Parking at Sinksenfoor 2026: your complete guide to Antwerp's biggest fair

Why parking at the Sinksenfoor is a challenge every year

The Sinksenfoor is no ordinary fair. Between 23 May and 28 June 2026, the Spoor Oost site transforms into a sprawling maze of more than 150 rides, food stalls and games. The 2025 edition attracted around 800,000 visitors. In 2022, the fair even crossed the one million mark. Those numbers have a direct impact on anyone arriving by car.

The issue comes down to location. Spoor Oost is a former railway yard that normally serves as an event car park for the nearby Sportpaleis and Lotto Arena. During the Sinksenfoor, those 2,300 parking spaces are occupied by the fair itself. Bumper cars and cotton candy stands take the place of parked vehicles. What remains are a handful of alternative parking areas, metered street parking with residents permits and a low emission zone that doesn't let everyone through.

On top of that, the city of Antwerp introduces an adjusted parking regulation in the wider area around Spoor Oost each year. Streets where you could normally park freely become residents only zones. Signs that weren't there last week appear just before opening day. Anyone unfamiliar with the changes risks a fine on a spot that was legal last year.

From our experience, visitors who arrange their parking in advance arrive at the entrance roughly twenty minutes faster. That saves frustration, fuel and potential fines.

Noordersingel: the closest option, but limited capacity

Right across from the Sinksenfoor entrance, along the Noordersingel, the city of Antwerp sets up temporary paid car parks every year. They are open air lots without cover, but the location is unbeatable. You step out of your car and stand right in front of the fair.

Two lots are available: Noordersingel 5 and Noordersingel 15. The second lot only opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during fair opening hours. Rates are around 7 euros per visit. Payment is made on site via the parking meter. Note that cash is not always accepted, so bring your bank card.

Capacity is limited. On Saturday afternoon, when the fair opens at 14:00 and families flood in, these lots fill up quickly. Arriving around 13:30 usually gets you a spot. Arriving at 15:00 means you should have a backup plan.

Our advice: on busy days, don't drive to the Noordersingel first hoping for luck. Through SparkSpot you can reserve a parking space near Spoor Oost ahead of time and be sure of your spot.

Park and Ride: affordable and stress free

If you want to avoid the chaos around Borgerhout, choose a Park and Ride on the edge of the city. Antwerp has nine P+R locations, and at least three of them connect you to the Sinksenfoor by public transport. You can find all P+R locations on the Slim naar Antwerpen overview page.

P+R Luchtbal is the most practical choice. With 1,700 spaces, it is the largest P+R in Antwerp. Tram line 6 takes you directly towards the Schijnpoort stop. From there, it is less than a five minute walk to the Spoor Oost entrance. Parking costs 1 euro for the first 24 hours and 3 euros per additional day. Combined with a tram ticket of 2.50 euros via the De Lijn app, you park for less than 5 euros and skip the congestion entirely.

P+R Linkeroever offers 1,500 spaces and is ideal for those coming from the Waasland region. Take tram 3 towards Merksem and get off at Schijnpoort. The ride takes about 25 minutes, but you travel in comfort without sitting in traffic.

P+R Olympiade, with 195 free spaces, works for those entering Antwerp from the south. Tram 6 also reaches Schijnpoort from here. The downside: capacity is small and this P+R fills up fast on busy event days.

The smartest visitors combine a P+R with an evening visit to the Sinksenfoor. On Thursday or Sunday evenings, it is quieter, parking is easier to find and the queues at rides are shorter.

Street parking in Borgerhout: cheap but tricky

The streets around Spoor Oost offer metered parking, but the rules change by zone and by time. During the Sinksenfoor, many streets operate under adjusted regulations with temporary no parking signs and additional residents only zones.

In the Helmstraat, Turnhoutsebaan and Van Schoonhovenstraat, you will find paid spaces at the parking meter. Rates in Borgerhout typically run at 1.50 euros per hour, with a maximum parking duration of two hours in the red zone. Outside the red zone you can park longer, but those spots are further from the fair.

From our experience, street parking works best on weekday evenings, when residents have not yet returned from work and the fair is not running at full capacity. On Saturday, searching for a street spot is genuinely frustrating. The chance of driving around the block three times and then having to divert to a P+R is very real.

Keep in mind that all of Borgerhout and the surrounding area falls within Antwerp's low emission zone. We cover this in detail below, but check in advance whether your vehicle is allowed via lez.antwerpen.be. A 150 euro fine for a LEZ violation is an expensive way to start your evening at the fair.

Public transport: the easiest route to the Sinksenfoor

If you leave the car at home entirely, take the tram or train. From Antwerp Central Station, tram lines 2, 3, 5 and 6 run to the Schijnpoort stop, within walking distance of the main entrance at Spoor Oost. The ride from Central Station takes less than ten minutes.

Coming from outside Antwerp? Take the train to Antwerp Central and transfer to the tram. From cities like Mechelen, Lier or Turnhout, this is often faster than driving through evening rush hour traffic. A single ride with De Lijn costs 2.50 euros via the app. Children under 6 travel free.

