Is Antwerp worth a visit ? If one was inclined to buy a stone or two, does anyone have advice on how to shop ? Ideas, hints, secrets or help would be appreciated.

Antwerp IS definitely worth a visit! Not so much for the diamonds unless you're a trader. OK, Antwerp is world diamond centre but I don't think it's really interesting for an individual. We do have an interesting Diamond Museum, though!
Furthermore Antwerp has an incredibly beautiful historical city centre with a variety of architecture in its churches and buildings, some interesting museums (this year we will have 7 special exhibitions around the Flemish Master P.P. Rubens), cobblestoned streets, horse carriages and everything the tourists want. And a little extra for those who want more. Come and see for yourself ...

Dear Myriam. Thank you for your response to my questions about Antwerp. I was rather hoping that Antwerp might be a place to buy a nice diamond without all the stress of 47th Street in New York City.
My wife and I are staying for at least three nights in Bruges in September and I have always been fascinated (as a meer male) by the trading, mystique and value of diamonds. What is the nicest restaurant in Antwerp for a lunch as consolation if we cant find a diamond ? Thank you for your help.

SydneySteve; the diamond traders in Antwerp are all in the same area, Vestingstraat, close to Central Station. It is one of the most heavily guarded areas you will find anywhere, because of the diamonds, but also because this is the Jewish area of Antwerp. I cannot help you with advice on buying diamonds, and think Myriam is right that it is mostly for the trade, but there are lots of shops where you can have a look anyway.
For an authentic experience, try Hoffy's; a very well known Jewish restaurant in Antwerp, close to the diamond area. If this doesn't appeal, I recommend Sir Anthony van Dijck; a very Belgian restaurant, in the oldest part of town (15 minute walk from Central Station). A beautiful restaurant, great food. Dock's Cafe, on the Schelde river is also very nice.

I agree on Sir Anthony Van Dijck and Dock's Café as suggested by Tulips. Another good one (young but very good chef) is De Rooden Hoed on Oude Koornmarkt 25, in the vicinity of Our Lady's Cathedral.

As for the diamond shops, when you come out of the Central Station and you go to the left, Pelikaanstraat, you will see that this street is lined with hundreds of jewelry shops. Some have good quality, some don't.
A very reputable address for jewels is Frohmann Frères (Pelikaanstraat 54). I don't know if they sell solitaire diamonds, though.
Diamond House, Vestingstraat 59, is also known for their fair prices. I have no peresonal experience with these people. Maybe you can have a look at their website www.diamondhouse.be

SydneySteve- we have two great native to the area experts here- but let me add my two cents worth as a tourist: Antwerp is DEFINITELY worth a visit-more so in my opinion than Brussels! I have been several times, not just in summer but at Christmas time as well, which is very special. As stated, there's a lovely historical center, with an ancient cathedral, it is a center for fashion-good shopping here! An absolute cannot miss is P.P. Rubenshuis-really, you'd want to live in his house-it's that lovely!
I also echo the opinion about St. Anthony van Diijk restaurant. Really, you can't go wrong here- but I strongly urge that you go to Diamondland, which is set up as a showroom to show you the activity that goes on in the diamond district-there are slide shows that discuss the diamond trade, and how to pick a diamond, plus showrooms. WELL worth a visit!

And SydneySteve, as you're in Bruge for 3 days DO NOT pass up Ghent-it is SO lovely, with a castle in the center of the city, and St. Bavo's Cathedral where the priceless triptyph by Jan van Eck is located-also great canal side restaurants. A must-see place for Belgium!

Thank you all for all this valuable information. In tracking the genealogy of our Family name - van der Sluys, the Region has become of great interest to us. There is substantive evidence that we migrated from the area around Sluis to Cornwall or Devon in the late 17th C around the time of William of Orange. We also love many varieties of Belgian beer that we can now buy in Sydney. Thanks again.

In which case, you should visit Sluis! It's located just over the Belgian border in the Netherlands, but you probably knew that. There is a nice bicycle path from Knokke-Heist to Sluis, where you can spend the day and relax. You can rent inexpensive bicycles from Knokke.

If you're a bit sporty, I even recommend a greater bike ride (with 3 nights in Brugge you have time for that). Rent your bikes in Brugge, bike along the lovely canal to Damme, an adorable village, and then further on to Sluis.

Stardust. Thank you for the bicycle track information. We will definately do that. I will start downloading the route from Mapquest now. No diamonds in Sluis I am told, just cafes and sex shops ! If you know a good moules and frites in Sluis then please let me know. We will wash them down with a good local beer. Thanks again.

I can't believe there are sex shops in Sluis.. my mother would be turning over in her grave.

After checking some archives here and elsewhere , that is what I have learned.

There is a very well known Michelin starred restaurant in Sluis called Oud Sluis; not just sex shops! I visit Knokke very often, and there are lots of places for moules/frites. I haven't done the bicycle ride to Sluis yet, but have been told that there is a very nice restaurant right at the border of Holland/Belgium.

About the sex shops ... they're in every town at the Belgian/Dutch border. No big deal. You don't have to look at them (or go inside ) if you don't want to.
I'm not very familiar with Sluis. I know it's a busy town on Sundays when logs of Belgians cross the border for their (window) shopping as all the shops are open in Sluis on Sunday.

The bike ride we regularly make is the one from Brugge to Damme along the Damse Vaart canal. We never made it further to Sluis as there are some very fine restaurants in Damme to which we cannot resist ...

I have just viewed the Oud Sluis website - looks very good. I will also obtain a good local map and study it before we depart. Thank you

I have researched further and can see that a bicycle ride along Kanal Brugge - Sluis is probably a good day trip from Brugge via Damme. I always thought Sluis was on the coast because of the Famous Naval Battle of Sluis. Maybe it was then or it refers to the Region.

Is the journey along the canal pleasant? I guess there are no trains from Sluis back to Brugge so we should expect to ride both ways. We will take a train to Antwerp one morning to visit the diamonds. Thank you all for your help.

I have enjoyed this thread as well, and have decided to do a bike trip at least as far as Damme in August on my trip. Thanks again.

Steve, there is a direct train from Knokke to Brugge if you don't want to cycle all the way back. The train is only 15 minutes or so.

Thanks Tulips, I will go back to the map and note that. We are really looking forward to this part of our 4 continent 2 month itinerary to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Brugge/Bruges and the region has exceptionally high ratings in tourist surveys of Europe. I am also trying to find information about the Michelin 3 start restaurant in the region of Brugge called De Karmeliet if you or any of our Fodor friends have knowledge of ? Belgian beers are of great interest also - we get many brands in Sydney now, so we will also look forward to trying some of the rarer and unusual varieties with our moules and frites. Thanks again.

SydneySteve; I haven't been to the Karmeliet (yet!) but it gets consistently high ratings here in Belgium. I have been to 'Het Molentje' in Zeebrugge, not far from Brugge and thought that was excellent. Also Michelin starred (2 I think), in a very cosy country setting. The chef is a bit more adventurous than most in Belgium; I had a lobster with indian spices there.
In Knokke my favorite is Bistro de la Mer, but it's not on the seafront.
There are also very many good restaurants in Damme, which is known for its great food.
It is hard to find a bad meal anywhere in Belgium!
2 months, 4 continents? I'm jealous!!