In more than one way Antwerp is the diamond in the Flemish crown. Apart from the gothic splendors of the Cathedral of Our Lady, dating back to the fourteenth century, whose 123m spire dominates the skyline, the city is the diamond center of the world. Grouped around the Pelikaanstraat are innumerable shops, their windows glistening with gems and gold. Many of the proprietors are orthodox Jews whose traditions give an individual character to "the Jerusalem of the North". You can also take an organized trip round the Provincial Diamond Museum.
Antwerp was the home of Rubens, and his "princely" house and workshop containing many canvasses can still be seen and admired. More of his work can be appreciated in the cathedral, especially his magnificent "Crucifixion and Descent from the Cross".
Art abounds in Antwerp and after sauntering past its renaissance-style terraces in the Grote Markt, or investigating its pubs and cafes you may like to visit the Royal Museum of Fine arts which houses a comprehensive collection of Flemish and Dutch masters, as well as a selection of contemporary Belgian art, or the Plantin Moretus Museum, with its hand-operated printing presses, engravings and tapestries.
And springing out of this rich past, Antwerp’s present buzzes with all kinds of smart shops, cafes and entertainment for the modern visitor. There is the Zoo, as well as the slow-moving River Scheldt where boat trips will guide you gracefully through the bustling harbor that is also part of Antwerp’s present.
