| General summary of the city: | | | | Diamantmuseum which has just been shifted near |
| Antwerp is the second largest city of Belgium. The | | | | Antwerp's zoo holds fantastic exhibitions showcasing |
| capital city of the province of Antwerp, it is also the | | | | diamonds and informing people about the history and |
| second largest harbor in Europe after Rotterdam. It is | | | | production of diamonds. |
| a leading commercial center famous for cutting, | | | | Food and Drink: |
| trading and polishing of diamonds. Since the last 15 | | | | The citizens of Antwerp swear by Belgian cuisine. |
| years, Antwerp has been elevated to the status of | | | | The cuisine is somewhat French and Flemish oriented. |
| being one of the leading cities for fashion design in | | | | The hot favorite is mussels accompanied with chips |
| Europe. | | | | and mayonnaise. Other seafood like herring are also |
| The name 'Antwerp' has been linked to the word | | | | favoured and eaten raw. Drinks consist of good |
| "aanwerp" (alluvial mound), which was the | | | | quality French wine. Beer however reigns supreme as |
| geographical feature in the early settlement period in | | | | the country's favorite drink. In fact Belgium has more |
| this place. The earliest records of fortification for this | | | | than 100 brewers manufacturing more than 400 |
| historical place take us to the seventh century BC. In | | | | different beers. |
| the 10th century, Antwerp became a provincial | | | | People in Antwerp drink three kinds of beer-lager, |
| border for the Roman Empire. By the 14th century, | | | | white beer and the lambic beer. The lager beer |
| the city of Antwerp was already ranked as being the | | | | comes as a dark double or triple beer. The white |
| prime center in Western Europe for trading and | | | | beer is self explanatory while the lambic beer is a |
| finance, thanks to its flourishing wool market and | | | | naturally fermented strong drink having a fruity flavor. |
| seaport. | | | | A unique type of soup filled with cream called |
| The city went through a low phase economically | | | | waterzooi, non vegetarian food like chicken and fish, |
| during the Reformation period and the subsequent | | | | paling in't groen (eels with vegetables and herbs) and |
| conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants. | | | | vegetarian food are the other favourites. Antwerp is |
| The city rose again in the 17th century with painters | | | | an inexpensive place for eating out. The food |
| like Reubens and Van Dyck becoming famous names. | | | | consists of customary Flemish dish with French and |
| It was Napoleon who realized the strategic | | | | Mediterranean cuisine. The cafes open at around 9 |
| importance of Antwerp and undertook the | | | | am in the morning and work till late at night. T Fornuis |
| modernization of the Antwerp port. As times passed, | | | | is one of the popular restaurants in the city as it has |
| Antwerp went on to progress and became what it is | | | | the rich French cuisine in a traditional Flemish milieu. |
| today--the tenth largest port in the world. | | | | Another notable restaurant is La Rade - haute. Food |
| Places of interest: | | | | is served in a mansion-like place, close to the river |
| The Antwerp's Grote Markt (town square) is the | | | | Ernest Van Dijckkaai. |
| wonder of the 16th century architecture. The | | | | Hotel and Accommodation: |
| Stadhuis (town hall) is a popular Flemish Gothic | | | | Radisson SAS Park Lane Hotel |
| structure built in the Renaissance fashion. In the | | | | Minotel Colombus |
| middle of the town square lies a statue of the first | | | | Best Western Classic Hotel Villa Mozart |
| hero of Antwerp Brabo. He was the man who had | | | | Miauw Suites |
| killed a giant, who according to a legend used to | | | | Theater Hotel |
| control river traffic and extract money from people. | | | | New International Youth Hotel |
| The roman soldier Brabo cut the giant's hand and | | | | Hotel Scheldezicht |
| threw it into the Schedlt River. | | | | Tourist Hotel |
| Our Lady's Cathedral is another important landmark. | | | | Golden Tulip Hotel Carlton |
| With its Gothic architecture, the 123 meter lofty | | | | Tulip Inn Hotel Astoria |
| tower is a sight to behold. The cathedral is home to | | | | Alfa Empire Hotel |
| two of the masterpieces of Reubens, 'The Descent | | | | Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Antwerpen |
| from the Cross' and the 'Elevation of the Cross.' | | | | Fletcher Hotel Keyserlei |
| The Antwerp castle, known as Steen (stone) is called | | | | Plaza Hotel |
