Likes & Dislikes

Opinions

“Here, led around by an audio guide, I was able to learn a lot of information about the production of Belgian chocolate, the role of Antwerp in the production and delivery process, and at the end, I could taste various melted chocolates. Ultimately, it's a good activity even though the entrance fee is a bit expensive (€18.90). Tickets can also be purchased in advance. This museum was also very good with various interactive things, but nothing can beat the Zotter factory visit in Austria.” (2022)

Practicals

Transport

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Food

Best place to eat a waffles: Désiré De Lille at ‘Schrijnwerkersstraat 14’

Shopping

Antwerp has several markets with at least one open on each day of the week, and at this markets you'll find foodstuffs from all over the world.

Fun

The clubs are located around Falconplein and the Antwerp Red Light District so it makes for quite an interesting walk.Café d'Anvers (which is a club, not a pub) is located between several brothels and focuses on electro/house/minimal/drum & bass/dubstep music, depending on the party that is being organised.

Public safety


In two neighborhoods north of the center, it is not too safe, due to drug dealers, members of families with Moroccan roots. There will be shootings and ‘youngsters’ bullying police patrols by throwing beer cans, eggs… At one point, you could even understand why teenagers prefer to ‘work’ for the big dealers. They make more money than their teachers.

Another problem zone is a street south of the center, where citizens of Turkish and Kurd origin are importing the political and religious troubles from their homeland. On Fridays, you might not want to walk in the streets where there are mosques. There are 57 mosques in the city.


Others

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Antwerp - Brabo Fountain - k.l. photo

Background

Antwerp - City Hall on Great Market Square (Grote Markt) - s.i. photo

Destination in brief

Population: 1,042,471 (2020) - probably the smallest multi-cultural city in the world: 164 nationalities and only half a million habitats.

Language: Born and raised 'Antwerpians' speak Dutch, though with a very specific accent you'll find nowhere else in Flanders or the Netherlands. In the city there will be some French spoken and after that probably English and Arabic or Turkish.

History

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Antwerp - The “Handelsbeurs” (New Exchange) was built in in the 16th century, and it was the first exchange ever built specifically for this use

Nowadays

Antwerp is still the diamond capital of the world but not the place where most of the diamonds are cut anymore, but well where most of the rough diamonds are traded.

  • According to some sources, 80% of the rough diamonds are still commercialized in Antwerp,

Attractions

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Antwerp - statue of a young orphan boy and his dog - based on a book (Dog of Flanders) - s.i. photo

Churches

Antwerp - Weemarkt - The St. Paul's Church (Sint-Pauluskerk in Dutch) - s.i. photo

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