About Antwerp

Official pages of the tourism office

Antwerp in a nutshell
Belgium’s second city and biggest port is Antwerp (Antwerpen/Anvers in Dutch/French) and without a doubt, this charming city is the country’s capital of cool. It’s long been a powerful magnet for everyone from fashion moguls and club queens to art lovers and diamond dealers. In the mid-16th century it was one of Europe’s most important cities and home to baroque superstar painter Pieter Paul Rubens, as you’ll be regularly reminded – there are numerous places to admire his works across the city. Despite many historical travails thereafter and severe WWII bombing, Antwerp retains an intriguing medieval heart with plenty of café-filled cobbled lanes, a riverside fortress and a truly impressive cathedral. Today Antwerp’s top drawcards are its truly vibrant fashion and entertainment scene, along with its startling architectural and cultural contrasts (Lonely Planet).

Antwerp is also the city that strongly believes that you can always do things just that little bit differently. Enjoy architectural feats such as the Antwerp Law Courts, the Bourla Theatre and MAS | Museum aan de Stroom. Treat yourself to dishes from all over the world. Explore the shopping streets with the many high-end shops and unique concept stores. Take a stroll along the River Scheldt and gaze at the port from afar. Don’t forget to visit the diamond district. And what about museums like the Rubens House, the Red Star Line Museum, Diamond Museum, Royal Arts Museum, or Museum Plantin-Moretus. With world-class collections in a unique setting. Discover why our city is different from other cities. Discover Atypical Antwerp (ArrivalGuides).