ANTWERP – Nightsky's trip to Belgium's 2nd largest city, once Europe's richest

[Nightsky]

ABOUT ANTWERP

Population: 503 000 (metro 1 191 000)
Country: Belgium
Other names: Antwerpen, Anvers
Tallest building: Cathedral of Our Lady (123m)
Region: Antwerp Province, Flemish Region
Founded year (city rights): 1221
Area: 204.51 km²
Year visited: 2014
Antwerp -Antwerpen in Flemish (and Swedish), Belgium's 2nd largest city, is situated in the Flamish speaking region. It is famous for its diamond industry, fashion, its renaissance architecture and the works of Rubens, Teniers and van Dyck, whose art can be seen in museums and public buildings. The city also has Europe's 3rd busiest harbour, and the river Schelde flows through the city.
There are many churches and squares in the city, Grote Markt is the most important and is considered the core of Antwerp. Here you find both the Cathedral of Our Lady and the Town Hall. According to folklore, the name Antwerpen comes from a hero that killed a giant called Antigoon. There is a statue in front of the town hall that celebrates that. The city center is small, and everywhere you find beautiful historic buildings, many in Flemish Renaissance style, restaurants, waffelstands, chocolate stores and museums, Rubens Museum is one of the most popular. Meir is the major pedestrain street that passes many of the most important sights in the Old Town. The Main Railway Station sis also on of the most prominent buildings in the city center, is is also considered one of the world's most beautiful train stations. Het Steen (the stone) is a beautiuful medieval fort that is situated right next to the river, and KBC Tower, Europe's first skyscraper was built in Antwerp's city center, still one of the few in the city that is more dominated by historic buildings. Among the most modern large buildings of Antwerp is Museum and der Stroom and Antwerp lawcourts noticable.There is also a large zoo in the city center. The Olympic Games were held here in 1920 and it is today a student city with an important university. In the beginning of the 1500s, it was Europe's most important industrial and trade center, the 3rd largest city in the whole Europe and the world's most powerful economical center.
Antwerp has lately also been known as a multicultural city, with a high percentage of Turkish immigrants. The inhabitants of Antwerpen are locally nicknamed "Sinjoren" after the Spanish noblemen who ruled the city in the 17th century. The city is divided into 9 districts. Antwerp is trafficated by white trams, both old and new ones, and buses.



MY EXPERIENCE

We visited Antwerp on the last half day on our 5 day Belgium trip (Brussels and Graspop was the main focus), so we didn't have much time, but since the city center is very compact, we managed to see the most important sights. Even though it was a bit stressful, we managed to sit on the Town Hall Square (Grote Markt) and relax for a while. At first the sky was a bit grey, but the sun started to shine after some hours. It is a nice city, in a human scale, with beautiful historic buildings, a river and pedestrian streets. Actually it feels more like a 200 000 inhabitant city then half a million (even almost 1.2 millions with suburbs). It feels much smaller then Brussels for example. That is because of the small size of the city center, and because the streets are a bit abandoned as soon as you leave the historical core. The exception is traffic, that can be chaotic at times. And also, when you live the city you find out it is really a bit, spread out city, even if the core is very small.
The end of the trip could be better though. When we arrived in Antwerp, a train strike was starting to take place in Belgium, so the train stopped in Lier, and with no replacment bus or anything we were trapped in this small city for an hour, before we found a local bus that took us to the outskirts of Antwerp, were we could change to another bus to the railway station. So we were late to Antwerp, and it became very stressful to experience the city. When we arrived they told us that the trains to Brussels Airport, were we should catch our flight some hours later, were still in use. But after the sightseeing trip, there was a strike even on that line, so we thought how the hell are we supposed to get to the airport now? Talk about unluck! The staff at the railway station was very rude and there was no way to get to the airport (taxis took criminal prices!) but when we asked at the Radisson hotel, we were politely told that there is a bus service to Brussels Airport. So it wasn't harder then that. But finally on the bus we were almost trapped in a heavy traffic jam and it took almost one hour instead of the approximated 30 minutes, so we had to run through the whole airport! Belgium's train service is the worst I have ever experienced (even worse then Sweden)!

Click on the link below to read more and watch the pictures:

http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp.html

[Nightsky]

GROTE MARKT:


Grote Markt is the historial heart and center of Antwerp, the city that once was the richest in Europe. Here you find the City Hall, part of the Cathedral of Our Lady, the Brabo fountain and beautiful guildhouses in Flemish Renaisance style. You will also find a sculpture of a giant and some open air restaurants. Vlaykensgang is a narrow medieval lane that is popular among tourists and begins at the square.
H.


City Hall and the Brabo fountain, Grote Markt.


