Antwerp - The Epicenter of the World’s Diamond Trade



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Getting Around Antwerp

Antwerp has a well developed public transport system hence driving on Antwerp’s somewhat congested roads is not very enjoyable. There is much construction going on at present so driving in the city is all the more cumbersome though all the major car rental agencies are well represented in Antwerp. The city is served by a network of Buses, Taxis, Trams and the Metro. De Lijn operates the city bus service.  A number of options exist for tickets one can buy a single ride ticket, a ten ride ticket or an all day pass. Buses in Antwerp operate from 6 in the morning to midnight. Taxis can be procured from the Taxi stands or they can be called. The initial flag fall for a taxi is 2.70 Euros with a subsequent per km charge of 1.20 euros.

This charge goes up to 1.86 euros at night.

The tram and metro can be accessed for an hour by using a ticket which costs one euro. This ticket can be used on all forms of public transport. There are also day passes available for unlimited travel on all forms of public transport. The metro operates from 6.30 am to midnight.

Attractions

Cathedral of  Our Lady, Grote Markt

Work on Antwerp’s most famous landmark was begun on 1352 and completed in 1520. This church with its 404 ft white stone lacework spire which is the tallest in the Benelux countries has survived many a disaster. A devastating fire in 1533 was followed by   attacks by the iconoclasts in the 16th century, damage by the French revolutionaries during which Ruben’s masterpieces that adorn the church were removed this resilient  church built in the Gothic style has withstood it all. Today the church with its seven aisles and 125 pillars is breathtaking in its beauty. On its wall are four oeuvres of the city’s favorite son Peter Paul Rubens. These works are The Raising of the Cross done in 1610, The Descent from the Cross completed in 1614, The Resurrection of Christ completed in 1612 and the Ascension of the Virgin which was done in 1626. Apart from these masterpieces one must mention Rombout’s stained glass window which is an impressive work depicting the scene of the last supper. The bells of the Cathedral peal in the manner of a carillon concert on Sunday between 3 and 4pm and on Monday between 8 and 9 pm during the months of July and August. Free guided English tours are available at the Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal during the summer and tourist heavy months of July and August.

Runbenshuis, Wapper 9-11
The three storey stone and brick home built in the Renaissance style was the home of Peter Paul Rubens. The court painter and diplomat, was well compensated for his artistic prowess and was able to build this stunning villa surrounded by an ornamental garden on a paved off canal in the city’s main commercial shopping district. He lived here from 1577 to 1640. The villa contains pieces of Roman art collected by the artist which so inspired his works, ten of which are on display in the villa including a self portrait done
when he was 47 years old.

Plantin- Moretus Museum
This museum was originally the home of Christoffe Plantiin. Plantin established a printing workshop in the mansion and produced multilingual translations of the Bible amongst other works. His grandson was a contemporary of Rubens and many of the great master’s works adorn this 34 room edifice which almost covers an entire block.  The museum has displays of rare Flemish wall tapestries, rare books and original presses and fonts. In room 4 on the ground floor are books which were banned by the clergy. Plantin,  , was accused of having printed these books and this caused him to flee to France to seek refuge in 1562.

St. Jacobskerk
Rubens is buried in the apse of this Gothic Church with its baroque interior. The church has seven chapels and it is in one of these chapels that the Rubens vault is located. The church is adorned by several works of the Belgian masters Van Dyck and Rubens as well as others.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts
This museum located on the southern edge of the Old city on the Leopold de Waelplaats has displays which comprise the largest collection of old Masters in the worlds.  This grand collection contains works of art by Jan Van Eyck, Roger van der Weyden and Rembrandt. The marble entrance hall has frescos painted by the city’s favorite son Rubens. The museum has paintings which cover five centuries.

Stadhuis
The sixteenth century town hall was constructed during the years 1561 to 1565. The town hall is fronted by a statue of a Roman soldier called Silvius Brabo who seems to be throwing an object which looks like a hand. The myth behind the statue is that a giant called Druon Antigon used to reign over the Scheldt River. The giant used to extract tolls from the sailors for the use of the river. and used  to cut off the hands of those sailors who couldn’t pay the toll. Silvius Brabo says the myth cut off the hand of the dragon and threw it into the River.  The town hall was designed by Cornelius Floris.

De Steen
This medieval fortress located on the banks of the River Scheldt dates back to the thirteenth century. It is Antwerp’s oldest building and has within its folds the National Maritime museum. The museum has exhibits of documents on river navigation and general maritime history as well as models of sailing ships of yester yore.

Mo Mu
This Antwerp Fashion  museum is housed in a restored 19th century ModeNatie building in the historic part of town,  It has exhibits of lace, clothing, haberdashery,  fabrics and tools used over the ages  for textile processing. The museum also has exhibits of works of contemporary Belgian designers such as Dries Van Nooten and Ann Demeulemeester.

Mayer Van den Bergh Museum
Located in the banking district on 19, Lange Gasthuisstraat this museum houses yet another stupendous art collection. The most famous work here is Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s ‘Dulle Griet’.

Hotels
Antwerp’s most charming hotel is the boutique hotel called ‘De Witte Lelie’ or “The White Lilly”. The hotel is owned and operated by two German sisters called Monica Bock and Dagmar Nitz- Bauer. The hotel is a modern hotel with modern amenities and stainless steel light fixtures which are combined with old world elements such 16th century rafters, antiques, marble fireplaces and works of contemporary art. The hotel is renowned for its excellent service. This hotel can be accessed for rates and availability online at www.dewittelelie.be.

Rubens Grote Markt is a hotel housed in a 16th century mansion with luxurious furnishings and an air of old fashioned coziness. This hotel can be accessed online at www.hotelrubensantwerp.be. Rubenshof is a small family run hotel which used to be the home of a Belgian cardinal. The hotel is furnished with ornate wood carvings and stained glass windows.  This hotel can be accessed online at www.rubenshof.be  for room rates and availability.

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