Boots

Boots is Antwerp's best-known cruise bar, positioned in the Schipperskwartier — the neighbourhood that has historically been Antwerp's red-light district and which now hosts much of the city's more sexually oriented gay nightlife. The bar is for gay and bisexual men who want a cruise-friendly environment: the layout is designed for social and sexual encounter, with darkroom facilities and the kind of dim, purposeful atmosphere that distinguishes cruise bars from social bars. The crowd is local-heavy — Antwerp gay men who have been coming for years — with a consistent proportion of visitors from Ghent, Brussels, and the Netherlands. Boots does not require introduction or explanation; the clientele knows what it is coming for and the bar serves that need without apology. The Schipperskwartier location means it is surrounded by the neighbourhood's bars, restaurants, and clubs, making it easy to incorporate into a broader evening.