The impressive brick building, built in 1501-04, was deliberately sited close to the Scheldt, allowing the blood of slaughtered animals to run off into the river. Exploring the hidden gems: The most beautiful places in Antwerp(Belgium) Share. The museum is temporarily closed for renovation until December 2022, but a pop-up DIVA museum, displaying a range of the museum's diamond and silver collection, is open in Antwerp's Grand Place (Grote Markt) for this period. Also, once everything opens up again, you'll find that Antwerp is a wonderful city! Antwerp is also the fashion capital of Belgium and home to one of the best-known fashion designer schools in Europe. A fire in 1968 badly damaged the church and only the spirited efforts of local people prevented the loss of valuable interior furnishings. The central station has a main hall located on the entrance side of Koningin Astridplein and a clock thats the center of attention. I see that the recently reopened and beautifully renovated Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp is also open on Mondays (see their website for more info). I am a bit worried as it seems at lot of places are closed on Mondays! The fountains statue depicts this story that is used to explain the origins of the name of the city Antwerpen hand werpenmeaning to throw a hand. Areas of interest also include personal stories of those who did emigrate, and those who were left behind, and accounts of the passage across the Atlantic. For more info, see their website. Meir is a prime shopping destination in Belgium, but there is more to it than the shops. The collection is housed on two floors. But to me, Antwerp is a perfect mix of history and modern trendy places; its a city that has an amazing vibe and keeps on reinventing itself. Admire Antwerp Central Station Source: Pigprox / shutterstock Antwerp Central Station 10 Best Places to Visit in Belgium (with Map) - Touropia If you visit just one museum in Antwerp, most people choose the Rubens House, but we also highly recommend the Plantin-Moretus Museum. So if you visit Antwerp in the winter, I really recommend the light show at the zoo (best visit after it gets dark, of course). More info:Disclosure. TIP: If you want to buy diamonds, make sure to bargain. Bustling Brussels: Like Antwerp, Belgium's capital city of Brussels is home to several fine museums among its many tourist attractions. Located just across from Antwerp's Central Railway Station, Chocolate Nation is the largest Belgian Chocolate museum in the world. Also the beautifully-renovated Royal Museum of Fine Arts also has some of his works. As the name indicates, it was designed to connect the new part of town with the historic center. Also walk to the Scheldt River and Het Steen castle. Happy travels! The station is an easy two-kilometer walk east from Antwerp's Grand Place in the old town, and just over one kilometer northeast from Ruben's House. Address: Kon. Exploring the hidden gems: The most beautiful places in Antwerp(Belgium But, to be completely honest, its not an absolute must among the things to do in Antwerp. On the way down, youll see pictures showing the history of the tunnel and its construction. The giant wheel isnt actually that high, but because the buildings in Antwerp are quite low as well, you have good far views of the entire city. Log in, The 12 Very Best Boutique Hotels In Antwerp, 19 Best Day Trips From Brussels You Shouldnt Miss, 10 Best Places To Visit Your First Time in Belgium, Top 14 Best Things To Do in Istanbul A 3 Day Guide, How to Visit the Western Desert in Egypt . Borrekens Castle. The exhibits at Museum Vleeshuis chronicle six centuries of dance, sound, and music in the city of Antwerp. The tasty additions to the best places to see in Antwerp Antwerp Chocolate Museum and Antwerp City Brewery are listed in the end. Its a nice little square and its usually amazingly quiet compared to the surrounding streets. He arranged the house to his own taste and requirements, making his home to the left of the entrance and turning the right wing into his studio. Recommended! The Meir shopping area encompasses the streets surrounding the area from the Cathedral all the way to the Central Station. The museum is dedicated to exploring not only the journey and process itself, but the reasons that people chose to leave their home in hopes of a better life. The central city sections can be easily explored on foot, but if you want to follow more of the route, hire a bike. The museum also explores the special place chocolate has within Belgian culture and tradition, as well as the history of the confection's innovations here and in other countries. In 1576, Christophe Plantin the printer who