Antwerp City Guide
Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium, and is known for its excellent nightlife, 16th and 17th century architecture, and as the world's diamond centre.
London to Antwerp via Eurostar and Belgium trains takes just under 4 hours.
What to do and see in and around Antwerp
Grote Markt and Stadhuis (Town Hall)
The Grote Markt is the heart of Antwerp, at the centre of the square is the Brabo Fountain depicting Antwerp's mythical hero Silvius Brabo. The stadhuis (Town Hall) dominates the square, and demonstrates Antwerp's historical position as the link between northern and southern Europe, with its combination of Italian Renaissance, Gothic and Low Countries architecture.
Onze Lieve Vrouw (Cathedral)
Antwerp's Cathedral is the largest example of gothic architecture in Belgium. It dates from the 14th and 15th century, and in 1566 much of its interior decoration was destroyed by the Iconoclastic Fury. However the interior now contains work by Rubens and his students. Behind the Cathedral is the Groenplaats, which was originally Antwerp's city graveyard.
Rubens Museum
Pieter Paul Rubens is Antwerp's most famous artist, he lived and died in Antwerp, and his house is now the Ruben Museum. The house has been reconstructed to show how the house would have looked in the 17th century, including furniture, utensils and decoration. The museum includes 10 of Rubens' paintings, including his self portrait, and "Adam and Eve in Paradise", alongside works by Frans Snyders, Willem van Haecht and Jacob Jordaens.
National Maritime Museum (The Steen)
The Steen is the oldest building in Antwerp - dating from the 12th century. The collection includes model shops, maps, and a number of ships on dry land and in the Bonaparte dock next to the museum.
Diamond Museum
Antwerp is the centre of the European diamond trade with over 1500 diamond companies and 4 diamond exchanges. The main diamond shopping and processing area is close to Antwerp's central train station. For a history of the diamond trade in Antwerp visit the Diamond Museum, which includes details of the diamond production process and a "treasure chamber" including diamond jewelry.
Royal Academy of Fine Arts
The building which houses the Museum of Fine Arts was built around 1890. The Museum includes Flemish and European paintings, sculptures and drawings from 1400 to the current day. The collection includes work by Rubens, Simone Martini, Rodin, van Eyck and Hans Memling.
Shopping
Antwerp is a shoppers' paradise, with hundreds of diamond and jewellery shops around the central station area. Antiques shops line Leopoldstraat near the Botanical Gardens. Antwerp is also famous for its fashion shops, from designer clothes to high street fashions, visit the Meir area, Meir also provides a kids playgroup to look after children while you shop until you drop!
River Scheldt
Antwerp has the fourth largest harbour in the world, visit the port to see Antwerp's industrial heritage, and watch the enormous cruise ships sail past. Antwerp also has a modern marina with over 120 yacht moorings. For an alternative view of Antwerp take a scenic and relaxing boat trip.
MoMu Fashion Museum
Antwerp is fast emerging as a European fashion leader, with many top fashion designers graduating from the Fashion Department within the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. The MoMu covers fashion and textiles from the last 5 centuries, from across Western Europe.
Zoo
Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Europe and is situated close to the Central Station. The zoo is home to over 6000 animals, and the Royal Society for Zoology which runs a breeding programme for endangered species and ensures that all of the animals live in the best possible conditions.
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