A Tour of Antwerp
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Welcome to Antwerp!
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 – 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.
In the tour that I offer we visit the old city center, from the Grand Market Place with the statue/ fountain of Brabo and the many historical guild houses to the Onze Lieve Vrouw Cathedral with its authentic Rubens paintings. I will show you the charming somewhat hidden places such as De Vlaeykensgang where you can get a feel of what life was back in the Golden Age of Antwerp, all the nice vintage shops in de Hoogstraat and Kammenstraat in the fashion district.
I'll be glad to point you to the Rubens House or one of the other great museums, but if you really want to get a taste of Antwerp, we'll visit one of the markets, take a tram to the magnificent Central Station or perhaps visit the diamond district.
It's up to you!
Training & Qualifications
I've been living in Antwerp for 15 years and still love to discover new experiences.
I travelled around the world and have always enjoyed contacts with local people to show me the best places - not necessarily the ones where all the tourists go...
Availability & Preferences
Weekends.