hailed originally from France, moved into a house he christened "De gulden Passer" the Golden Compasses south of the Grote Markt Grote. Address: Vrijdagmarkt 22, Central Antwerp, Official site: www.museumplantinmoretus.be/. Negotiating the price is normally not done in Belgium, but Antwerps diamond stores are an exception to the rule. All in all, we highly recommend visiting Het Steen for the building, the views, and the shop all of which can be visited for free. Visitors can visit the numerous jewelry shops selling diamonds. One of the best places to shop along the street is the exclusive shopping center known as Stadsfeestzaal in the restored city festival hall. Dont miss the opportunity to see the worlds oldest printing presses, which were built around 1600. However, ideally, you plan at least 2 full days for Antwerp. The cities of Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent are without doubt the top cities to visit in Belgium, so definitely add them to your to-do list. The Museum Vleeshuis is a former guildhall that has been transformed into a museum. Find out! It is a beautiful place for art lovers and anyone else who loves parks and forests. We are visiting soon but on a Monday! 7 hidden and relaxing places in Antwerp - PREMIER SUITES Serviced Enjoy your trip! Antwerp, the second-largest city in Belgium, is known for its stunning architecture, rich culture, and vibrant nightlife. In summer, its buzzing with tourists and locals, and lots of events take place here as well. All this makes Antwerp a very instagrammable city, where it's easy to create a unique photograph. Some harbor boat tours pass here as well. @Jurga, massive help thank you! Good to know: Antwerp City Brewery is open daily except on Mondays. You walk through 11 different rooms, each showcasing different facets of Antwerp in original ways. 12 Best Cities to Visit in Belgium | PlanetWare Platin-Moretus Museum is also a great place to visit in Antwerp when it rains. If you have a couple of hours to spare, considera boat tour in Antwerp harbor, or simply take the waterbus for a short ride to St Anna on the other side of the river see below. But its lively atmosphere is part of the charm, so we prefer to visit here in the afternoon. Tourists visiting Brussels will find a modern and busy city filled with excellent restaurants and cafs. The collection includes some superlative works of art, among them paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, (Dulle Griet and the earliest of the artist's signed works The Twelve Proverbs, both in Room 26), Rubens, Jordaens, Bouts, van der Weyden, van Ostade, Lucas Cranach, and Quentin Massys. Are you on Pinterest? Click on the icons to get more information about each place. On weekends or during certain seasons, it fills with local markets, most notably the famous Antwerp Christmas market. Its definitely worth stopping in when you visit Antwerp, especially if youre an art lover. Built in 1531, during Antwerp's Golden Age, the New Exchange was the first stock exchange building designed specifically for this purpose. Lovely Leuven: Home to one of Europe's most prominent universities, Leuven (Louvain, in French) sits east of Brussels on the banks of the Dijle. Apart from the Stadhuis, most of the buildings bordering the Grote Markt are former guild houses (gildehuizen), which originally served as headquarters of the city's 16th- and 17th-century guilds. This is now one of the best places to visit in Antwerp, so be sure to check it out! The home of Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens is now packed with his masterpieces and works of contemporaries. . It is lined with major European chains and luxury shops, making the street a draw for tourists and locals. TIP: Renting a bike or joining a guided bike tour is a great way to see the best of Antwerp, especially if you are short on time and want to cover a lot of ground. This is my personal favorite museum in Antwerp and I highly recommend it to everyone. It was the church at which the city's patrician families worshipped, and they regularly commissioned leading artists to design their private chapels, altars, and tombs. Antwerp Story is much more focused on the city as it is today and lots of exhibits are videos of the locals telling stories about the city, etc. TIP: There are now also great boat connections from Steen Castle to the other side of the river by waterbus. For more information, see here. Below are some highly rated hotels in these central locations: Ghent's Flemish Flair: Home to some of Belgium's most impressive architecture, Ghent can be explored easily on foot or by canal. At Lillo, there is a choice between driving on to inspect the huge