Antwerp

Antwerp is Belgium's stylish second city, a great port on the Scheldt that was once among the richest in Europe and remains the centre of the world's diamond trade. Its Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady holds masterpieces by Rubens, who lived and worked here, its railway station is a cathedral-like palace of stone and glass, and a bold fashion and design scene gives it a creative, contemporary edge.

History

Pottery and glass of the 2nd and 3rd centuries found near the Scheldt suggest a Gallo-Roman settlement, Antwerp is first named in the 4th century after the Franks settled it, and Saint Amand preached here in the 7th; Het Steen, the city's oldest building, survives from a castle of the dukes of Brabant built between 1200 and 1225. Emperor Otto II made Antwerp a margraviate in 980, a border province facing Flanders, and Godfrey of Bouillon, leader of the First Crusade, was its margrave from 1076. When the Zwin silted up and Bruges declined, the foreign trading houses moved here at the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese made it one of their main bases for Asian spices by 1504, its Stock Exchange opened in 1531 for the merchants of all nations, and the city's population doubled between 1500 and 1569 (Wikipedia, Antwerp).

What you'll find

• The Cathedral of Our Lady - the Gothic cathedral with its Rubens masterpieces.
• The railway station - the palatial, cathedral-like Antwerpen-Centraal.
• The Rubens House - the home and studio of the great painter.
• The Grote Markt - the guild houses and town hall of the old centre.

When to go

Spring to autumn for the best weather; the city is lively year-round with its fashion, cafes and nightlife. It is an easy trip from Brussels and pairs well with a Flanders itinerary.

Practical notes

It is more of a working, contemporary city than a preserved medieval showpiece, so its appeal is the mix of grand history, art, fashion and port energy rather than fairytale looks. The Rubens House can close for renovation, so check. It rewards those interested in art, design or diamonds.

Nearby

Ghent and Bruges are within reach; Brussels and the Dutch border are close.

Key facts