Antwerp

Antwerp has all the liveliness, sophistication
and seediness you’d expect

Antwerp (Antwerpen) is one of Belgium's most hidden gems. Most people think of it only as a port and center of the diamond trade, yet it’s also easygoing, stylish, and filled with the monuments of a wealthy medieval and Renaissance period. Given that the city boasts a magnificent cathedral, a maze of medieval streets, and a vibrant nightlife and cultural scene, it's amazing that Antwerp has been relatively neglected by tourists and the travel trade.

The city, which is the capital town of Antwerpen province, owes its life to the Scheldt (Schelde) River and its soul to the artist Rubens, only one of several artists who left their baroque mark on the face of this city and a great love of beauty in the hearts of its inhabitants. You see that love expressed in their buildings, their public works of art, and the contents of some 20 museums, many of them full of Flemish masterpieces.

© 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.