Tours

The old part of Antwerp is one of the most popular parts of the city. As such, most of the streets are in cobblestones and while they can be hard on your shoes and feet, walking through the old city is delightful. There's also lots of public transportation and you're sure to find a tram or bus that will get you to your destination.

The Old City and River Scheldt You should begin your tour at the Grote Markt, which is a lively square. It is dominated by the Stadhuis or the City Hall. It dates from the 16th century and was burned down by the Spanish in 1576 and then rebuilt as you see it today. After a visit there, consider having a drink in one of the many pavement terraces on the square.

Around the square and in the surrounding streets you'll see excellent examples of 16th century guild houses. One worth a visit is Vleeshuis. This Gothic building now serves as a museum and covers various disciplines including archeology, ceramics, religious arts, sculpture and coins. The collections portray what everyday life was like in the 16th century.

A few steps away from the Grote Markt is the Cathedral. Construction began in 1352 and its architecture is incredible. There are 125 pillars and the impressive spire makes it the largest church in both Belgium and Holland. In addition to its enormity and splendor, the cathedral also houses three masterpieces by Rubens. Don't miss the stained-glass window from 1503.

Sometimes referred to as Steen, the Castle Steen is Antwerp's oldest building. Built on the banks of the river Scheldt in the 13th century, this fortress has served a number of purposes over the centuries and today it houses the National Maritime Museum. Near the castle you will also find the Flandria river boats which you can take for a tour of the port of Antwerp—one of the largest in the world.

Pieter Paul Rubens

Many believe that Antwerp's most celebrated citizen was painter Peter Paul Rubens, and thus no visit to Antwerp would be complete without a visit Rubenshuis the patrician house where Rubens lived. Rubens amassed a small fortune from his paintings which allowed him to build this lovely mansion in 1610. There are several examples of his work scattered throughout the house, together with works from his contemporaries. In the dining room of the house you will find a self-portrait of Rubens that he painted when he was 47 years old.

Rubens is buried in the St. Jacobskerk or St. James's Church. His vault is in the Rubens Chapel. Several of Rubens works are here as well as some from Van Dyck and other prominent artists. However to see more Rubens works than anywhere else in the city, check out the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. This museum in an impressive neo-classical building in the south of the city has a fine collection of paintings from the Flemish masters that is unlike any other. Besides the rooms devoted to Rubens, you will find works that span five centuries including Van Eyck, the Bruegel family, Hals, Rembrandt and Permeke.

The Zoo and Central Station

The Zoo is an amazing park that covers 25 acres. It stands out as a real treasure in Antwerp and is somewhat art nouveau. It is located adjacent to the Central Station and you will find a large collection of animals that come from around the world. There is also a museum of natural history, a winter garden, deer park and Egyptian temple that houses elephants. The station building is an exceptional piece of architecture which is being renovated and redeveloped to accommodate the super-fast train link between Brussels and Amsterdam. The diamond center is also situated in this area.