Belgium
Great Videos and Photos of the Best Places and Things to see in Antwerp Belgium. For the independent traveller who is interested in seeing places while planning their next trip. Or for anyone who likes to be close to nature and see the quieter parts of the country or city
Antwerp
Antwerp, home of the Diamond business in Belgium. Known by many names (Atwerpen in Flemish and Anvers in French), the city is located on the east bank of the River Scheldt and is a major European seaport, second only to Rotterdam.
Our Lady's Cathedral
Since the tenth century a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary has been on the site of the present day cathedral. The cathedral houses some fine works of art including a number of works of Ruben.

Cathedral Interior
Our Lady's Cathedral
In the tenth century a small chapel was built on the site. In the 12th century the chapel was replaced by a Romanesque Church. Over a period of almost two centuries 1350 - 1520 the largest Gothic church in the region was built. Within ten years of its completion it was ravaged by fire and later plundered a number of times. Over the course of the next few centuries the cathedral interior was re designed to include Baroque and Neo styles. Towards the end of the 20th century the cathedral was extensively restored.
On display within the Cathedral there are a four works by the Antwerp Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens.

Cathedral exterior
Our Lady's Cathedral
The cathedral spire can be seen throughout much of the historic city area. The church spire is 123 metres the tallest in the Benelux and houses a number of bells the largest being so big that it takes 16 bell ringers to sound it.
The following works of Peter Paul Rubens are on display within the cathedral The Raising of the Cross Assumption of the Virgin Mary The Descent from the Cross The Resurrection of Christ

Blomstrat
Our Lady's Cathedral
Around the Cathedral and in front of it's main entrance the street names give clues to former commercial activity. Jan Bloomstraat was the main flower market street - vendors sold flowers to church goers along this street for many centuries. In front of the cathedral the streets open into a small square, lined with small restaurants and café. The cathedral is on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List.
About the city
Antwerp has a lot to offer the visit in addition to the Cathedral - take a stroll through Grote Markt, down to the River and along the main thoroughfares such as Leysstraat.

Grote Markt
About the city
The old market place is one the highlights of Antwerp. Gone are the traders of old as the square today is an open pedestrian area popular with tourists. The square is lined by a number of buildings of note such as the City Hall ( 1561-1565 )on the west and a row of Guildhouses on the north side. In the square there is a statue to Brabo, a mythical Roman soldier who is said to have killed the giant Druon Antigoon , and cut off this hand and threw it in the river.The Giant had been exacting tolls from travellers crossing the river Scheldt and if they failed to pay he cut off their hand. The name of the city is said by some to have come from this story as the words hand werpen ( throw hand ) were fussed into Antwerp.

Scheldt Waterfront
About the city
The River Scheldt is 350 km long, rising in Northern France near Gouy, then flowing through Belgium towards Ghent where it takes a right or east turn and heads to Antwerp. Antwerp is the largest city along the river. From Antwerp the river flows through the Netherlands and into the North Sea. The Scheldt estuary has since Roman times been of major importance. Thanks to the Scheldt Antwerp is a major sea port second only to Rotterdam in Europe.

Leysstraat- Meir
About the city
Take a stroll down Leysstraat and Meir on the way from the central station to the historic centre and marvel at the buildings and their adornments. Note the statue of Anthony Van_Dyck (1599 - 1641 ) , the baroque painter from Antwerp who became the painter to the English Court of King Charles I.
Central Station
The Antwerp train station is regarded by many as one of the finest in Europe and well worth a visit even if travelling by bus or car.

Central Station
Central Station
The station was built during the ten year period 1895 - 1905. The stone clad building with it's huge dome were designed by Louis Delacenserie and the massive iron and glass train area by Clement van Bogaert. The station has multiple levels, with trains arriving and departing on elevated track ways.

Station Plaza
Central Station
The square in front of the station lined with a number of hotels and bordered by the Zoo is a transport zone, with trams connecting travellers from the trains to far flung areas of the city. The station is right ext to the Antwerp Diamond district.