Antwerp

Introduction

Antwerp

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Antwerp is a beautiful city in Belgium, located around 35 to 45 minutes by train from Brussels, the nation's capital. Compared to giant cities like New York, Paris, Sydney or Mumbai, Antwerp is very small in size but it is the second largest city in Belgium. Most buildings are old but a treat to eyes – total architectural wonders.

The original name of Antwerp is Antwerpen in Dutch (Antwerpen = Ant (hand) + werpen (to throw), the local language. Antwerp is its adapted English name. In French it is called Anvers.

Legend has it that there lived a giant called Antigoon near the river Scheldt who did not allow people to cross it without paying a toll to him. Those who refused, had to lose their right hands. He used to throw the right hands into the river after chopping them off. Then one fine day, there came a hero named Brabo who chopped off this giant’s right hand and threw it far away. It fell at a place where today there is a gigantic statue of a man’s right hand, sitting pretty. It is surely an eye catcher in one of the city’s busiest shopping streets – Meir.

Antwerp is called diamond city as some of the world's finest diamonds are produced here and more than 70% of all diamonds in the world are traded here as well. One can find many Indians settled in Antwerp mostly from business community.

Antwerp also has one of Europe's busiest container ports, ranking third behind Rotterdam and Hamburg in 2007. Of all the ports on the North Sea, Antwerp is the most central vis-à-vis the largest European production and consumption centres.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

Sterckshof Silver Museum

The Sterckshof Silver Museum is located about 20-25 minutes from the central train station by bus. The museum is in a picturesque castle called Sterckshof. The museum is full of antique silver artifacts. One floor has beautifully crafted cutlery, knifes, spoons, plates, bowls, tea/coffee set etc, all of different sizes. The lower floor has different theme based rooms like the bedroom theme will have clocks, mirror frames, photo frames, clothes hanger etc. The study room would contain different shaped pen stands, cigars, lamps etc. You name it, they have it. For security reasons, the photography is strictly prohibited.

Diamond Museum

Diamond Museum - The museum is adjacent to the station. This multi-storied museum is the largest diamond museum in the world. A minimum of one full day is required to do justice to it.
It is also called ‘interactive museum’ as there is an audio-visual guide which enables you to ‘interact’ with the museum in the selected languages of our choice and at our own pace. It is an ‘image and sound’ system which takes visitors through the entire procedure of diamond processing – from mines to end product including training, teaching etc. at various levels. They have diamond jewelries from the sixteenth century till the present day including a replica of the British Crown Jewels containing two of the world’s largest diamonds- the Koh-I-Noor and the Cullinan I. The museum also has a section which shows us the qualities of diamonds, such as color, hardness, refraction of light etc. On some days we can see diamond cutters at work too.

The Harbour

Antwerp has Europe’s second largest and world’s fourth largest harbour. Of all the ports on the North Sea, Antwerp is the most central vis-à-vis the largest European production and consumption centers. Although the open North Sea is about 60 kilometres away from Antwerp, the river is so large that sea-going vessels and large oil tankers can sail to deliver their products in the vast port area of the city.

Other sights and activities

• The Steen is a small castle by the Schelde river - probably started in the 13th century but much restored.
• The tower of Our Lady’s Cathedral is almost 38 metres (123 feet) high and towering over the city.
• Grote Markt is not as big as the ‘Grand Place’ of Brussels, but certainly equally beautiful and crowded is the ‘Grote Markt’ of Antwerp, also known as Market Square.
• Central Station is one of the grandest buildings in Antwerp is the ‘Central Station’. It welcomes visitors who arrive by train in Antwerp like a modern day cathedral. The part of the station where the platforms are, is covered by an immense metal and glass dome, which is typical for turn-of-the-century railway stations in Europe.
• Rubens House Museum is where Rubens lived but the house suffered from neglect for a long time before being bought by the Council. it has sinse been restored on the basis of the earliest available sketches. Numerous paintings and artefacts. It is located at Wapper 9 - 11 and open every day (except Mondays) from 10am to 5pm. Closed on certain public holidays.
• Museum Mayer Van Den Berg - Mayer Van Den Berg died at the beginning of the 20th century and the museum was built as a sixteenth century style house for his private collection. Very fine collection including ‘Dulle Griet’ or Mad Peg, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Located at Lange Gasthuisstraat 19 (tel 03/232.42.37). Open every day from 10am - 5pm, except for Mondays and on January 1st and 2nd, May 1st, Ascension Day, November 1st and 2nd, December 25th and 26th (Christmas).
• Museum Plantin-Moretus is one the best museums in the world about printing and the history of printing in the low countries of Europe. The printing presses where run by the same family from the early 16th century till 1875 when it was made into a museum. The museum is located at Vrijdagmarkt 22, Phone:+32 03 221 14 50 of +32 03 221 14 51.
• Zurenborg - Cogels Osylei quarter is three streets of houses with amazingly ornate frontage mostly in art nouveau style. It is said that this was a glaring case of 'conspicuous consumption' and that the interiors showed no sign of the same elegance!

Events and Festivals

Weather

The most popular time to visit Brussels is between May and September when weather is at its' best. Temperatures are generally around 22 °C during the day from June to August and nights around 15 °C. Like most of the European capitals, this is also the busiest time of the year so booking in advance is recommended, especially during July and August. The winter months are a much quieter time to visit Brussels, but you will have to come prepared for colder conditions with temperatures just around zero. Snow is possible but not really common. Most of Brussels' rain falls during these months as well, though summers can see heavy rainshowers after hot conditions during the day.

Getting There

By Plane

By Train

It is around 35-45 minutes by train from Brussels, the capital of Belgium. There are plenty of trains running throughout the day between the cities.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Apart from regular Dutch-French cuisine, there are plenty of Indian restaurants to cater to Indian population.

Drink

Try some world's finest beer, the Belgian beer. There are hundreds of examples.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

• University of Antwerp

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Post

De Post is the national postal service of Belgium, with Dutch, French and German versions. They offer generally fast, reliable services. It's a relatively expensive service though, with normal domestic post (cards, letters etc) up to 50 grams costing €0.61. To other European countries it costs €0.93 and outside Europe it's €1.30. At the post offices, you can buy stamps and they have other services as well, including international money transfers. The opening times of post offices are 9:00am or 10:00am until 4:00pm or 5:00pm, depending on whether it's the main central one or a smaller branch or in towns. Some of them might be open on Saturday mornings, and remember that quite a few still close for lunch break! De Post also offers the sending of parcels, but you could also use private international companies like UPS, TNT or DHL, as they offer roughly the same services and prices, but are generally faster.