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Strike a pose in Antwerp
"The art is amazing, and it's everywhere you look; the fashion scene is vibrant, and the design is gorgeous; there's a cool café culture, and the streets are practically paved with diamonds. When you think about it, there's not much about Antwerp that is less than totally adorable."
"If your beloved whispered into your ear, "Darling, I am going to whisk you away on a weekend to Antwerp," your heart might not skip a beat. But your heart would be in the wrong place. Paris, New York, Venice - all so obvious. Antwerp is the secret city with sex appeal."
Vanity Fair On Travel, Victoria Mather, April 2009
Antwerp is the capital of cool. Known for its vibrant nightlife, its funky bars and restaurants, not to mention its numerous festivals, Antwerp is a city that's always 'on'. The Antwerp Fashion Academy produced a group of avant-garde designers who made a big splash on the fashion scene in the 1980's and became known as "The Antwerp Six". Nowadays, the academy continues to churn out new, hot talent.
If shopping is not your thing, discover the compact centre of Antwerp, which juxtaposes beautiful medieval buildings with modern architectural landmarks. Antwerp is also an art-loving city with which the name Rubens is eternally linked. More than 400 years after the birth of this brilliant painter, it is still possible to see the extent to which Rubens left his mark on the city. Funky nightlife, historical buildings, and the biggest diamond centre in the world, Antwerp offers something for everybody.
Funky nightlife, historical buildings, and a veritable fashion catwalk throughout the city, Antwerp offers something for everybody. For the city’s most notable sites see Antwerp Highlights below.
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Antwerp Highlights |
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Rubenshuis |
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Diamond District |
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| Steen Castle Het Steen are the remains of a castle which was once the center of the city Antwerp. Now located along the waterfront it is the National Maritime Museum. Het Steen served for many purposes throughout the centuries. It was once even a jail but that dark era ended in 1823. The city of Antwerp bought Het Steen in 1842. In 1864 it opened its doors again as a museum of local history and archeology. |
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| Antwerp Zoo The Antwerp Zoo, where more than 6,000 animals reside, is one of the oldest and most famous zoos in the world and is located next door to Central Station. The Antwerp Zoo has developed an international reputation because of its participation in international breeding programs for threatened species, such as the okapi, the bonobo, the Golden Lion Tamarin and the Congo peacock. |
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| Momu (Mode Museum) Fashion is a way of life in Antwerp with hip shops for the fashion addict. The MoMu collection consists of a very diverse assortment of clothing, lace, embroidery, fabrics and tools for artisanal textile processing. The oldest collection pieces date back to the 16th century, but the emphasis is on the 19th century. |
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| Cathedral of Our Lady After 20 years of restoration work the architecture of the seven-aisled church has again been restored to its full splendor. Housed inside this gothic church, which became a cathedral in 1559, are two Rubens masterpieces, Raising of the Cross and Descent from the Cross. |
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| Middelheim Open Air Museum This museum hosted its first exhibition in 1950. It has an exceptional collection and offers an overview of modern western sculpture, including works by artists such as Rodin, Bourdelle, and Manzu. The sculptures from Rodin to the present day are presented in the surroundings of a splendid park. |
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| Brabo Statue on Grote Markt Legend has it that long ago the River Scheldt was in the hands of Antigoon, a giant who demanded heavy tolls from passing ships. A Roman soldier, Silvius Brabo, slay the greedy giant by chopping off his big hand and throwing it into the river. Hence the name Hantwerpen or “hand throwing.” The ‘hand’ has become the unofficial symbol of Antwerp and can be found as a bronze fountain in front of the town hall or sprinkled through out the city in various forms ...including chocolate. |
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| Saint Carolus Borromeus Church This is the Rubens’ church par excellence. Not only did Rubens produce paintings for it, he also designed many of the sculptural decorations and the façade. This typical baroque church was built by the Jesuits between 1615 and 1621. The apse of the main altar, the Mary Chapel and the many sculptures and wooden carvings show the church’s former splendor. |
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