Sint-Annatunnel – Scott's Blog

Sint-Annatunnel (St. Anna’s Tunnel) is a 572m/1877 ft tunnel for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Schelde River, providing an easier trip than detouring to nearby bridges or riding the Antwerp Pre-Metro (the underground tram system). Built in 1933 to improve Antwerpians’ lives , the tunnel is also destination for tourists attracted to its wooden escalators and Art Deco charm.

Arriving

As I intended to walk the tunnel from Left Bank (east) to Right Bank (bank), I (ironically) needed to cross the river to reach the tunnel entrance. I walked to the Opera Pre-Metro station and took the escalators to level -2 for east/west trams. You’ll disembark at the Van Eeden, which is the second stop and first after crossing the river.

Upon exiting the station, walk towards the river by (carefully) crossing the street and bike paths. In a short period you’ll see a building with big doors with a green/white design. You’ve arrived at the tunnel’s escalator. You may press the button to call the elevator, but I assume that, aside from late nights and early mornings, the escalator is always moving.

Descending

The elevator arrives and doors open. Enter the elevator.

The green/white design is carried forward inside the carriage, which is is large enough to carry a decently-large number people and cyclists. Despite its old design, the elevator has obviously been renovated: in the front-left corner behind protective plastic are the original, manual controls.

A sign above the doors show how far below ground you are; when the sign shows 31m (102 ft), you’ve arrived.

[Apparently the Left Bank escalator is unavailable for repairs, though I see any signs or notice any work going on.]

Crossing

The tunnel is well-lit and feels spacious until bikes start whizzing by you. I the wall as much as possible, attempting to avoid bicycles coming up announced: they use the middle when possible, but two-way traffic often forces them towards the edge. And suddenly you’re surprised by a bicycle quickly whipping around you. Keep your eyes and ears open!

After about ten minutes of casual walking, I reached the Right Bank and have crossed the river.

Ascending

Though some may prefer the non-stop elevator trip, for newbies the original, wooden escalator is a more attractive way to return to the surface: and, unless the elevator has just arrived, the escalator is likely faster. Many took their bikes on the escalator, so it’s definitely not required to take the elevator.

The tunnel is tiled end-to-end, and the escalators have signs – some new, some old – to enjoy as you ascend. Its wood treads and overall style reminds me of the older escalators at the flagship Macy’s in New York City. Gorgeous design and a job to ride (and hopefully fireproofed!)

Exiting

After two separate escalator rides, you’ve arrived at ground level and are exiting the tunnel through another simple but delightful Art Deco building.

From here, I wandered through a neighborhood which appeared non-touristy and intended for the locals. Interesting shops, lots of food choices, some interesting buildings. A nice way to end my visit to Antwerp.

Final Thoughts

Definitely interesting and worth the effort if your schedule permits, though it should definitely not replace major tourist stops such as Grote Markt or Cathedral of our Lady. A novelty, nothing more, but fun nevertheless.

Visit Logistics

The tunnel is free and open 24×7. Their status page shows anything not working, which is where I discovered that the Left Bank also has escalators. Though security cameras have been installed, I saw no police presence. I’d recommend walking the tunnel during daytime hours for your personal safety.