Shared bikes are also available. Velo Antwerpen has stations across the city, and Blue Bike offers bicycles at Central Station. A day pass with Velo Antwerpen costs just a few euros, and cycling through Borgerhout is faster than sitting in traffic.

Please note that the Schijnpoort stop is not fully wheelchair accessible. Visitors with limited mobility should contact De Lijn for alternative stops or adapted transport options.

Low emission zone: check your car before you leave

Spoor Oost sits in the middle of Antwerp's low emission zone (LEZ). That means not every vehicle is allowed to enter. In 2026, the following rules apply: diesel vehicles with at least Euro 5 and petrol vehicles with at least Euro 2 are permitted. Older vehicles face a fine of 150 euros for a first offence.

Driving a diesel Euro 4? You can apply for a maximum of 12 day passes per calendar year via lez.antwerpen.be. One day pass costs 35 euros. For a fair visit, that is a steep additional cost, especially with a family. In that case, a P+R outside the LEZ is a much cheaper alternative.

Not sure if your car qualifies? At lez.antwerpen.be you enter your licence plate and know within thirty seconds whether you are allowed in. Do this before you leave, not when you are already stuck in traffic on the Turnhoutsebaan.

Electric vehicles and hybrids with Euro 6 have no issues at all. Those driving an electric car will also find several public charging stations on the outskirts of Borgerhout.

Foreign visitors should pay extra attention. Antwerp's LEZ also applies to vehicles with foreign licence plates. Register your car in advance via the LEZ registration page to avoid automatic fines from the ANPR cameras that scan every vehicle entering the zone. Registration is free and takes five minutes.

Sinksenfoor 2026: dates, opening hours and what to expect

The Sinksenfoor 2026 opens on Saturday 23 May and closes on Sunday 28 June. That is just over five weeks of fairground fun at Spoor Oost in Borgerhout.

Opening hours vary by day. On weekdays, the fair typically opens at 16:00 and closes at midnight. On Friday, the Sinksenfoor stays open until 01:00. On Saturday, gates open as early as 14:00, with closing time at 02:00. On Sunday, the grounds are open from 14:00 to 00:00.

Entry to the fairground is completely free. You only pay for individual rides, ranging from 2 euros for a children's carousel to 6 euros or more for the bigger thrill rides. This year features 6 brand new attractions alongside the returning classics.

The busiest times are Saturday and Sunday afternoons. For a quieter experience, choose a weekday evening. Thursday is traditionally the calmest day. Also watch the weather: sunny days bring crowds, rainy evenings give you the grounds almost to yourself.

An insider tip: the final week of the Sinksenfoor is usually quieter than opening weekend and the weekends around Whitsun. Stallholders are more likely to offer discounts on ride tokens, and the Noordersingel car parks are less likely to fill up. If your schedule allows, plan your visit during that closing week.

Park smart, enjoy more

The Sinksenfoor is a tradition dating back to the 13th century, born from the Antwerp annual market around Whitsunday. First on De Leien, then at the Southern Docks, and since 2015 at Spoor Oost. It would be a shame to let your evening be ruined by half an hour of circling the block. Whether you choose the Noordersingel, a P+R on the city's edge or public transport: plan your route in advance.

Through SparkSpot you can book a parking space near Spoor Oost ahead of time. You know exactly where to drive, pay online and walk straight to the fair after arrival. No stress, no surprises.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I park for free near the Sinksenfoor?

Free parking close to Spoor Oost is not available during the Sinksenfoor. The regular Parking Spoor Oost is occupied by the fair. Your cheapest option is a P+R location such as P+R Luchtbal (1 euro per 24 hours) or P+R Olympiade (free). Combine with the tram to Schijnpoort stop.

Is Spoor Oost accessible by public transport?

Yes. Tram lines 2, 3, 5 and 6 stop at Schijnpoort, within walking distance of the entrance. From Antwerp Central Station you are there in less than ten minutes. A single ride costs 2.50 euros via the De Lijn app.

Is my car allowed in the low emission zone?

That depends on your vehicle's Euro emission standard. In 2026, diesel vehicles with Euro 5 or higher and petrol vehicles with Euro 2 or higher are permitted. Check your vehicle at lez.antwerpen.be. If your car does not qualify, you can purchase a day pass for 35 euros (maximum 12 per year).

How much does parking at the Sinksenfoor cost?

The temporary car parks on the Noordersingel cost approximately 7 euros per visit. Street parking in Borgerhout runs at 1.50 euros per hour. The cheapest option is a P+R location: P+R Luchtbal charges 1 euro per 24 hours, P+R Olympiade is entirely free. Add a tram ticket of 2.50 euros and you pay less than any parking spot near the fair.

When is the Sinksenfoor 2026 open?

The Sinksenfoor 2026 runs from Saturday 23 May through Sunday 28 June. On weekdays the fair is open from 16:00 to midnight. On Saturday from 14:00 to 02:00 and on Sunday from 14:00 to midnight. Entry to the fairground is free.