’, where a selection of Belgian brands can promote their collections. They do this in the JBC shop in Meir, among others. Like gadgets made by women for women on the occasion of International Women’s Day or Christmas gifts for the entire family at Christmas. While I know the Belgian brand landscape inside and out, I always discover newcomers who were not yet on my radar.

Meir 14, 2000 Antwerp

Nathalie of Garde-robe Nationale is proof that brick and mortar shops continue to offer added value. She runs the no-nonsense fashion brand Magdalena, which she sells along with several other Belgian gems at Garde-robe Nationale. Nathalie has a knack for reading your figure, style and personality at a glance and suggesting unexpected combinations that will suit you to a tee. Thanks to Nathalie’s skilled eye and technical product knowledge, you'll never walk out with the wrong outfit here. I never leave Garde-robe Nationale empty-handed.

Nationalestraat 72, 2000 Antwerp