ANTWERP, BELGIUM | 10 Awesome Things To Do In Antwerp City

What's up guys? We're here in Antwerp, Belgium. We've explored this city many times ourselves, and in this video we're going to show you our top 10 things to do here. So hope you enjoy it. Antwerp is a port city located in the north of Belgium, and it's the second largest city in the country after Brussels. Known as the diamond capital of the world, Antwerp holds a long history with its role as a leading trade center. Today, it's also known for its vibrant atmosphere, remarkable art scene, and fashion-forward character It's this incredible diversity that makes this city a unique destination to visit. In this video, we'll show you the highlights of Antwerp. Now let's dive in. We are Zach and Ina. We make helpful videos about destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures. When visiting Antwerp, you might arrive by train at the Antwerp Central Station. When you do, take some time to admire the interior design. The hall is decorated with marble columns, paintings, and a large dome. The exterior is just as impressive, made of red brick and white stone. And if you're looking for something fun to do nearby, the Antwerp Zoo is located right next to the train station. Home to numerous fashion schools, designers, and events, Antwerp is often referred to as the fashion capital of Belgium. The Meir is likely the most famous shopping avenue in the entire country. This vibrant, traffic-free boulevard has a wide variety of stores, from high-end designer boutiques to budget-friendly shops. And if you're strolling around, make sure to visit the glamorous Stadsfeestzaal, now a shopping center with a stunning interior design. The main square of Antwerp is called the Grote Markt. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, this was the center of the city's commercial activity. Today, you can find a number of important historical buildings around here, such as the Antwerp City Hall, the Brabo Fountain, the Guild Halls, and the Cathedral of Our Lady. We took a look inside the latter one, which is a beautiful gothic cathedral recognized as a world heritage site. The interior is decorated with stained glass windows and paintings of the famous 17th century painter Rubens. Here in Antwerp you can find a lot of these hands and this is because the name Antwerpen comes from handwerpen which means hand throwing. If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Antwerp, we highly recommend going on a free walking tour of the city. Stops along the way included the Butcher's Hall, the Friday Market, the Rubens House, a hidden 16th century alleyway, the St. Charles Borromeo Church, and the statue of Nello and Patrasche. Find a link to the tour that we did in the description below the video. In recent years, Antwerp has committed to becoming a greener city. As such, the city has invested in a number of new green spaces, including parks and gardens. The city park is one of the largest green spaces in the city center, which features a pond that makes for a great picnic spot. Park Spoor Noord is located on the site of a former railway yard, and is a popular spot for events and concerts. Zeedijk is one of the newest additions, and finally, the botanical garden is home to exceptional trees and flowers. Het Eilandje is a neighborhood to the south of the city center of Antwerp. It's an up-and-coming area, known for its hip bars, art galleries, museums, and shops. We love to come here for its lively atmosphere and great restaurants, serving everything from Belgian to international cuisine. Antwerp is home to a variety of excellent museums that suit all interests. We visited the Plantin-Moretus Museum, which was one of Europe's leading printing companies in the 1600s. The museum is set in a medieval building with a beautiful courtyard. Inside, you can admire the richly decorated rooms of the mansion and printing house while learning about the history of printing and the book trade. You can even see the letters and fonts that were used to stamp the pages. Other museums that are worth visiting include the Red Star Line Museum, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Photo Museum of Antwerp, Shoko Nation, the MAS, and the Rubenshuis. The MAS is located in the Eilandje district of Antwerp. It only opened its doors in 2011 and is now considered an iconic landmark of the city. Escalators take you across nine different floors, with both temporary and permanent collections, telling the story of people, history, and the future of Antwerp. And while the museum galleries aren't free to visit, the roof terrace is. From the top, you'll have a stunning view. Not only do you have some great views of the city from here, but you can also see the port of Antwerp behind me, which is one of the largest ports in Europe. Another iconic building is Fortress Sint-Andries, which has played an important role in Antwerp's history. The fortress was originally used as a defensive stronghold, but over the centuries, it's been used for a variety of purposes, including a prison, a customs house, and a city hall. The old castle wall that you can still see today dates from the 11th to 12th century and was recently renovated. Today, you can also find the Antwerp Story here, an interactive museum that tells the story of Antwerp from its origins to the present day. There's also a rooftop that looks over the river, which can be visited for free. Pakt is located just beyond the city center of Antwerp. It's an old industrial site that has been transformed into a sustainable hub of creative entrepreneurs. There are workshops, offices, a rooftop garden, and a number of culinary hotspots. The produce from the rooftop garden is used by the businesses and organizations in Pakt, as well as by local restaurants and shops. It's the perfect place to peacefully enjoy locally produced meals and drinks. The most unique thing to do in Antwerp is to visit the Rhein, a network of underground passages and canals. Originally dug in the 16th century, the canals provided Antwerp with potable water and an inland port. But later, as the canals increasingly served as sewers, they were eventually covered. Today, no more sewage is flushed into the Rhein, so you can visit them on a one and a half hour underground walk. You'll put on a protective suit at the beginning of the tour, and then discover the city's fascinating history while walking with an interactive tablet. As there's a limited number of visitors allowed, you need to book your tickets in advance. Find a link to the tour website in the description below the video. Of course, there are a few things to do in Antwerp that we didn't mention, and we've included a short list of those on the screen here for you. We also have videos on the nearby cities of Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges, so check those out if you're planning to combine them with your Antwerp visit. And if you're planning your Belgium trip, we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive travel planner. Find a discount code in the description below. We also included important links that you'll need for your Antwerp trip in the description, such as a full travel guide with where to stay and eat. We'll catch you on the next adventure.