Antwerp is not attempting to be the following Paris or Amsterdam, and that is exactly its appeal. This Belgian port metropolis, usually bypassed for its flashier neighbors, has quietly turn out to be one in all Europe’s most intriguing city locations. Structure is a balancing act right here, from previous buildings that would give Florence a run for its cash to the Museum aan de Stroom, a placing stack of purple sandstone and glass bins. And let’s not overlook Antwerp Central Station (Antwerpen-Centraal railway station)—a cathedral to transportation that is value a go to even in case you’re not catching a prepare to London or Brussels.
Well-known for its centuries-old diamond commerce—town nonetheless handles over 80 p.c of the world’s tough diamonds, making it the biggest diamond district—Antwerp concurrently dazzles with its avant-garde vogue scene. Better of all, although, is how Antwerp is sufficiently big to have distinct, gem-hiding quarters, but not so huge as to be overwhelming. The historic metropolis middle is compact sufficient to discover on foot, with every neighborhood boasting its personal distinct character. The medieval core round Grote Markt gives snapshots of Flemish historical past, whereas the fashionable Zuid district pulses with gallery openings and pop-up eating places.
However Antwerp’s actual gems? Its folks. Antwerpenaars, as locals are identified, embody a singular mix of Flemish pragmatism and cosmopolitan aptitude. Fiercely happy with their metropolis and refreshingly down-to-earth, they personify the right mix of cosmopolitan cool and small-town appeal. As native journey professional Tanguy Ottomer places it: “Antwerp is a cosmopolitan metropolis with the appeal of a small village.” He isn’t improper.
Within the years forward, Antwerp is poised for even higher heights. With the KMSKA artwork museum again in motion after a decade-long renovation, the Rubens Home (Rubenshuis) present process its personal huge revamp set for 2027 and vogue academy MoMu upholding the legacy of the “Antwerp Six”—a gaggle of designers who graduated from the Royal Academy of Fantastic Arts within the Nineteen Eighties and put Antwerp on the style map—town continues to encourage new generations of creatives. Whether or not you are admiring the work of nice masters in a world-class museum, sampling cutting-edge delicacies or just people-watching in a picturesque sq., Antwerp gives a fascinating mix of old-world appeal and modern cool. It is a metropolis that proves you possibly can have your waffle and eat it too—custom and innovation, facet by facet.