Brabo fountain in front of Flemish Renaissance guild houses. The sculpture is based on a lagend about a hero, Brabo, that slays the giant called Antigoon, that probably has given Antwerpen its name (hand wearpan=to through in old English). In the sculpture he thoughs Antigoon's hand into the nearby River Schelde. The sculpture was created by Jef Lambeaux in 1887.


Antwerp City Hall (Stadhuis), built in 1406, and Brabo Fountain. The City Hall was a symbol of the city's wealth and power in the 16th century, since Antwerp was the most powerful economical center at the time. The City Hall is considered the most important Renaissance building in the lower countries and has influenced many similar buildings in Europe. It replaced the old gothic town hall, that had became too small. The building was almost destroyed in 1576, but rebuilt in 1579.










Typical Belgian food!





You can watch more photos and read info about the photos on the link now:

http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp_City.html

[Nightsky]

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY:

[img]http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp_157 b.JPG[/img]
Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) is the most famous building in Antwerpen. It is a a Roman Catholic church, built in Gothic style. The architects were Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer and Marten de Vos. The first phase was constructed between 1352 and 1521, but it has never been totally completed. With a height of 123m to the top of the spire, it is by far Antwerp's tallest building, and is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There have been plans to demolish during the renaissance period, and by Napoleon, but it has always been saved in the last time! Note the vast size of the cathedral compared to the buildings in front of it.


Cathedral of Our Lady, seen from Grote Markt. The tallest and most dominating building of Antwerp. It is not only tall, it is also huge in size. Unfortunately the cathedral wasn't open to public during our visit. Even thought the exterior is gothic, the interior is 90% baroque. Some of Rubens most famous paintings are placed inside the cathedral.





You can watch more photos and read info about the photos on the link now:

http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp_City.html

[Nightsky]

SUIKERRUI (Sugar Lane), the street between Grote Markt and the river Schele:








Cathedral of Our ady seen from Suikerrui.


Kaasstraat, a curvy side street with yet another bronze sculpture, and even more Fleimish renaissance buildings on the right side.

HANDSCHOENMARKT, a small square between Grote Markt and Groenmarkt, next to the Cathedral:




Statue of the builders of the Lady's Cathedral and street musician at the cathedral






Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady) seen from Handschoenmarkt.

You can watch more photos and read info about the photos on the link now:

http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp_City.html

[Austinlee]

Absolutely incredible. Thanks for the detail shots.

[Nightsky]

^Thanks

KONINGIN ASTRIDPLEIN AND CENTRAL STATION:

Koningin Astridplein (Great Astrid Square) is situated in the East part of the city center, and is the first place that will meet many visitors. Here you find the cathedral like Central Station, the zoo, the aquarium, sculptures and the postmodern Radisson Astrid Hotel. It is also a main hub for trams and buses and has a big city feeling.


Antwerp Central Station (Centraal Station), one the largest train stations in Belgium, has been dubbed "the railway cathedral" because of its cathedral like proportions and decorations, and is considered one of the world's most beautiful. The photo above was taken from the pedestrian street De Keyserlein. It is one of the most famous buildings in Anwerp. It was built 1895-1905 and is 75m tall to the top of the dome. Unfortunately this beautiful building also symbolized a bad thing for us, since we learned about the train strike here, that nearly made us miss our plane home!












Antwerp Central Station is 400m long. On the back part there is a modern atrium (above)in 4 levels. After an extention built 1993-2009 fastspeed trains can pass and there is a level that make it possible for trains to pass without detour, converting it from a terminus to a through station.




Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel is a stunning art deco hotel, built in 1997. Reminding a bit of LEGO toys, but still a very cool building. At night it is illuminated in different colours. The Aquatopia aquarium is situated on the left (red) side of the building.






Antwerp Zoo, entrance at Astridplein. Belgium's oldest animal parks and one of the world's oldest


Astridplein

[Nightsky]

Antwerp has a vibrant Chinatown, that begins at Astrid Square. The port was built as late as in 2010 and is called Pagoodeport and was created in China. If it wasn't for the train strike, more pictures of Chinatown would have been included!


Chinatown Antwerp mainly consists of Van Wesenbekestraat, a narrow street trafficated by trams. The neighbourhood grew spontanousley in the 1970s to a Chinatown.


Traffic jam at Astridplein, near the gate to Chinatown. Traffic is often chaotic at rush hours in Belgian cities.

