Historical city in the heart of Europe also called Antwerpen in Dutch or Anvers in French, Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium. It has plenty of Medieval history, art, architecture, many great museums and excellent restaurants to offer. Antwerp is famous as a fashion city, home to one of the largest ports in the world, as well as the diamond trading capital of the world, so you can imagine there are plenty of opportunities for shopping in Antwerp.
Fashion & design city. Antwerp is also a center of fashion makers, owing its reputation to the pioneers of a Belgian fashion movement, the so-called 'Antwerp Six', who travelled to London and Paris together in the 1980s, and conquered the fashion world with their very distinct vision of fashion. Many famous contemporary designers have studied in Antwerp and still have an atelier, showroom or store in the city. There are many fashion boutiques and jewelry stores great for shopping in Antwerp, and the city also has its own fashion centre: the ModeNatie, housing the Flanders Fashion Institute and the Antwerp Fashion Academy that holds a yearly international fashion show.
Multicultural and cosmopolitan Antwerp has a Jewish quarter, as well as an African and Turkish ones, and many interesting parks. The newly restored docks in the South part of the city has become trendy and now houses some nice art museums. Antwerp also has one of the oldest zoos in the world (founded in 1850) that besides animals also has impressive historical architecture. Port of Antwerpen has nice tours available. Nightlife in Antwerpen is based mainly on one quite popular phenomenon: pubs.
Sights and activities in Antwerp: historical attractions, museums, fashion & shopping
Antwerp has a lot to offer to people interested in historic buildings and architecture. The Medieval center of the city is dominated by Belgium's biggest cathedral that also houses famous paintings by Rubens. There are also beautiful baroque churches and Art Nouveau mansions, as well as medieval castles. Antwerp was home to some famous artists such as Peter Paul Rubens and Vincent van Gogh and now has what are considered to be the main museums of Belgium. Museums in Antwerp include the World Heritage –listed Plantin Moretus Museum, Rubens’ house and Fine Arts Museum.Fashion & design city. Antwerp is also a center of fashion makers, owing its reputation to the pioneers of a Belgian fashion movement, the so-called 'Antwerp Six', who travelled to London and Paris together in the 1980s, and conquered the fashion world with their very distinct vision of fashion. Many famous contemporary designers have studied in Antwerp and still have an atelier, showroom or store in the city. There are many fashion boutiques and jewelry stores great for shopping in Antwerp, and the city also has its own fashion centre: the ModeNatie, housing the Flanders Fashion Institute and the Antwerp Fashion Academy that holds a yearly international fashion show.
Multicultural and cosmopolitan Antwerp has a Jewish quarter, as well as an African and Turkish ones, and many interesting parks. The newly restored docks in the South part of the city has become trendy and now houses some nice art museums. Antwerp also has one of the oldest zoos in the world (founded in 1850) that besides animals also has impressive historical architecture. Port of Antwerpen has nice tours available. Nightlife in Antwerpen is based mainly on one quite popular phenomenon: pubs.
Antwerp travel tips and practical information
Located in Northern Belgium in Flanders region, Antwerp is a cosmopolitan city rich in culture and thus one of the main tourism destinations in Belgium.
Photo: appaloosa, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
The city has a moist temperate maritime climate with four seasons and relatively large rainfall throughout the year. Summers in Antwerp are relatively warm, while the winters are chilly and moist.
How to get there. Since it is close to other major cities in Belgium and Western Europe, it is very easy to travel to Antwerp, as well as to visit other cities while staying in there. The city has an international airport with regular flights to Antwerp, and good train connections to elsewhere in Belgium as well as other Western European cities.
Public transportation inside Antwerp is handled by buses, trams and so-called pre-metros that are combinations of trams and subways. There are also taxis available, and car rental in Antwerp is widely available for those wanting to tour the country more extensively.
Services & safety. In addition to a great number of pubs and restaurants in Antwerp, there are plenty of nice hotels in Antwerp to choose from. Most parts of Antwerp are quite safe for visitors, but some neighborhoods such as the harbor and the area around De Coninckplein should be avoided in the evening. Pickpocketing and theft also occurs, so you should watch your belongings. Many residents in the Dutch-speaking Antwerp speak also English.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Brussels, Ghent, Rotterdam, The Hague, Bruges, Leiden, Liege, Amsterdam, Hoge Veluwe National Park
