10 Things to Do and See in Antwerp

If a trip to Brussels and a sightseeing tour of Bruges didn't satisfy you with the wonders and historical and artistic riches held in Belgium and Flanders, it's time to head to Antwerp.

Antwerp is located right in the heart of Europe, at the mouth of the Scheldt River, and is considered one of the largest maritime and river ports in Europe. This prominence allowed it to become a commercial, trading, cultural, and artistic center of the European continent in the 16th century.

From the Flemish name of the city, "Antwerpen", you can discover its origins. Antwerpen comes from "Hand" and "werpen", "to throw the hand", a reference to a distant legend in which the Roman soldier Silvio Brabo killed the giant Druon Antigon, who sat on the banks of the Scheldt River, cutting off the hands of sailors who did not pay for passage.

Silvio Brabo challenged the giant, defeated him, and threw his hand into the river.

Brabo decided to settle in the area of the Scheldt where the giant had lived, and from there founded the city of Antwerp. Today, a statue located in the center of the Grote Markt, the city's main square, commemorates this legendary act.

Visiting Antwerp means choosing to immerse yourself in true Flemish culture, learning about the great artistic production of the Flemish 17th century by Rubens, Bruegel, and Van Dyck, and admiring the noble palaces in Art Nouveau, Art Deco, neobaroque, and neorenaissance styles.

But also discovering that Antwerp is the Diamond Capital and of typography, fashion and contemporary design, of "frituur", "gaufres", and "Antwerp hands" (delicious butter cookies).

On this page, we recommend the 10 things to do and see during your visit to Antwerp.

1

If you have the opportunity to arrive in Antwerp by train, you cannot miss noticing the grandeur and luxurious architecture of Antwerpen Centraal Station, considered in 2014 the most beautiful train station in the world and the most significant example of railway architecture in Belgium.Here, you can experience the truly impressive sensation of getting off a train, looking up (or down), and realizing that the train tracks are placed on multiple levels, constantly crossed by trains of every kind.

The "Cathedral of Railways", as it is called by the residents of Antwerp, was built in ten years, from 1895 to 1905, based on the design by Belgian architect Louis de la Censerie, to replace the previous wooden station under the reign of Leopold II.

The monumental building made of stone and marble is arranged on three levels topped by an elaborate glass and iron vault, created by engineer Clement Van Bogaert, which illuminates the interior. A gigantic dome rises to a height of 75 meters, visible from various points in the city.

The main hall is dominated by a grand staircase that connects the train station to a neobaroque style palace, rich in refined decorations that are worth admiring even if you do not need to take a train.

Recently, the station has been renovated to accommodate the new technologies of high-speed trains and has been equipped with a fourth underground level and shopping area. For its charm that lies between the ancient and the modern, the eclectic Antwerpen Centraal Station undoubtedly deserves a visit and you can choose it as the starting point for your tourist itinerary in Antwerp.

2

The Cathedral of Our Lady is located behind the Grote Markt, the lively main square of the city. Considered one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture, it is the largest in Belgium and Flanders.

The church, which has seven naves, was built starting in 1352 according to Brabant Gothic designs, and was completed in 1521. Both French and Flemish architects worked on its construction.

The most captivating architectural element of the Cathedral of Antwerp, making it a symbol of the city, is the floriated gothic tower that, at 123 meters high, is the tallest in the entire Benelux region.

The tower, built between 1434 and 1530 by Peter Appelmans and the De Waghemakere brothers, contains a carillon of 47 bells and is included in the UNESCO heritage.

Inside the majestic Cathedral, you can admire some of the most famous works by Rubens, including the Triptych of the Deposition from the Cross, of impressive dimensions, The Assumption of the Virgin Mary, located on the main altar, and The Resurrection of Christ, placed in the second chapel, or Kunstkammer (art room).

Opening hours and ticket price for the Cathedral of Antwerp

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-3, Sunday 1-5.Ticket price: adults €12, students and seniors over 60 €10, free for ages 0-8.How to get there: The Cathedral is located at Groenplaats 21, in the historic center. It can be reached on foot.

3

The Grote Markt is the main square of Antwerp. Triangular in shape, it represents the vibrant heart of the historic center and is surrounded, like every Flemish "Grand Place", by the characteristic Guild and Craft Corporation palaces, elaborately decorated buildings erected between the 16th and 17th centuries, all topped with golden statues. Some of them were destroyed by a fire in 1576 and rebuilt in the 19th century.

In the center of the square stands the Fountain of Silvius Brabo, built in 1887 by architect Jef Lambeaux and dedicated to a legendary character whose story is linked to the origins of the city.

The Roman legionary is said to have killed and defeated the giant Druon Antigon, who used to cut the hands of citizens who refused to pay a toll for navigating the Scheldt River.