Berendrechtsluis, the world's largest lock, or shortening the tour by turning round and following the Havenroute south again towards Antwerp, via the Frans Tijsmanstunnel beneath the Kanaaldok. Gonna be a good 2 days in Antwerp! The newest addition to the best places to see in Antwerp is the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (or KMSKA Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen). Sadly, only a few of the lost treasures have since been recovered. Antwerp has an oldtradition of open markets and you can find the daily flower market on the Groenplaats. The region surrounding it is famous for its wineries and as you make your way to the chapel, you will pass numerous fruit fields. The Vleeshuis is also home to an outstanding collection of musical instruments including the remarkable harpsichord from the workshop of Ruckers the instrument-makers. Its imposing cathedral towers over winding, cobbled streets that house some lovely architectural pieces. 10 Most Popular Attractions in Bruges, Belgium. If youre interested in getting a deeper appreciation of the diamond world from history to craftsmanship to design, head to nearby DIVA, the diamond museum. Reading Between the Lines (Doorkijkkerk) This see-through church is located in Borgloon, in the province of Limburg. The 8th floor is dedicated to one of Europe's largest collections of pre-Columbian American art, focusing on the relationship between the native cultures and their gods. TIP: Using the map below, you can also compare hotels, apartments, and short-term rental accommodations in Antwerp city center. As well as the permanent collection, MAS regularly hosts a program of temporary exhibitions focused on a wide range of subjects. The Gettysburg Christmas Spirit: Festive Things to Do in the Historic Town, 12 Restaurants in Winston-Salem for a Great Meal. Its nickname of the Railroad Cathedral is a testament to its grandeur, and even those who are not traveling by rail will appreciate a quick peek at its interior. Initially opened in 1964, the De Muze Jazz Caf is among the top places for jazz in the city. The Red Star company's steamers transported emigrants from Belgium and surrounding European countries between 1883 and 1934, bringing them across the ocean to Canada or the United States to escape persecution, poverty, and oppression. We indicated the location on our map below, but didnt include a walking route here since there are so many options, depending on where youre coming from. In general, Antwerp is a very safe place to visit and we never even think twice before walking around the city center at night. Ghent is famous for its medieval monuments, riverside life and picturesque old town. The Rubens Chapel provides the chief focus of interest for visitors. At the bottom of this article, you can also find the map indicating the best things to do in Antwerp, as well as our suggested walking route. You cant really visit the trading markets, but there are plenty of shops selling diamond jewelry I bet you have never seen so many diamonds and jewelry in one place! In this article I will show 12 Stunningly Beautiful Places to Visit in Antwerp I Charlies Wanderings Discover the most beautiful places to visit in Antwerp, selected by a local! Without further ado, here are the best things to do in Antwerp: The central station of Antwerp is one of the worlds most beautiful train stations. Texas The exhibitions are really well done, with lots of interaction where you can see, feel, smell, and taste chocolate while learning all about it in a fun way. If you like to taste a traditional local beer when visiting Antwerp, be sure to ask for Bolleke at any caf or restaurant. The entrance hall, with its high brick arches and dome, is the grandest section of the station's interior and a regal introduction to Antwerp if you arrive by train. It was opened in 1836 and underwent major renovations in the early 2000s to accommodate three levels of railroad tracks. 15 Best Things to Do in Antwerp (Belgium) - The Crazy Tourist To help you better plan your time in the city, I also created a map with a sample city walk itinerary to help you get the best out of your time in Antwerp. The house, lived in by Plantin and his Moretus family heirs is now a supreme example of Flemish Renaissance architecture. Rubens purchased the house in 1610 and later extended and renovated it, making it into his perfect space for living and creating. This 10-story building resembles a child's block puzzle, and sits overlooking the harbor on the former site of the Hanseatic warehouse. Learn how your comment data is processed. The church is home to paintings by Rubens, Jordaens, and Van Dyck. If there is one place you absolutely have to see in Antwerp, its the Grote Markt. One of the top places for shopping in Belgium, Meir Shopping Street runs from the Cathedral of Our Lady to the central railway station. 