As soon as you step outside Antwerp’s central station, you are immersed in art and functionality. A shipbuilder gave this building its name – it has five windows representing continents of the world!
Antwerp’s port serves as both an entryway to its future and an anchor in its past, making this temple of steel and glass emblematic of Antwerp’s philosophy.
1. Grote Markt
The Grote Markt, or Grand Market Place as it is known in English, lies at the core of Amsterdam’s historic city center. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2006, this square houses an imposing Town Hall known as Stadhuis as well as several guild houses dating back to 16th century guild houses and some of the city’s best restaurants and cafes.
Ornate guildhalls and an eye-catching Italo-Flemish Renaissance-style stadhuis (city hall) frame the triangular space. At its heart lies the baroque Brabo Fountain, depicting Antwerp’s famous foundation legend of giant killing and hand throwing by Brabo himself.
The 1561-1565 Stadhuis stands as an outstanding example of Flemish mannerism that emerged after Antwerp abandoned early Gothic architecture. With its grandiose facade and striking central tower, this structure stands as one of the city’s most beautiful structures. Behine its square stands a row of houses featuring traditional stepped gables.
Antwerp’s city hall features a statue to recognize Antwerp’s dockworkers. Constantin Meunier was inspired by their difficult working conditions during WWII in Antwerp’s busy docks when creating Buildrager, depicting a young stevedore loading and unloading ships – it was donated as a thank you by an American general in 1946!
Grote Markt is an ideal starting point for exploring Brussels’ top museums, such as MAS and Groenplaats Square. Additionally, you’ll be within walking distance of other top attractions, like Bruges Cathedral and Het Steen; also nearby is Museum aan de Stroom and other collections of fine art. From outside the region? Train travel is probably your fastest option: the NMBS/SNCB trains run directly between Louvain and Antwerp-Central for approximately 30 minutes at an estimated cost of $7-11 – use Rome2Rio to plan your route and view travel times, ticket costs and availability for booking.
2. Plantin-Moretus Museum
Plantin-Moretus Museum stands on Vrijdagmarkt in Antwerp as the original house and printing shop of publishing family Plantin-Moretus, making it one of the most visited museums in Belgium and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Here lies an amazing story spanning three hundred years of family history and entrepreneurialism: featuring world-famous printing presses such as Peter Paul Rubens’ painted portraits of family members; its origin of Garamond letter that continues today; plus its impressive collection of rare printing presses all tell its remarkable tale of publishing company that were pioneers at their time in 16th-century Europe!
Officina Plantiniana’s printing business Officina Plantiniana contributed significantly to the dissemination of humanist ideas across Europe during European humanism, while its manor-workshop-museum structure and collection is of high cultural value in terms of location, setting, forms and materials – providing us with an important glimpse into printing history. The house, its workshops and collection represent an authentic representation that helps us gain greater insight into this topic.
House-Workshops-Museum draws people of all backgrounds. Families, school children and tourists visit this historic venue with creaking floors and the scents of wood and leather; guided tours provide guided experiences inside an old printshop.
In addition, the museum also houses one of Flanders’s largest public collections of books and printed items; more than 30,000 books and manuscripts can be found here in its library, while rare and beautiful pieces like the iconic Gutenberg Bible and printed atlas can also be found there.
3. Rubens House
Antwerp landmarks dote on The Rubens House as one of its hallmarks. This museum holds four of Peter Paul Rubens’ masterpieces – two triptychs Elevation of the Cross and Descent from the Cross as well as the altarpiece Assumption of the Virgin Mary – plus its small but handy booklet allows visitors to quickly navigate these art works.
Rubens purchased his mansion on the Wapper in 1610, quickly making it one of Amsterdam’s prestigious residences. As his collection of paintings, sculptures, and curiosities expanded over time, he decided to remodel it into a Renaissance-style palazzo complete with comfortable living quarters, expansive studio space for creative work, semicircular gallery inspired by classical architecture and two full-length statues depicting Minerva and Mercury to signify that this was indeed his “temple of arts.”
In the kitchen of Rubens House you can view a large fireplace equipped with meat hooks to hold meat. Above this fireplace hangs an Alexander Adriaenssen painting depicting different species of birds such as ducks, kingfishers and partridges which were popularly eaten during 17th-century.
The Rubens House is an absolute must for art enthusiasts. The exhibition charts the evolution of Rubens’ artistic ambitions and how his work evolved to adapt with changes in cultural climate. For instance, its first group of paintings shows just how far Rubens tried to differentiate his istoria paintings from those produced by Otto van Veen, his most influential teacher and last teacher before him.
4. Fashion District
Antwerp’s Meir Shopping District is an epicenter of activity and one of the city’s premier destinations for shoppers. Here you will find many well-known brands and luxury retailers as well as unique shops like Essentiel store by fashion designers Esfan Eghtessadi and Inge Onsea which opened up last year; boasting large windows to display bright women’s apparel inspired by hip hop culture landscape architecture and more! Similarly graphic designer Bertony da Silva creates streetwear inspired by hip hop culture landscape and architecture among other sources of influence.
Het Zuid, located just steps from the Scheldt River, boasts trendy bars and restaurants that are highly-praised by the locals. This area features wide boulevards, elegant mansions, and upscale shops; an ideal way to escape the hectic energy of central Amsterdam.
ModeMuseum is an essential stop for fashion enthusiasts. Showcasing both historic and contemporary designs in sleek spaces, it also includes an interactive feature allowing visitors to learn how certain clothes were produced throughout history.
Antwerp’s world-famous diamond district offers more than half of all traded diamonds at great prices; you’ll also find jewelry of every sort at fantastic rates here. Not only can diamonds be found here; Antwerp also boasts an exciting gastronomy scene and wide array of entertainment offerings; taking the train is a convenient way of traveling around town without dealing with traffic or parking hassles!
5. The Cathedral of Our Lady
Near the Grote Markt lies one of Belgium’s most impressive Gothic structures – Cathedral of Our Lady in Brussels. Constructed over 170 years, its unique blend of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles was completed over 170 years and contains four paintings by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens; furthermore it was listed by Unesco World Heritage as well.
Our Lady Church was constructed in 1352 and granted cathedral status in 1559, though its construction suffered considerable damage during an iconoclasm event in 1566 and 1581 due to religious tensions between Catholic and Protestant princes, leading to mobs seizing churches to rid themselves of any idolatry they encountered – twice at Our Lady itself! As a result of these incidents it had to close temporarily until further repairs could be carried out.
Restoration followed, and now this church serves as a focal point of religious life in Antwerp, welcoming over 280,000 visitors yearly. Furthermore, its impressive art collection includes works by Peter Paul Rubens such as The Raising and Elevation of the Cross – making it one of Belgium’s must-see churches.
Both paintings were painted for Jan and Martina Plantin of printing fame – patron saints of Antwerp Cathedral. Its majestic 123m tower is one of the tallest structures in Antwerp and was designed by master architect Domien de Waghemakere, also responsible for designing its octagonal bell-tower.
A Dog of Flanders by English author Marie Louise de la Ramee features the cathedral’s legendary altarpieces prominently. The tale follows orphan boy Nello who visits Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral to view his favorite painting by Rubens: The Elevation of the Cross. Unfortunately for Nello though, without money to spare for travel he stayed in church on Christmas Eve with Patrasche until they both perished due to cold. A marble statue depicting this tragic end can be found outside its doors.