The baroque statue depicts Brabo about to throw the giant's right hand into the river.

But dominating the Grote Markt is, without a doubt, the Stadhuis, the City Hall of Antwerp, which occupies an entire side of the square. Designed by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt between 1561 and 1566, it represents a magnificent example of Mannerist architecture in Flanders, characterized by a façade rich in Renaissance details.

Not far from the Grote Markt is the Groenplaats ("Green Square"), which emerged in the 18th century on the site of the city's former cemetery, abolished by Emperor Joseph II of Austria. Today, the square, facing the stunning Cathedral of Our Lady, is a gathering place for young artists, animated by restaurants and literary cafes. In the center of Groenplaats stands the Statue of Rubens, created in 1843.

4

Antwerp is the cradle of Flemish 17th-century art, finding its highest artistic expression in the famous painter Pieter Paul Rubens.

Rubens has signed several works and masterpieces scattered in many places of worship and art throughout the city, and if you seek examples of Flemish art in its Baroque trend, you are in the right city.

To admire Rubens's paintings, you can visit the Rubenshuis, the residence that the Flemish artist purchased in 1611 and where he lived and worked until his death in 1640. The Rubens House-Museum houses ten masterpieces of the master, including Adam and Eve and Self-Portrait, as well as works by some of his students, among whom is Anthony Van Dyck.

You can also visit the baroque-style furnished apartments and stroll through the beautiful garden to get an idea of how Rubens worked and lived in a studio-house also used to meet illustrious characters of his time.

To immerse yourself even more in Flemish art, you can head to the Museum Mayer van den Bergh (a few meters from the Rubenshuis), the first museum in the world to house thousands of works from a single collector.

Conservator and academic Fritz Mayer van den Bergh, passionate about Dutch art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, began collecting paintings, sculptures, ivories, and miniatures in the late 19th century. You cannot miss the opportunity to admire two of the most famous masterpieces by Pieter Brueghel the Elder: The Twelve Proverbs (his first work from 1558) and Greta the Mad (1561), an apocalyptic representation of war.

Opening hours and ticket price for Rubens House and Van den Bergh Museum

Opening hours: Both are open Tuesday to Sunday 10-5. Last admission at 4.Ticket price:Rubens House: Full €12, ages 18-25 €8, ages 0-18 free.Mayer Van den Bergh Museum: Full €10, ages 18-25 €6, ages 0-18 free.How to get there:Rubens House: Wapper 9-11. It can be reached on foot or by Velo No. 23 or tram: 3, 15, 9, and 5.Mayer Van den Bergh Museum: Lange Gasthuisstraat 19. It can be reached on foot, 500 meters from the Rubens House.

5

The Church of Saint Paul was built, just a few steps from the Scheldt River, between 1530 and 1571 as a Dominican convent and is considered a true "baroque jewel in a gothic casing".

Characterized by a Flemish style and a baroque bell tower, the church is also known as the Church of the Calvary, due to the presence of an external sculptural complex evoking the ascent of the mountain on which Jesus was crucified, almost like a "live theater".

The evocative "Holy Sepulcher" conveys all the charm and suggestion of the historical episode of Christ's passion and resurrection.

Inside the church, you can admire a wonderful baroque altar and 50 works, including Flemish masterpieces by Rubens, Jordaens, and Van Dyck, probably still located in their original positions.

Opening hours and ticket price for Saint Paul's Church

Opening hours: Every day 2-5 PM.Ticket price: Full €5, students up to 26 years €3. Free for ages 0-18, every Tuesday, and during religious ceremonies and Catholic holidays.How to get there: The church is located at Veemarkt 14. It can be reached on foot.

6

In addition to being considered the city of Rubens and the homeland of Flemish art, Antwerp is also the capital of diamond processing and trade (Diamondland), around which an entire district has been created.

The glittering Diamond District is located around the Central Station and includes 4 exchanges dedicated to diamond trading and a true "showroom" of 2 square kilometers where a series of salons, shops, and offices are dedicated to buying, selling, and "cutting" diamonds (the label "Cut in Antwerp" is still famous today).

A historical tradition that has made Antwerp the global center for diamonds since the 16th century when the first Jewish community settled for the processing of diamonds and precious stones, making the neighborhood known as the "Jerusalem of the North".

To be dazzled by the "sparkle" of Antwerp diamonds, you must stop at the Provincial Diamond Museum (Diamantmuseum), in Koiningin Astridplein, where you can learn about the history of diamond production and trade in Antwerp, and witness the processing stages, cutting, and setting operations. A valuable opportunity not to miss.

