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Antwerp -

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Myth -

The story goes that the city gets its name from the word handwerpen, which means "to hand-throw." They say a giant called Druon Antigoon used to live on the banks of the Scheldt River, and he would ask all the passing fishermen to pay a fee. If they did not, then he would chop off their hands!

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Myth -

However, the giant was bested by a young man called Silvius Brabo. He cut off the hand of the giant and threw it across the city. Now there are statues of both the young hero cutting the hand and the hand itself.

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Trade -

Antwerp was strategically positioned along many trading routes. It was a key place for tradesmen to stop and sell their wares to the rest of Europe. The thriving trade market brought a lot of wealth to the city.

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Scheldt -

One of the best ways to get a feel for the city is to stroll along the river on which it was founded. The Scheldt River is a beautiful wide expanse of water with some great walking trails next to it. You will be able to walk through the maritime history of Antwerp.

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Port city -

Even though the maritime trading scene has somewhat changed from a few hundred years ago, Antwerp is still an important port. They celebrated their trading roots by building this awesome building above the original port administration building. Its seamless architecture is well worth a visit.

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Diamonds -

If diamonds are your best friends, then Antwerp is the city for you. Around 80% of all the world's uncut diamonds pass through Antwerp to be cut at the Antwerp World Diamond Center. You can visit the diamond district in the center of the city to see these blindingly sparkly gems.

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Antwerp Zoo -

Antwerp Zoo is one of the best in Europe. It has a very well-established conservation program, and the enclosures are carefully created for the well-being of the animals. It's right next to the station, and makes for a wonderful day out with the kids.

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Antwerp Central -

The central station in Antwerp is a great example of some of the architecture that is typical of the city. It was built in 1895 and is a mixture of architectural styles. It is widely known as the "railway cathedral" because of its ginormous halls.

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Museum aan de Stroom -

If you are curious about the history of the city, you should go to this museum to answer your questions. Not only is it an extraordinarily designed building, but it also contains endless artifacts connected with Antwerp. Its purpose is to tell the story of the city through objects.

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Chocolate -

The fact that Belgian chocolate is the best in the world is well known. In Antwerp, at every turn there is a chocolate shop with a window of glistening pralines lined up. There is even a chocolate museum called The Chocolate Line.

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Middelheim Museum -

A little way out from the city in the suburbs you can come across the Middelheim Museum. It is a fully outdoors museum containing over 200 sculptures in a vast green park. This is a wonderful place in the summer for a little picnic.

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St. Paul's Church -

This church holds many treasures, including paintings by famed artists Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) and Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Its exterior is in the Baroque style, but there are also beautiful Gothic elements on the church's facade.

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DIVA Museum for Diamonds, Jewellery, and Silver -

If just window shopping for diamonds is not enough for you to satisfy your gem cravings, then you should take a wander around DIVA. Here you can see not only the process of making jewellery and cutting stones, but also some incredible jewellery artifacts.

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The Rubens House -

As you might guess from the name, this was where the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) worked and lived. It contains some of his most outstanding artworks, while also educating the visitor about the way people used to live in the 16th and 17th centuries.

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Het Steen -

The name Het Steen literally means "The Rock." This wonderful medieval castle used to protect the inhabitants of Antwerp from attacks in the early Middle Ages. It is the oldest building in Antwerp. It has a magical and mysterious atmosphere when you walk in and around it.

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St. Anna's Tunnel -

This tunnel runs all the way beneath the Scheldt River from the two sides of Antwerp. It was built in 1933 and was originally meant to be a bridge. However, the river had too much boat traffic and so they settled on a tunnel. You can both cycle and walk through this historic underpass.

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Grote Markt -

The heart of Antwerp is its market square. This is the perfect place to sit down at a table outside, enjoy some locally brewed beer, and eat some yummy Belgian snacks. Make sure you ask for Antwerpse Handjes–they are little biscuits in the shape of a hand. They are sometimes dipped in the local liquor Elixir d’Anvers.

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Belgian beer -

One thing that you should enjoy in Antwerp is locally brewed beer. Many cafés have a large selection of different types of beers. You can just tell the waiter what tastes you like, and they'll pick one for you! Be careful though: they often have a much higher alcohol content than most beers.

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City Hall -

While you're in the market square, you'll be able to see the brilliant city hall. The architecture is a mixture of both Italian and Belgian Renaissance styles, making it a very unique and extraordinary building.

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Cathedral of Our Lady -

The city of Antwerp is extremely flat, and so the main cathedral absolutely towers above the rest of the buildings. It is done in the Gothic style and has a Roman Catholic layout. Inside, the walls are decked with Dutch Master paintings and intricate gold leaf carvings.

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Plantin-Moretus Museum -

You may not have heard of this family, but they changed the intellectual landscape of the world when books first started being industrially printed. This museum was both the home and printing press of the Plantin-Moretus family, where they translated seminal works and organized distribution throughout the world.

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Bakeries -

The general level of food quality is extremely high in Belgium. The bakeries stand out as some of the best in Europe. They specialize in all things chocolate flavored and filled with cream. Domestic Bakkerij is one of the best to visit.

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Bike ride -

As the country is so flat, cycling is the best way to get around. It's very safe due to bike lanes. It's easy to rent a bike, as there are bike ports for tourists all over the city. Maybe even use one to visit some charming neighboring towns such as Lier.

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Street art -

Antwerp is historically known for its art and fashion. This is evident when you walk around and encounter some interesting street art. Keep an eye out for it. Here is a statue inspired by the famous story 'A Dog of Flanders' by Marie Louise de la Ramée (1839-1908).

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Waffles -

Waffles are one of the most famous Belgian foods. If you take a walk around the city every now and again, you will be seduced by the smell of freshly-made waffles. They are crispy on the outside while being warm and sweet on the inside.

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MoMu -

The Mode Museum in Antwerp chronicles the city's important role in the fashion industry throughout the 20th century to the present. It is sure to give you some fashion inspiration for shopping.

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Shopping -

With some ideas of trendy outfits on your mind, stroll into the center of town to explore Antwerp's thriving shopping area. It has everything from well-known brands to more boutique-style shops.

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Comic stores -

Belgians love their cartoons and comics. The famous Peyo (1928-1992), who created the Smurfs, comes from Belgium. In Antwerp, there are many great comic and art shops. Be sure to stop by the immense Mekanik Strip for an incredible comic book selection.

Sources: (The 500 Hidden Secrets) (Visit Antwerpen)

See also: Get to know bustling Belgium

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