[Nightsky]

MEIR, DE KEYSERLEI AND LEYSSTRAAT:

Meir is the most important and famous street, it passes many interesting sights, grand buildings and sculptures, between Astridplein and Groenplats near Grote Markt. It is the regions and one of the countries most important shopping streets with fancy stores and department stores. It was pedestrianzied when Antwerp became the European Culture Capital in 1993. Meir is also a site for parades and events. Here you find the elegant Stadsfeestzaal that has been transformed from a ballroom to a shopping galleria, as well as a Royal Palace, Paleis op der Meir. Already in the 16th century it was lined with patrician mansions. Leysstreet and De Keyserlei are the extentions of Meir on the Easternmost part, close to the station. The famous Rubens House art museum is situated nearby Meir. Below is the route from the extention steets that begin at Astridplein to the end of Meir at Groenplats.


De Keyserlei street with Century Bldg






De Keyserlei, Central Station and Century Building, the art deco highrise from 1929 with the Mediamarkt sign (right), that occupies 2 of 3 floors.






Antwerp Tower, built in 1973, is a 25-storey highrise that replaced a beautiful hotel building called Grand Hotel Weber, damaged by a bomb in 1944. It is considered an eyesore by most inhabitants, despite its bronze glass facade.


Flanders Opera and Antwerp Tower seen from Frankrijlei street at Teniersplaats. Vlaames Opera was built in 1904-07 in a baroque style. It was very rundown until 2007, when it was renovated.




Teniersplaats with the identical baroque buildings. De Keyserlei towards Leystraat and Meir.


Teniersplaats is where Leysstraat, the extention of Meir, begins. The significant identical baroque buildings with black and golden domes faces each other.


The sculpture of Anthony van Dyck, another famous Flemish baroque painter, stands at the point where Leysstraat becomes Meir.

[Nightsky]

David Teniers Statue, Leystraat. Teniers was a famous painter in the 1600s.






Stadsfeestzaal (City Festival Hall) is a building on Meir, that was built for official festivities. But since it was on fire in 2000, the glass-vaulted hall was renovated and in 2007 it opened as a modern shopping center.


City Festival Hall (Stadsfeestzaal) is probably the most elegant shopping galleria you can find in Europe with its gold decorations, mosaic floor and elegant marble staircases.






Stadsfeestzaal is now open for public as a shopping galleria, but it used to be a festival hall for statesmen, such as the king. It was also used for exhibitions and markets. It was during a market in 2000 that the place took fire and only the iron skeleton remained. Since it was a historical building, it was not allowed to tear the building down. Instead it was rebuilt after the 1906 plans, much of joy for the visitors today!






Osterrieth Huis, a baroque building on Meir






Paleis op der Meir, a former royal palace from the 18th century, siuated on Meir. It opened to pubilc in 2010, after a long renovation. This rococo building had the status as a royal residence until 1969.


Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege















KBC Tower was built 1929-32 and was Europe's first skyscraper. Unfortunately the facade was covered by scaffolds during our visit, making it impossible to take good pictures of the exterior. Such a pitty, really annoying!


KBC Tower (middle), or Boerentoren, is considered to be Europe's first skyscraper, and was the tallest building in Europe upon completion in 1932. This art deco building is here seen from Meir. KBC Tower is 97m tall and has 27 floors, Antwerp's tallest building after the cathedral and the tallest highrise. It is situated near Groenplaats, at the westernmost edge of Meir. Unfortunately scaffold covered the building at the time of our visit in 2014, because of renovations...


http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp_City2.html

[SHiRO]

Great pics as always! Seems like you caught the city on a bad day, Antwerpen is actually a very "happening" city right now.

I like Antwerpen, was there just yesterday (though not the city center) and although it's not big and busteling like Brussels or anything, it's not like Gent or Brugge either. It's comparable in stature to The Hague, Cologne, Dusseldorf, cities like that.

[Nightsky]

Originally Posted by SHiRO

Great pics as always! Seems like you caught the city on a bad day, Antwerpen is actually a very "happening" city right now.

I like Antwerpen, was there just yesterday (though not the city center) and although it's not big and busteling like Brussels or anything, it's not like Gent or Brugge either. It's comparable in stature to The Hague, Cologne, Dusseldorf, cities like that.

The traffic is really bustling and main streets like Meir. But in most areas in the city center I felt that Antwerp was really quiet for its size, it felt like a much smaller city (it was on a monday and the weather was ok so I was a bit surprised that it was so empty in the city center, even on town hall square there were only a few tourists). But its a nice city anyway.

[Nightsky]

GROENPLAATS:

Groenplaats (Green Place) is situated just one block from Grote Markt, with the Cathedral of Our Lady in between. On this is a large square here you will also find the Rubens statue, the Hilton hotel, the Grand Bazar shopping mall and several restaurants, cafés and stores.


Groenplaats might not as be as green as the name suggests, but at least there are some trees here and you can find a lot of beer cafés here. Until the 18th century, Groenplaats was the city's main cemetery. View towards the Cathedral of Our Lady (read more about it in part 1), that is the largest gothic church in the BeNeLux.