| such because castles in the 13th century were built | | | | Hotel Eden |
| of wood. This was the first castle at that time to be | | | | Alfa De Keyser |
| built of stone. | | | | Hotel Cammerpoorte |
| The Meir is another tourist attraction. It is a shopping | | | | Hotel Ibis Antwerpen Centrum |
| street and a busiest one at that. The Osterrieth | | | | Express by Holiday Inn Antwerp City North |
| House and the former royal residence of the Belgian | | | | Hotel Florida |
| kings in Antwerp are two of the important buildings in | | | | Hotel Residence |
| the Meir. The first stock exchange building in the | | | | Docklands Hotel |
| world was built on Meir. It was gutted down in the | | | | Arass Suite Hotel |
| middle of the nineteenth century and was | | | | Campanile Antwerpen / Anvers |
| reconstructed in Neo-Gothic architecture. | | | | Hotel Industrie |
| Things to do: | | | | Hotel Antigone |
| One thing every visitor can look forward to are the | | | | Corinthia Antwerp Hotel |
| fascinating museums and galleries of Antwerp. The | | | | Prinse |
| city has been organized and maintained well. A tourist | | | | Hyllit Hotel |
| finds exploring Antwerp relatively easy compared to | | | | Hotel Antverpia HR |
| other places because places of interest and other | | | | Crowne Plaza Antwerp |
| pleasant sights in the town are within walking | | | | Entertainment: |
| distance. | | | | The meaning of entertainment can be summed up in |
| Take a stroll through the paved lanes and maze like | | | | the fantastic night life Antwerp enjoys and revels in |
| streets of Antwerp. You will be amazed to see the | | | | offering its visitors. There are a whole range of zany |
| streets lined with royal looking mansions, ancient | | | | bars and restaurants which can give any other city in |
| churches and museums. The city is a pleasant mix of | | | | Northern Europe a run for its money. If you are in |
| the ancient and the modern with a range of | | | | Belgium and want to get the best night life |
| boutiques, restaurants and bars springing up | | | | entertainment, head to Antwerp, no questions asked! |
| continually. One thing you can do while you tour the | | | | The best times to enjoy nightlife are Friday or |
| city is pay a visit to the Royal Museum of Fine Art | | | | Saturday nights. The liveliest and the most |
| (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten). The | | | | fashionable city of Belgium, Antwerp has found a |
| museum is divided into two units-one containing the | | | | unique place on the style map of the world thanks to |
| works of the Old Masters and the other for the | | | | the work of some brilliant fashion designers. |
| artists belonging to the 19th century and later. | | | | Belgians love their drink and so it comes across as no |
| Superior collection of European painting is available in | | | | surprise that this passion has translated into setting |
| the museum including the works of Rubens, Van | | | | up of many bars and pubs across the city. These |
| Dyck, Hals, Van Gogh etc. Ruben's the most famous | | | | bars work any time of the day or night offering |
| child of Antwerp has his work displayed in the Old | | | | choicest of Belgian beer, cocktails, drinks, and wines. |
| Lady's Cathedral as well. | | | | Plus you get to enjoy thumping or mellifluous music |
| MoMu is the epicenter for Antwerp's mushrooming | | | | (according to the public demand) in these bars. Dan |
| design trade. If you are an aspirant designer, you can | | | | Engel is known as Antwerp's most famous bar facing |
| join an academy to learn the latest in fashion and | | | | the Grote Markt. You can stop by the bar at any |
| style. MoMu is known the world over for hosting | | | | time of the day or night for a sip of refreshing beer. |
| creative exhibitions for their work. As Antwerp is one | | | | Antwerp makes everyone happy, be they adults or |
| of the leading centers of fashion, style and designer | | | | kids. The Zoo which is close to the station is the |
| outfits, you can profit in many ways. | | | | oldest and the largest zoo in Belgium. Children are |
| Since Antwerp is well known for diamonds, you can | | | | head over heels in love with the dolphinarium. Other |
| pay a visit to the city's biggest showroom, | | | | attractions include the lions, giraffes, monkeys and |
| Diamondland at Appelmansstraat to see craftsmen at | | | | the snake house. Though the zoo is old fashioned, it |
| work, cutting and polishing the most beautiful object | | | | still remains a craze with children. |
| known to man--exquisite diamonds. The Provinciaal | | | | |
