Non-Tourist Tourism: Clubbing in Antwerp
Meet Cot. Cot is a cool ass bartender who pours drinks at Cafe Bartilia. If you order a Jack & Ginger Cot will look at you like you are insane, which is the appropriate response when someone orders such an American drink in Antwerp.
Cafe Bartilia would be a nice enough bar, however it happens to sit at the head of Antwerp's red light district, which means it has a bit of a seedy side. Truth be told this is just the way we like it. Cot is not at all seedy, he is a normal dude living and working in Antwerp. He tried living in Brussels, but it was just too damn big and ugly, so he found himself back in Antwerp--where he knew his way.
We were on our way to Cafe d'Anvers, mostly because of what we read in the Guardian:
Antwerp can claim to be the birthplace of techno - at least that is what everyone dances to at the ultimate rave club to end a night out, the wild Cafe d'Anvers.
We asked Cot where he would go clubbing and without hesitation he said:
"Petrol. This is not a spot for tourists. This is where we go--it is not in the center of town."
Wanting more info we asked Cot:
"So, did you guys invent techno?"
Cot laughed saying,
"No, I hope not, I hate techno."
We couldn't agree with you more Cot. So to recap, Cafe d'Anvers is a club in the midst of Antwerp's red light district where they blast smoke and techno. The smaller the hours, the more sweaty club rats you will bump into. However, while the kids and tourists are hitting up Cafe d'Anvers, Cot and his posse are rolling off to Petrol, where the real live action takes place.
Photo of Cafe d'Anvers club kids after the jump.
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