The provincial capital of Antwerp is located on the Scheldt in the Flemish region and has about 500,000 inhabitants..

 

Although the city was first mentioned in documents in 726 AD, there was already a Roman settlement on the Scheldt in the 2nd century AD.. At the beginning of the 12th century, under the rule of the Dukes of Brabant, Antwerp was granted city rights.. Thanks to the marina´s excellent location, the city flourished in the 14th century..
Over the centuries, Antwerp was ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, the Habsburgs and the Dutch, and the city lost its importance.. The boom did not start again until 1863, when Antwerp was already part of the Kingdom of Belgium..

     

With four diamond exchanges, Antwerp is the most important trading center for diamonds.. 60% of the rough diamonds are still traded here today.. The main industry of the city employs about 27,000 people in 1,600 companies..

The port of Antwerp is not located on the open sea but at the mouth of the Scheldt River about 80 km from the sea.. The port covers an area of ​​130.57 km² and is the third largest port in Europe.. The Vorhafen at the North Sea is Vlissingen in the Netherlands..

     

Sights:
* Boerentoren, Schoenmarkt 35, On the occasion of the World´s Fair 1930, the peasant´s tower became the first skyscraper in Europe built..

* Central Station, Koningin Astridplein

* Het Steen Castle, Steenplein 21st Oldest Building in town, Maritime Museum

* Cathedral of Our Lady, Handschoenmarkt

* St. Jakobskirche, Lange Nieuwstraat 73, Grave church of Peter Paul Rubens

* Harbor cruise, Havenkaai 14,

* Rubens House, Wapper 9-11, open from 10. 00-17.. 00 clock, Monday closed.. The museum is housed in the former home and studio Peter Paul Rubens

* MoMu / Fashion Museum, Nationalestraat 28, open from 10:00 to 18:00..
Closed Mondays

* Mayer van den Bergh Museum, Lange Gasthuisstraat 19, open from 10 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays.. Paintings, sculptures, tapestries, drawings and engravings from the private collection of Fritz Mayer van den Bergh..

* Museum aan de Stroom, Hanzstedenplaats 1, open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed Mondays

* Diamond Museum, Hanzestedenplaats 1, open from 10:00 to 17:00 , Closed on Monday

     


~halifax7~halifax7~, 2014-11-04