Antwerp

The largest city and the capital of the province of Flanders is also known as the diamond capital of the world. Antwerp is both a city and a municipality with a population of over 475,000 called “Sinjoren” (derived from the Spanish word “senor” which means mister).

There are several theories about the origins of the name of Antwerp. One is that it came from the Dutch word “aan de werpe” meaning “at the throw” denoting its location near the Scheldt river. Another comes from a tale about a mythical creature (Antigoon) who had terrorized everyone who tried to cross the river until a young hero came and cut the giant’s hand and threw it to the river. There is even a sculpture built outside the city town hall that commemorates this folklore. And still another theory is that the name came from the Latin word “antverpia” which refers to the location of the city within a former curve of the river.

The historical city of Antwerp is said to have been in existence since the mid-2nd century, based on archaeological artifacts found within the area near Scheldt. The first settlers were the Germanic Franks in the 4th century. It rose to economic importance in the 15th century when foreign trading houses were moved from Bruges to the city, and its port saw the influx of cargo ships and foreign merchants living in the city. In its golden age, Antwerp was the richest city in Europe. However, in the late 16th century, the city was laid to ruins when it was occupied by the Spanish. The port was destroyed and trading became impossible. The late 19th century saw Antwerp reviving itself after centuries of political wars and civil unrest. Efforts continued until the 20th century when Antwerp once again became a major European port and the hub of diamond trading in the world. As well population has steadily increased with the availability of economic opportunities and livelihood.

Today, Antwerp is a bustling city known for attracting creative people such as artists, writers and actors. The Antwerp School is a movement of artists started in the 16ht century and which produced great talents like Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens. This tradition is continued until now with many local artist exhibitions happening in the city. Aside from this, Antwerp is also gaining a strong foothold in the world fashion scene. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts has produced fine Belgian fashion designers such as the avant garde group, Antwerp Six.

In terms of food and local products, Antwerp is known for the following items: the Bolleke, an amber-colored beer which is the center of a festival done every August, the Bollekesfeest; the Elixir d’Anvers, a herbal liquor, and Antwerpse handjes, handmade biscuits made with almonds or chocolate.

Whilst Antwerp may not have as many historical sites and monuments as preserved and kept well intact as in Brussels or Bruges, it does have a number of interesting attractions that give the city a unique combination of modernity and old world elegance. The Grote Markt (Old Market Square) for instance is the historical center of the city where many medieval-style guild houses can still be found.  Gorenplaats (Green Place) is another prominent promenade place in the city. The square used to be the city’s main cemetery area but has now been converted into a tourist destination with several cafes, hotels and a department store.

Other landmarks and monuments include:

• Medieval churches and cathedrals such as the Cathedral of Our Lady, the ornately designed Saint James Church, the Baroque style Church of Saint Paul and the Anglican Saint Boniface Church. \
• The Boerentoren (Farmer’s Tower) which is the first skyscraper in Europe, done in the Art Deco style. It now houses the KBC which is the largest bank in Flanders.
• Rubenshuis. This was the residence and workshop of the famous Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens
• Plantin Moretus Museum. The 16th century printing shop of Christoffer Plantin has been converted into a museum that houses a collection of all his printing equipment as well as important manuscripts including the original Gutenberg Bible. The museum has been inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Bourla Theater. Opened in 1834, it is considered to be one of Belgium’s most beautiful structures. It was designed by French architect Pierre Bourla in the Neo-classical style and with ornate decorations – the top was adorned with the statues of Apollo and the nine muses and there are 17 bust sculptures of the “heroes of literary and musical drama.” Today it houses a theater company, and the foyer is opened for brunches on the weekdays.