In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, we would like to highlight 6 Strong Entrepreneurs.
Antwerp is buzzing with creativity, character, and uniqueness. But behind many of these unique places are strong women who dare to follow their own path. From a rock-n-roll boutique to a spiritual lifestyle concept, from a historic café to a bookstore where community is central.
These are Britt, Amber, Sofie, Jessy, Lizzie, and Talia: six strong women who give Antwerp a little more soul every day.
Britt – House of Bones
“You don’t have to change yourself to fit in somewhere.”
When the coronavirus pandemic suddenly halted Britt's musician life, she decided to channel her creative energy in a different direction. Today, she is the founder of House of Bones, a rock-n-roll boutique on Kammenstraat where alternative fashion and community come together.
“Sitting still is simply not for me,” Britt shares. “During Covid, my performances disappeared, and I felt I needed something extra. Because there was a gap in the market for alternative clothing in Belgium, I started a webshop.”
What began as a side job alongside her HR position grew into a full-fledged business with a team of six employees. But according to Britt, House of Bones is more than just a store. It’s a place where people can be themselves.
“Many people feel judged for their appearance. I know what it’s like to grow up without a real community that says it’s okay to be completely yourself. That’s why we want to be that safe place.”
That the store is located on Kammenstraat feels logical to her. The street is known as one of the most edgy spots in the city. “Here, people dare to choose something unique. That makes it such an inspiring place to do business.”
Amber – Heilig Huisken
“You can really feel the history here.”
Located on Kloosterstraat, between antique shops and design stores, is café Heilig Huisken. Amber runs the historic building with her friend Sam. It’s a place where the past and present meet.
Notably, Amber did not start her career in hospitality at all. She studied law and initially worked as a lawyer and later as a legal advisor.
But the love for café life kept calling her. “As a student, I already worked at Heilig Huisken, which was then run by my aunt and her friends. That’s where my love for the hospitality industry began.”
When her aunt wanted to stop running the café after Covid, Amber felt the moment had come. “While sitting at my desk, I often thought back to that time in hospitality. Eventually, I took the leap.”
The building itself strongly contributes to the soul of the business. It dates back to the sixteenth century and was restored fifty years ago. “You can really feel the history in the building. We try to preserve it with respect while giving it a contemporary touch.”
For Amber, the café is primarily about connection. “It’s a place where locals, passersby, and tourists meet and linger. That creates the typical Antwerp coziness.”
Sofie – Stad Leest and De Wunderkammer
“Our stores are a bit like family.”
Sofie’s journey into entrepreneurship began in an unexpected way. Her first step as a self-employed person was as a childminder. But a few years later, something new grew out of that organically: Bookstore Stad Leest, now complemented by Wunderkammer Stad Leest and Stad Leest Café.
What makes her stores so special? The personal choices behind each product. “Every book, every greeting card, every fountain pen, and even every scone is chosen with care,” Sofie explains.
“Our first employees were family members. That sets a certain tone.” This family atmosphere also feels special to customers. Some visitors linger for hours among the books, cards, and small curiosities.
“A customer once showed me her granddaughter’s Christmas wish list. It said: ‘Anything from the Wunderkammer.’ I thought that was amazing.”
Jessy – ExcluJess
“I want people to feel something.”
At ExcluJess, everything revolves around experience. Jessy created a concept where luxury, spirituality, and energy come together.
“I live very consciously, paying attention to scent, energy, and beauty,” she shares. “Becoming an entrepreneur was not a choice for me. It was an inner drive.”
In her store, you will find carefully selected crystals, natural scents, and interior pieces that together create a unique atmosphere. “Everything starts from intention,” Jessy says. “I feel proud when people say: ‘It feels different here.’”
Lizzie – Tram 3 and Pamela
“A café should be a place where people spontaneously linger.”
Lizzie is the energetic entrepreneur behind café Tram 3 and Pamela. Her career in hospitality began by chance when she had just graduated and found a job in a café at Ossenmarkt. What started as cleaning work quickly grew into tapping behind the bar and eventually a life in hospitality. “The rest is history,” she laughs.
Tram 3 opened on her thirtieth birthday and has become a staple in Antwerp's nightlife. The venue is known for its festive atmosphere, dance nights, and the hidden terrace overlooking the cathedral. “My soul in Tram is one that wants to dance, enjoy, and celebrate,” Lizzie says. “There’s a huge female power and a real party spirit here.”
Today, she also runs Pamela, a place that she believes is a bit quieter but radiates the same positive energy. For Lizzie, Antwerp remains a city where she feels at home, although she sometimes misses the vibrant nightlife of the past. “Twenty years ago, you felt the city really came alive until the early morning. I miss that sometimes. But I still love the people here.”
When people step into her cafés, she hopes they feel seen and welcome. “A feeling of being at home. That you are appreciated.”
Talia – Den Engel
“A brown café… and so much more.”
Talia Leysen runs Café Den Engel on the Grote Markt with her mother, a café that has been in the family for generations. Originally, the business was run by her grandparents, after which her parents took over in the eighties.
Although Talia initially had a career in the banking sector, the dream of continuing the café always remained. “I found it important that this monument stayed in the family,” she shares. Today, she helps behind the bar and mainly manages the practical and administrative side of the business. Later this year, she will take over the café completely.
Den Engel she often refers to as a “brown café… and so much more.” Due to its location on the Grote Markt, the café welcomes tourists from all over the world daily, but it also remains a real meeting place for locals. “We have regular customers whose drink orders we know exactly and at which table they like to sit.”
On Saturday nights, the café transforms into a dance spot where people stand on the tables, while on Sunday nights, young and old jive together. “Actually, we are four cafés in one,” Talia proudly states.
A city full of strong entrepreneurs
What these six women have in common? They all believe in the power of connection between people, ideas, and places.
Whether it’s a bookstore that creates a community, a café where everyone is welcome, a shop that celebrates alternative culture, or a concept that encourages people to slow down: each of these entrepreneurs gives Antwerp a little extra character.
And perhaps that’s exactly what makes a city unforgettable.
House of Bones - Kammenstraat 57
Heilig Huisken - Kloosterstraat 155
't Stad Leest - Oudaan 18
Exclujess - Wiegstraat 24
Tram 3 - Oude Koornmarkt 38
Den Engel - Grote Markt 3
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