Petro Paulo Rubens Statue, erected in 1843, and the Hilton Antwerp. Rubens is probably Antwerp's most famous citizen of all times, he lived in the 16th and 17th centuries and was a baroque painter.


Groenplaats. To the left is the Rubens statue and to the right is the Hilton hotel, housed in a historic classicist building that used to be a derlict 1920s department store.









http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp_City2.html

[Nightsky]

HET STEEN (THE STONE):


Het Steen (The Stone), the oldest building in Antwerp, is a 800 years old castle that is situated right next to River Schelde (Scheldt) and Jordaenskaai, next to the Old Town. It is a significant building, once home to the oldest neighbourhood in Antwerp, with narrow streets, gates and towers. Until the end of 2008 Het Steen was home to the National Maritime Museum (now relocated to MAS), in 2012 it reopened as a place for childrens activities, called "Hetsteen der wijzen".


"Lange Wapper" is one of Antwerp's most famous statues. Lange Wapper was a figure in Antwerp folklore that could grow to the size of a giant, that liked to tease people. The sculpture was created by Albert Poels in 1962.






The bridge at Steenplein has great views over the Old Town and River Scheldt. It is situated between Schelde and Jordaenskaai. The lion sculpture is significant


Jordaenskaai is the busy boulevard that is parallel to the River Schelde, and passes just a few blocks from Grote Markt. Along the street you will find a mix of modern residential buildings and old buildings in Flemish renaissance style.




Views of the Old Town and the Cathedral of Our Lady from the bridge at Stenplein, above Jordaenskaai.


Loodsgebouw (the towering renaissance harbour building) and Noorderteras (front left). Situated at Tavernierkaai next to the river, North of the Old Town, here seen from Steenplein.

http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp_City3.html

[Nightsky]

VEEMARKT, VLEESHUIS, SINT-PAULUS:


Vleeshuis (Butchers Hall) is a 500 year old gothic building. Since 2006 it is a music museum called "City Sounds Museum".














Sint-Paulus Kerk (St Paul's Church) is a partly gothic, partly baroque church, built in 1571 by a Dominican order. It is larger and taller then it appears in this photo.






St-Jacobskerk (St James Church) is one of Antwerp's largest churches. It is famous for the tomb of PP Rubens, that is situated inside. There are also painting by Rubens inside, and by van Dycke and van Balen.




Sint Antoniuskerk (St Anthony Church), is a tall church situated in the Northeast edge of central Antwerp. It is neo-gothic and 78m tall.

http://www.worldtravelimages.net/Antwerp_City3.html

[Danny]

Enjoyed this tour! Thanks for sharing, Nightsky!

I like the architecture of Antwerp. It has very beautiful stone buildings. It looks a quaint and pretty city.

Congrats and greetings from Madrid, Spain.

[ColDayMan]

Just wow.

[mousquet]

So as a Catholic, I'm fully entitled to make fun of Catholic Flanders.

Originally Posted by Nightsky

Originally Posted by Nightsky

Yay! Joy to the world! Guys crucified all over the public space.

Of course, it's a nice town, tho.

[Nightsky]

^^^Yes, I noticed that! It's very cool, and I noticed there are really a large amount of sculptures all over the city center.

[mousquet]

I know. The sarcasm rather went to the church and not to the Flemish in particular. I for one find that kind of crosses has been overly used, although it might well be meaningful sometimes... Also, bare crosses are softer. I'd rather see less crosses and more skillful Christian teaching anyway.

Did you notice Flanders was doing pretty good and sophisticated these days? Although supposed somewhat conservative and despite today's Belgian issues, I hear they're sometimes praised for their lifestyle and skills over here. Did you go to Bruges by any chance? It's smallish but feels very nicely intimate as a town widely developed in the Middle-Ages. A fine stop when you fly back to Benelux.

[Nightsky]

Originally Posted by mousquet

I know. The sarcasm rather went to the church and not to the Flemish in particular. I for one find that kind of crosses has been overly used, although it might well be meaningful sometimes... Also, bare crosses are softer. I'd rather see less crosses and more skillful Christian teaching anyway.

Did you notice Flanders was doing pretty good and sophisticated these days? Although supposed somewhat conservative and despite today's Belgian issues, I hear they're sometimes praised for their lifestyle and skills over here. Did you go to Bruges by any chance? It's smallish but feels very nicely intimate as a town widely developed in the Middle-Ages. A fine stop when you fly back to Benelux.

I didn't have time to visit Brugges or Ghent. The focus was on Brussels and the Graspop festival, and Antwerp was like an extra daytrip. Next time.