Things to Do in Antwerp, Belgium

The city of Antwerp is the capital of Antwerp province in the district of Flanders in Belgium.

This historical city dates back to the Gallo-Roman era. The Golden Age of Antwerp dawned in the sixteenth century when it became the second largest city north of the Alps. There are records of more than a hundred ships passing its port in a day. Powered by a pepper dominated economy, followed by silver and the textile market made Antwerp an important trading base. Originally a fortified city, Antwerp today has broken down all walls to become one of the most welcoming cities in Europe. Discovering Antwerp is like discovering a little gem in Europe, literally too because Antwerp has become synonymous with that little gem that is known as a girl’s best friend – the diamond. As an important center of art and fashion there is much to see in Antwerp.

Historical buildings in Antwerp

Het Steen, which literally translates as ‘The Stone’ is the oldest building in Antwerp and dates back to the beginning of the thirteenth century. This medieval castle in the only remnant of, what was the fortified city of Antwerp. A bas-relief of the Scandinavian god of youth and fertility, Semini, sits just above the entrance archway and dates back to the second century.

Our Lady’s Cathedral of Antwerp is one of the largest in Europe. Its north tower has dominated the skyline of the city for five centuries without changing but the cathedral itself, with several reconstructions, has evolved through time to become a testament of changing architectural styles. A little Gothic, a little renaissance and some baroque, rococo and many more styles, all merge fluidly with each other. It contains within it masterpieces from every century since its creation like the Madonna carved in marble from the fourteenth century, wall paintings from the fifteenth, statue of ‘Our Lady of Antwerp’ dating back to the sixteenth century and so on.

But the most famous inhabitants of the castle are probably Raising of the Cross and Descent from the Cross, two of Rubens’ masterpieces. The St. Carolus Borromeus Church is a Jesuit church in Antwerp. Mainly Baroque in style Ruben contributed heavily to its exterior and interior design. The pièce de résistance of the church is the interchangeable painting- three paintings above the altar that can be interchanged using the still-working original mechanism.

Antwerp Museums

The most famous museum in Antwerp is probably the Diamond Museum. This ‘image and sound’ museum is truly fascinating providing a complete sensory experience. It also has a splendid display of replicas of famous diamonds like the British Crown Jewels along with contemporary diamond works.

The house of Rubens is a unique museum. This was the house in which the most famous artist of the region lived for the last half of his life. A stylish Renaissance-Baroque structure, though the house doesn’t look exactly like it did during Rubens’ time, it is still an interesting visit because of its beauty and its gardens, and above all the collection of paintings housed in it. Rubens’ work shop and private quarters are also open to the public.

Antwerp’s Mode Museum is a recent addition to the museum scene in the city. It is devoted to showcasing the famous fashion designers both contemporary and ancient, going as far back as the sixteenth century. Its displays include not only the finished product but also the tools of the trade, the textile processing process in its entirety.

The Open Air Museum in Middleheim has an extraordinary collection of western sculpture by artists like Rodin, Manzu and Bourdelle.

Other Attractions in Antwerp

One of the oldest zoos in the world is the Antwerp Zoo. With more than six thousand animals belonging to nine hundred and fifty different species it is Antwerp’s most popular tourist destination. The zoo has gained much international acclaim for its efforts in breeding threatened species like the Congo peacock and the Golden Lion Tamarin. In addition to the almost completely natural biotopes for the animals, there is the nocturama which houses nocturnal animals, a bird house, the winter garden and a planetarium, along with several other attractions.

The Antwerp Port is second only to the Rotterdam port among all European ports. It has contributed to the cosmopolitan character of the city along with its prosperity throughout its history. The port and its occupants are the principal characters of Eugeen Van Mieghem’s paintings. The Eugeen Van Mieghem Museum is a great place to catch the artist’s representation of the port.

The Grote Markt is the Town Square of the old city of Antwerp. Today it is a very pleasant square and a great place to grab some food and beer. The Town Hall and the reconstructed guild houses surround the Grote Markt with the tower of Our Lady’s Cathedral rising in the background. The Brabo fountain in the middle of this square harks back to the legend of Silvius Brabo, the Roman soldier who cut off the hand of the giant Druoon Antigoon and freed the sailors. The terrible giant would cut off the hand of all those crossing the Scheldt river who refused to pay him a toll. Jef Lambeaux sculpted this statue in 1887. The hand is Antwerp’s symbol and sits on everything from its flags down to the local chocolates. Discovering Antwerp is its own reward. Try it out, you will be glad you did!

Photo of Grote Markt, Antwerp, Belgium, by celesteh

Topic:  General Travel, Top five Monday | 2 Comments
Tags:  Belgium

About the author

Grace lives in India. She loves to travel, not as a tourist, but to soak in the secrets of the nooks and crannies of this amazing planet. She also loves words, expressed through the medium of writing. She firmly believes that a well crafted piece of writing can accomplish ANYTHING!