If you want to go shopping, know that Antwerp will not disappoint you. De Meir is a long pedestrian street lined with stores and boutiques of every kind (from big brands to more commercial labels) that extends from the Cathedral to the Central Station, giving you the chance to admire, between purchases, the most elegant buildings in the city. The bustling and lively De Meir is known today as one of the most important shopping streets in Belgium.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Diamond District

Opening hours: AlwaysTicket price: FreeHow to get there: The district is located in the center. It can be reached on foot or by Trolleybus lines 1, 2, 3, and 4. Buses (right loop, left loop, 91).

7The Plantin-Moretus Museum has the distinction of being the first museum in Europe to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage. This museum is dedicated to typographic art and paper printing and is located on the site of the ancient printing house in Antwerp.

The house-museum is dedicated to the printer Christoffel Plantijn, who founded the company in 1550, and to his son-in-law Jan Moretus, who continued the dynasty by working and living in this splendid building in Flemish Renaissance style.

The printing house was not limited to being a simple printing press but quickly became a center for the dissemination of humanist culture, making Antwerp, in the 16th century, the European capital of the wonderful art of producing books and masterpieces of printed works of all kinds.

Today, in the Plantin-Moretus, you can admire tools, machines, and typographic materials, such as presses, molds, and matrices, learn about the ancient production stages, visit the magnificent library, and an art gallery that houses works by Rubens and Van Dyck.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Plantin-Moretus Museum

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10-5.Ticket price: Full €12, ages 18-25 €8, ages 0-18 free.How to get there: The museum is located at Vrijdagmarkt 22, near Groenplaatsleo, and can be reached on foot.

8

Antwerp is one of the few European cities without bridges crossing the river that runs through the city. In the 1920s, it was thought to create an underground tunnel to connect the left bank of the Scheldt River with the center of Antwerp, and in 1933 the construction of the Saint Anna Tunnel was completed, measuring 572 meters and located 31 meters below the riverbed.

Today, the pedestrian tunnel still retains all the characteristics of its original construction, with beautiful wooden escalators leading to the tunnel entrance, white tiles decorating the walls, and some paintings and prints accompanying the visitor's walk.

The project, considered of high engineering value in the 1930s, was carried out by Emiel van Averbeke.

The underground "crossing" is reserved only for pedestrians and bicycles (which have a speed limit of 5 km/h). If walked, it takes 10-15 minutes to reach the left bank of the Scheldt, within a park that offers a magnificent view of the city skyline.

If you want to experience this memorable journey, head to the small square of Sint-Jansvliet to access the tunnel. How many times can you say you walked under the bed of a river?

Opening hours and ticket price for the Saint Anna Tunnel

Opening hours: AlwaysTicket price: FreeHow to get there: The tunnel is located near the Plantin-Moretus and can be reached on foot.

9

In Antwerp, you can find, as is renowned in Belgian tradition, a varied and tasty offer of specialties to eat and drink. The Frituur (the famous fries that in Brussels are called "frites") are omnipresent in every fast food and point of sale on the main and secondary streets of the city.

If you want to eliminate all doubt about the quality of Belgian fries, which come from the Netherlands and are cut by hand and fried on the spot before the customer, let your senses lead you to the right shop, and indulge in the 15 varieties of sauces as you wish.

Alternatively, you can stop by Frituur No. 1 (there are several in the historic center), where you can choose from an enormous counter what you would like to have "fried" on the spot.If you have a sweet tooth, you must try the legendary Belgian chocolate.

Here you will also find a number of prestigious historic chocolate shops with inviting windows where you can taste or buy different types of chocolate, from assorted "naked" filled chocolates to bars of every flavor and size, to chocolate "tongues" to melt in a cup of milk.

Another sweet specialty not to miss is the gaufre, which we know as "waffle", the "honeycomb" waffle made of flour, eggs, milk, sugar, and yeast, prepared artisanally and cooked on the spot.

Try it simply "sucrée" (sweetened), as the Belgians love it, or with Nutella, whipped cream, ice cream, and sliced fruit.

The culinary specialties of Antwerp are the "Antwerpse handjes", "Hands of Antwerp", cookies and chocolates shaped like hands linked to the legendary origins of the city. The cookies are made with butter, eggs, flour, vanilla, sugar glaze, and almonds.

Alcoholic beverages also have their tradition here. In addition to the famous Belgian beer (De Koninck is the artisanal beer produced in Antwerp), you can taste jenever, a juniper-flavored alcoholic liquor from which gin evolved, typical of Belgium and the Netherlands.

10

Antwerp is certainly not an inexpensive city, nor are Brussels and Bruges. However, finding low-cost accommodations is not impossible. Near the Central Station and Zoo, you can find hotels and lodgings from 50 to 70 euros per night.

The city is not very large, and you can easily walk around or take a tram for just a few stops.Hotel and bed and breakfast prices near the historic center range around 80-100 euros per night. But just moving even a kilometer away from the Grote Markt area can yield more economical accommodations (70-80 euros).