Antwerp is Belgium’s second-largest city, home to about 530,000 people, first mentioned in the early Middle Ages and long defined by its role as a major port on the River Scheldt. It’s best known for its diamond district, fashion and design scene, and a historic centre built around the cathedral and guild houses: highlights include the UNESCO-listed Grote Markt area, the Cathedral of Our Lady, the riverside Het Steen fortress and the museums of the MAS and the Rubenshuis (linked to painter Peter Paul Rubens). Modern Antwerp mixes waterfront redevelopment and bold architecture with neighbourhoods full of cafés, bars and venues, while the compact core is easy to explore on foot or by tram. Getting in and around is straightforward via Antwerpen-Centraal—one of Europe’s landmark stations—with fast rail links to Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris, and easy onward travel across Flanders.

MONUMENTS

Peter Steele Memorial Bench (Type O Negative)

STORES

Blackwitch
The Rocking Bull

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