魅力都市

You encounter the whole world in this district of Antwerp – in the faces on the street and in shops, cafés and restaurants. From chic to ordinary, from historical to modern: this district has it all. At its heart is the majestic Central Station. Next to it is the Zoo – Antwerp’s most beautiful gardens. The diamond district is also nearby.

The old city centre is steeped in history. You will find it in ancient building-fronts on narrow streets or in the imposing Grand-Place. The Plantin-Moretus Museum is the only museum in the world to be classified as a Unesco World Heritage site. In the shadow of the Cathedral of Our Lady, the city teems with life in intimate pubs and restaurants. The banks of the Scheldt are a great place for a breath of fresh air.

Het Eilandje – ‘The Little Island’ – is so-called for good reason: Antwerp’s oldest port area is surrounded by water. Today, port activity is more concentrated in the north, but the feeling of a port is still very much present. Savour the historical atmosphere of the old loading dock with its monumental warehouses, lanterns, hangars and cobblestones. Three major attractions, MAS | Museum aan de Stroom, the Red Star Line Museum and the Port House, have once again drawn attention to the links between the city and the water.

St. Andrew's was once known as ‘the Parish of Hardship’, but those days are long since passed. The Fashion Museum is the public face of the neighbourhood, and in the Nationalestraat and Kammenstraat area vintage clothing and haute couture go hand in hand. There’s always something going on in this district. And don’t miss Kloosterstraat, with its shops full of antique treasures and bric-a-brac.