Sightseeing OverviewThe atmospheric
Historisch Centrum (historic center) of Antwerp clusters around the two squares of Grote Markt and Groenplaats. The former features the landmark
City Hall from 1565, the statue of
Brabo (the giant-slayer, an icon of the town) and a row of beautifully restored 16th-century guild houses which tower up to seven storys - one of which is home to the tourist office.
Groenplaats, a few yards away, is dominated by the
cathedral, the Hilton hotel and a statue of
Rubens. The artist is ubiquitous in Antwerp yet it is
the house of his benefactor, now the
Plantin-Moretus Museum, which is the most compelling sight in town and which best sums up the Golden Age of Antwerp in the 16th century.
Immediately west of Grote Market is the river and the embarkation point for
boat trips, while Ouder Koornmarkt leads south to the
fashionable shopping streets of Kammenstraat and Nationalestraat, the
Fashion Museum, the
Fine Arts Museum and the trendy
Zuid quarter.
Running west from Groenplaats, Meir is a mix of regal 18th- and 19th-century buildings interspersed with 20th-century mediocrity and dozens of shops, terminating at Centraal station.
Tourist InformationToerisme Antwerpen Grote Markt 13
Tel: (03) 232 0103.
Website:
www.antwerpen.be Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1745, Sun and holidays 0900-1645.
There is also an information desk at Koningin Astridplein 26, outside Centraal station (same opening hours and contact details).
Key Attractions:Plantin-Moretus Museum This fascinating 16th-century World Heritage-listed patrician house-cum-office-cum printing works (the world’s first) is Antwerp’s finest and most unexpected visitor attraction, reaching well beyond the history of publishing to portray the birth of a whole new technology and the lifestyle of the city in its Golden Age.
Vrijdagmarkt 22
Tel: (03) 221 1450.
Website:
http://museum.antwerpen.be/plantin_moretus Rubenshuis (Rubens’ House) The artist’s home and studio from 1611 until his death in 1640, this atmospheric building includes 10 works by the great man plus many more period paintings and objets d’art from his contemporaries.
Wapper 9-11
Tel: (03) 201 1555.
Website:
http://museum.antwerpen.be/rubenshuis Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Royal Museum of Fine Arts) A collection fit to grace any world capital, housed in a huge classical building, spanning 600 years from the 14th century to the present day; upstairs for Old Flemish and Dutch Masters, downstairs for modern art and temporary exhibitions.
Leopold De Waelplaats
Tel: (03) 238 7809.
Website:
http://museum.antwerpen.be/kmska Diamantmuseum (Diamond Museum) The history and romance of diamonds, including how and why Antwerp controls 80% of the world’s rough diamonds market and 50% of its polished diamond market. There is a diamond cutter at work Monday to Friday.
Koningin Astridplein 19-23
Tel: (03) 202 4890.
Website:
www.diamantmuseum.be Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady) Described as ‘lacework in stone’, the largest gothic cathedral in the Low Countries (and still Europe’s tallest gothic church) was completed in 1521 and is adorned by Rubens masterpieces of which the
Raising of the Cross and the
Descent from the Cross are the best known. It has become the symbol of the city and is a stunning sight by night when floodlit.
Groenplaats 21
Tel: (03) 213 9951.
Website:
www.dekathedraal.be Further Distractions:Mode Museum/MoMu (Fashion Museum) In addition to its permanent collection of clothing, lace, embroidery, fabrics and artisans’ tools, MoMu organizes two thematic cutting-edge exhibitions every year.
Nationalestraat 28
Tel: (03) 470 2770.
Website:
www.momu.be Antwerp Zoo Built in 1843, this is one of the oldest and most famous zoos in the world, housing over 6,000 animals representing 750 species.
Konigin Astridsplein 26
Tel: (03) 202 4540.
Website:
www.zooantwerpen.be
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