Tongeren is officially the oldest town in Belgium, a captivating Roman-founded city in the Flemish province of Limburg where 2,000 years of history are woven into every cobblestone street, medieval rampart, and Roman archaeological find. Best known today for its sprawling Sunday antiques market, the largest in the Benelux, Tongeren offers a perfect blend of ancient heritage and lively modern culture, all within easy reach of Brussels and Liège.
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Quick Facts: Tongeren, Belgium
- Best time to visit Tongeren: Sundays year-round for the famous antiques market; summer for the Kroningsfeesten (Coronation Festival) every seven years (next: 2030)
- Top attractions in Tongeren: Gallo-Roman Museum, basilica of Our Lady, Roman wall remnants, and the Sunday antiques market
- How to get to Tongeren: ~1 hour from Brussels by car (E40); direct train from Brussels to Tongeren station (~1hr 20min); ~25 minutes from Liège
- Market days: Antiques market every Sunday morning (6am-1pm), over 350 stalls
- Best for: History lovers, antique hunters, and those seeking authentic Flemish culture
Tongeren’s Roman heritage
Founded in 15 BC as Atuatuca Tungrorum, Tongeren was a major Roman administrative and military centre, one of the most important settlements in the province of Germania Inferior. The town’s 4th-century Roman walls, once stretching for 4.5 kilometres, are among the best-preserved in northern Europe. Sections of the original Roman wall and defensive towers can still be seen on the Caesarlaan and the Leopoldwal today.
The Gallo-Roman Museum, awarded European Museum of the Year in 2011, is an architectural masterpiece that brings Roman Tongeren vividly to life through immersive exhibits, interactive displays, and over 2,000 archaeological objects unearthed from the city and surrounding region. The permanent collection includes gold coins, jewellery, glassware, and the famous Tongeren Roman milestone.
The Sunday Antiques Market
Tongeren’s Sunday antiques market is the largest in the Benelux region and one of the most celebrated in Europe. Every Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the city’s central squares and adjacent streets fill with over 350 dealers selling everything from antique furniture and vintage jewellery to rare books, porcelain, and Art Deco objects. The market spills across the Marktplein, the Veemarkt, and the area around the basilica of Our Lady, creating a sprawling treasure hunt that attracts collectors and casual browsers from across Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. Serious antique hunters arrive early, often before dawn, to find the best pieces before the crowds descend. The market’s reputation draws dealers who specialise in specific eras and styles, from medieval religious artefacts to mid-century modern furniture, making it possible to find objects spanning nearly every period of European decorative arts.
For those new to antique hunting, the market can be overwhelming. A good strategy is to start at the Marktplein, where the larger dealers set up their stalls with higher-quality items, then work outward to the smaller dealers on the peripheral streets. Bargaining is expected, though prices are generally reasonable by international standards. The market is supplemented by the permanent antique shops that line the streets around the squares, many of which are open every day and offer a more curated selection. Even for visitors not shopping, the market is a spectacle: the energy of the crowds, the kaleidoscope of objects on display, and the theatrical negotiations between dealers and buyers make it a uniquely entertaining way to spend a Sunday morning.
Medieval and Religious Landmarks
The basilica of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek) dominates Tongeren’s skyline with its graceful Gothic tower and richly decorated facade. Built between 1240 and 1544, the basilica replaced an earlier Romanesque church on the same site, which itself was built on the foundations of a Roman temple. The interior is a treasure house of religious art, with a magnificent 15th-century oak pulpit carved with scenes from the life of Christ, a Renaissance rood screen, and a treasury that contains one of Belgium’s finest collections of liturgical objects. The highlight is the 9th-century Merovingian Gospel book, a jewel-encrusted manuscript that is one of the oldest surviving books in Belgium. Nearby, the UNESCO-listed Begijnhof (Béguinage) is a peaceful walled enclave of 17th-century whitewashed houses arranged around a courtyard garden, one of 13 Flemish béguinages recognised by UNESCO. The Moerenpoort, the last surviving medieval city gate dating from 1379, now houses a small museum of arms and armour, and the statue of Ambiorix in the central square commemorates the Belgic chieftain who famously defeated Julius Caesar’s legions in 54 BC.
Tongeren is the oldest town in Belgium, founded in the year 15 BC. Initially served as a base and supply station for the Roman troops in the Rhine region but grew rapidly into large commercial center and into one of the largest cities in the north of Gaul.
The first Roman city wall from the 2nd century is a silent witness of Roman occupation. On the town square stands the statue of Ambiorix, who withstood Claire Caesar’s legions.
The antique market attracts thousands of tourists each Sunday. Tongeren is a city where history still lives and breathes, but it is also a city with a young, dynamic heart.
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Planning a trip to Tongeren or exploring historic Belgian towns? Share your experiences in the comments, especially if you’ve found treasure at the famous antiques market! 🏺
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