Antwerp
Antwerp, the diamond capital of the world, is settled at the banks of the Scheldt, some 90 kms inland from the coast of the North Sea. With the trademark cobbled roads, historical heritage, excellent bars and restaurants, this cosmopolitan, down to earth city is full of fascinating architecture and historical institutions. With its wonderful old town and modern buildings, Antwerp is the perfect example of a successful combination of tradition and innovation.
For more information on Antwerp, please visit the city’s official website https://www.visitantwerpen.be/en.
Did you know?
- In the Museum Plantin-Moretus, the two oldest printing presses in the world, dating from around 1600, are exhibited. The original lead type of fonts such as Garamond, the Gutenberg Bible and ancient manuscripts are also on display and tell the story of how writing evolved into the art of printing.
- 85 percent of the world's rough diamonds pass through Antwerp annually.
- Antwerp is the home of Peter Paul Rubens, the famous 16th-17th--century Baroque painter.
- The city is also the place of the world's oldest stock exchange building, originally built in 1531 and re-built in 1872.
