Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

North of Brussels on the banks of the Scheldt river, Antwerp is the largest city in Flanders. Once a major port town, today it's home to the country's fashion industry. Its central neighborhoods are easily explored on foot, but you'll need to hop on a tram or bus if you want to go farther afield.

Oude Stad

Antwerp's bustling city center is concentrated in the Oude Stad on the right bank of the Scheldt River. East of the Oude Stad is Quartier Latin, a neighborhood filled with antiques stores and boutiques. Pedestrian streets and narrow cobblestone alleyways open onto lively, terrace-filled squares. Here you'll find the Grote Markt, a tribute to Flanders's Golden Age with its elaborate town hall and guild houses. Nearby is the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp's finest cathedral, and the city's favorite son's home, Rubenshuis.

The Meir, Diamantwijk & Centraal Station

The Meir, the main shopping thoroughfare, leads east from the Oude Stad to Centraal Station and the predominantly Jewish Diamantwijk area. North of the Meir is Stadswaag, and above that, Het Eilandje. Antwerp's maritime past and present infuse both of these neighborhoods; you'll find docks, the Hogere Zeevaartschool (Antwerp's School of Navigation), and many businesses that cater to shipping and yachting. Immediately south of the Meir is Sint-Andrieskwartier, known for its clothing and bric-a-brac shops.

Beyond Central Antwerp

South of the city center is Het Zuid (which you'll often see abbreviated as 't Zuid), popular for its trendy restaurants, cafés, and clubs. Its main drags are Amerikalei, Kronenburgstraat, and Waalsekaai. The residential area of Middelheim, south of Het Zuid, is full of parks. Art Nouveau homes make Zurenborg, southeast of the city center past Centraal Station, one of Antwerp's most beautiful neighborhoods.

Top Reasons to Visit

Shop 'Til You Drop. Antwerp is a sophisticated shopper's paradise, with a center that's crammed with trendy stores and designer boutiques showing off the latest creations by the region's top fashionistas. Although you may need fresh air when you catch a glimpse of some of the price tags.

Diamonds Are Forever. Shiny rocks are not just a girl's best friend in Europe's largest center of diamond trading. If you can't afford to buy, you can still admire, and watch them being cut at Diamondland.

No Struggling Artist. Vincent van Gogh may have had to barter his paintings in exchange for meals, but it's clear from a visit to Peter Paul Rubens's home that the Flemish master had no such problems earning a crust. The lovingly restored home re-creates what it would have been like when the 17th-century court painter to Archduke Albrecht was in his prime.