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