Exploring Antwerp: Voetgangerstunnel to Linkeroever

The Voetgangerstunnel is a pedestrian tunnel that runs underneath the River Schelde in Antwerp. At Sint‑Jansvliet, you find the lift and the old wooden‑escalator building that takes you down to the tunnel, about 31 metres below street level. It feels a bit like stepping into a piece of Antwerp’s past — yellow tiles, long corridors, and the steady hum of people walking or cycling through. 

But before we talk about the tunnel, lets talk about the wooden escalators.  The wooden escalators in Antwerp’s Voetgangerstunnel were installed when the tunnel opened in 1933, and they’ve been in use ever since. They’re among the last working wooden escalators in the world, still carrying people roughly 31–32 metres underground to reach the tunnel. 

They’re kept running through careful maintenance, and the mix of creaks and smooth wooden steps gives the descent a nostalgic charm. At the bottom, the tunnel stretches out for 572 metres, tiled in soft yellow and echoing with the footsteps of walkers and the gentle whirr of cyclists passing through.

In the middle of the tunnel, there’s a simple sign marking the halfway point. It’s nothing fancy — just a small reminder that you’re standing beneath the Scheldt, right under the river.

It’s one of the simplest, calmest ways to cross the river, and when you emerge on the left bank, Antwerp opens up in front of you with wide views of the skyline and the harbour.

Once you arrive at Linkeroever, we recommend walking to the river crossing and taking the free ferry back across the Scheldt. It’s a short ride, calm and scenic, and it gives you a completely different view of Antwerp’s skyline. The MAS, the cathedral tower, and the curve of the river all line up beautifully as you glide back toward the right bank. It’s a small detour, but one that makes the whole crossing feel like part of the adventure rather than just a way to get from A to B.