11). Antwerp has everything a traveller should wish for in a European city; world class museums and art, beautiful architecture and great food and drink. 1. 5), the Huis van de Schutters (Archer's House No. DIVA (Antwerp's museum of diamonds, silver, and jewelry) explores all the different aspects of the trade in diamonds, including sections on their extraction, processing, and industrial use. Contact Also, most shops should be open too. That being said just as in any other big city use common sense, watch out for pickpockets in the busy areas, and not wander around areas that you dont know on your own in the dark. Visitors get to explore the old buildings that housed the printing presses as well as the Plantin and Moretus families over the centuries. But if you only have a day in the city, this is not a must. In particular, the city's paintings an incomparable collection of 15th- to 17th-century masterpieces from a time when the work of artists of the South Netherlands school attained extraordinary heights is a highlight of any visit. But it is only one of many brilliant sculptures and paintings visitors will find in the impressive church. Opened in 2018, this unique and interactive museum is one of the newest additions to Antwerps tourist attractions. Following the winding up of the guild in 1773, the works of art accumulated over the years passed into the possession of the Academy of Fine Arts. These include the superb Baroque confessionals by Pieter Verbruggen the Elder and three paintings by Rubens: The Scourging of Christ (1617) in the left aisle and the Adoration of the Shepherds and Disputation on the Blessed Sacrament in the left transept. Join us as we discover the world one beautiful adventure at a time! On this blog, I share our family's travel experiences from all over the world, coupled with lots of practical information and useful tips for your trips. There is also a nice store inside where you can buy all kinds of local specialties from the city. Its located a bit further from all the other major tourist sights, but still within walking distance from the rest (about 30 minutes walk from the old town). Note that the church is only open in the afternoon from 2 PM to 5 PM, and only in the high season (summer and Christmas). The most famous beer in Antwerp is Bolleke from De Koninck Brewery. Click the star next to the maps title to add it to your Google Maps account. You can also climb to the top of the tower for nice views of t Eilandje district and the harbor. However, the diamond trading markets are usually out of bounds. And because the cabins are closed, its something nice to do in Antwerp in any weather and any season. For practical information, please check the official website of the Rubens House. The Havenroute is a sightseeing tour of the port area, marked out by the Antwerp Tourist Office. You can admire the beautiful buildings, the richly-decorated interior of this mansion, see an impressive library, and the printing house. Make sure to also go all the way to the top of the building. How to use this map:Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. The Mechelseplein is one of Antwerp 's most vibrant squares and cafe Korsakov is located right on it's corner. Right next to Het Steen, youll find another Antwerp attraction The View Antwerpen, aka Giant Ferris Wheel. Good to know: The museum is open daily from 10 AM and has a late opening on Thursday evenings. Het Steen is Antwerps oldest building. This is in no way a complete list of everything that Antwerp has to offer, but if you are visiting the city for the first time and looking for must-see places in Antwerp, then this list is a good place to start. The Town Hall (or Stadhuis) dominates the plaza's western side and was built by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt between 1561 and 1565. Tennessee From fashion and artwork to a 600-year-old diamond district and standout museums, visitors are never at a loss for ways to keep busy. The church has suffered serious damage on a number of occasions over the years, depriving it of many of its most precious works of art. Opening hours differ on the weekends. 24 Beautiful Places in Belgium: A Local's Top Picks + Map - Veggie Wayfarer If tourists visit just one museum in Antwerp, they usually choose the Rubens House. Address: Koningin Astridplein 27, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium The ground floor feels like you're own living room where you can settle in for a cup of coffee on a sunny afternoon.
