Traveling To Belgium:Part 2: Antwerp

Antwerp is one of the oldest and biggest city's in the Flemish region of belgium, it is located in the north of flanders and is the capital city of it's province, the province of antwerp. Tourism is booming in the city as it has a lot to offer. Antwerp is a harbor city, and has the 2th largest harbor in Europe(Rotterdam/holland is the largest). Many cruiseships dock at this city and leave many tourists stunned by it's absolute beauty, really i've seen it happen enough.

The city owns it's name trough a legend, known by every citizen of the province. the legends goes by a mythical giant called Antigoon, who lived near the schelde river, the giant demanded a toll from everybody who wanted to cross the river, for those who rejected to pay, the giant severred one of the hands of the unlucky traveler and threw it into the river. Eventually after a lot of fearfull years for the merchants and travellers a small man, named Brabo, came to town and slained the giant, he then cutted of the hand of the giant and threw it on it's turn into the river. Hence the city thanks it's name from the dutch word hand and werpen(hand and to trow);

This is only a myth offcourse, in real life, the city name comes from the latin word Antverpia.

Antwerp holds a lot of museums, cultural festivals, bars, pubs, fine restaurants, etc.. specially on the "Groenplaats" and "meir". More about these places later. The city is known around the world for it's diamond in and export, but also for it's fashion, with famous designers like Dirk Bikkembergs(scapa).

The city was founded in 1374 and back than it had only 20.000 inhabitants, now it is a ever expanding city of about 1.500.000 inhabitants. One of the biggest constructors of historical buildings in antwerp was Napoleon, he was convinced that the city was needed in order for him to conquer europe.

When arriving in antwerp, the 1st thing you'll see is stunning architecture and historical buildings and gives the city a special character. It doesn't mather from which side of the city you arrive, it always gives you a wow feeling.

Things to see:

Antwerp Zoo: When you arrive at the trainstation, on your right hand side you find the zoo, it was founded in 1843 and so, one of the oldest zoo's in the world, today it holds about 6000 animals. The zoo is also known for it's high level of research they do.

Antwerp station: This is a stunningly beautifull building designed by Louis Delacenserie, the building of this station started in the latest years of the 1800's and was completed in 1905. It is build up in massive neo-baroque facades, and in the middle of the station you'll see a giant glass and steel dome.

Cathedral of Our Lady: This beautifull cathedral can be found at the "Groenplaats" And marks the skyline of the city. This church is always open for tourists. The building of this impressive piece of art, started in the 14th century and was completed in 1518. People would really be thinking how they ever could build so high in those times. This massive cathedral holds 4 works of the famous medieval antwerp painter Pieter Paul Rubens.

Boerentoren: In english it is called the farmers tower, now holds an office of the kbc bank. It is a 26 storey building located at the "Meir", was build in 1932 and is the oldest skyscraper in Europe.

Royal museum of fine arts: This museum holds a large collection of flanders finest artists like; Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian, and many more.

Rubenshuis: Found in the centre of the city, it was the former home of the famous painter and is now turned into a museum.

Law courts:Found by the river scheldt This is a new building, officially opened in 2006 by king Albert, it is a very modern building and was so designed to make a contrast with the massive gothic lawcourt in Brussels. It has sails on top on the roof to project it's blend with the river, the largest sail is 51 meters high.

Het steen: Or the stone, is a medieval castle, build between 1200 and 1225, and is by far the oldest building in antwerp, this castle was builds at the shores of the river scheldt(schelde in dutch), and was made to control all the traffic from the river that was going in and out of Antwerp. From 1303 to 1827 this place was used as a prison, where medieval convicts awaited there trial(if there was any). It was also a torture place where practices like chopping of hands, heads, burning people and other painfull activities has taken place. It is now used as the museum of Antwerp maritime history.

Meir: The "Meir" is a long shopping boulevard, which stretches from the central station, to the groenplaats, it is about 3 kilometers long, filled with all kind of stores, specially fashion. from simple brands like H&M to scapa, Cartier, Gucci,Bulgari,....beauty shops, cd stores, you name it, it's there. This is a street with a lot of character, modern shops placed in historical 18th century buildings. The Meir is also one of the most expensive places in europe to live, so if you can affort an apartement there, you must be loaded.

Opera: The opera house is a barok style building, like the others build in that time, and can be found at the keyserlei. 200 meters from the central station and at the beginning of the Meir.

Culture:

Troughout the centuries antwerp established an artistic reputation, thanks to the school of painting which had students like the famous historical painters, named above, The language people speak is Antverpian(or Antwaarps in there dialect, a distinctive dialect that seperates them from the other flemish dialects.

Fashion: Antwerp is a triving place for fashion fanatics, and is gaining more and more of a cult status, this is also made possible thanks to the Academie of fine arts, one of the best and most important fashion schools in Europe. Some of this school's graduates are now making a name in the fashion world, people like; Walter van beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs(now designer for scapa), Dries van noten(known around the world, and hot in the U.S), Dirk Van Seane, and Mariane Yee. These 6 designers are therefore named the big six.

Local products: The city of antwerp has some very reknown products like my favorite beer; "de koninck" or also called "bolleke". It is an ombered beer made by brewery de koninck(which is old flemish for the king). Elexir D'anvers, a yellow liquor, made with several herbs and spices, people, specially older people still believe it works like some kind of elexir, and a very tasty cookie named "Antwerpse handjes", or Antwerpian hands, a with vanilla cream filled chocolate or praline, also available as a cookie with almonds. And let us certainly don't forget one of the most famous products in antwerp; the diamonds. These beautifull stones are mainly a business of the jewish people in antwerp, and can be found at the central station area, or in the neighborhood of the docks.

Antwerp is my favorite Belgian city to visit, loads to see, to do, a major cinema complex, shopping, eating, walking, going out, you name it, all a big city has to offer.