Mice Belgium antwerp
Mice Belgium
  • Antwerpen-Centraal (Antwerp Central) is the name of the main railway station in the Belgian city of Antwerp. The station is operated by the national railway company NMBS
  • Meir is the main shopping street in Antwerp, Belgium. Only the Nieuwstraat / Rue Neuve avenue in Brussels is a more important shopping area in the country. Situated in the centre of Antwerp, Meir connects the Town Hall with the Central Station. Between 2002-2004 it was the most expensive shopping street in the Benelux. Since the opening of the historic Stadsfeestzaal-shopping center in 2007 the Meir regained that position. It has the highest rents of any street in Belgium, at 1,700 €/square metre/year.[1] The name comes from the old Dutch word "meere" (lake). The Meir used to be a so-called "wood lake" (houtmeer), where wood destined for use in furniture would be kept wet for a time.
  • The Grand Place (or 'Grote Markt') of Antwerp is the most famous square in the city. The historic centre of Antwerp is located around the main square and the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral. Around the Grand Place are the famous guild houses, the city hall and numerous restaurants and cafes. Every winter a nice Christmas market and an ice rink are located on the square. 

According to a 16th century legend Antwerp owes its name to the giant Druon Antigoon who chopped of the hands of the sailors who did not want to pay toll and who cast them in the Scheldt river. On the Grand Place you will see a statue of the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo who supposedly did the same to the giant after he had slain him. The statue was made by Jef Lambeaux who also made some statues for the gables surrounding the Grand Place, including the equestrian statue on top of the House of Spain building. This 16th century building is the largest house on the square.
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Water is and always has been the red line running through Antwerp.

‘The river Scheldt owes its existence to God, and Antwerp owes its existence to the river Scheldt’ has never rung more true than today, thanks to this waterway Antwerp is the 2nd largest harbour in Europe and the 4th in the world. The river has always brought economic prosperity with it starting in the 15th century when the port was part of town. As moats were dug to expand the city so the port grew and occupied the canals making mini harbour squares where goods were traded. The 16th century was Antwerp’s golden age, trade blossomed and the population grew. Antwerp became the economic heart of Europe. The facts and figures are impressive, and the harbour too, it has a total area of 14,055 ha making it the largest general cargo port in Europe. It’s also the fastest port in the world, an enviable title to hold. The port provides work for 57,200 people and boasts the largest lock in the world, the ‘Berendrecht’. The Port of Antwerp handles 167 million tonnes of cargo per year.

With its recent investment in the cruise ships infrastructure, such as the restructuring of the Scheldekaai, the purchase of a worldclass automatic gangway and the construction of the cruise terminal and coach parking, the city and the port have realised their vision as a harbour for tourism. The future shines bright on the Scheldt.

MARITIME HISTORY

‘t Steen

The 12th century fortress ‘‘t Steen’ lies within 3 minutes’ walk from the gangway. Originally built as part of the city’s protective walls, the legend of Brabo (see below) tells that the giant of Antigoon lived in ‘t Steen. In 1520 Charles V renovated it and placed his coat of arms above the door. When the Dutch modernised the harbour in 1863 they pulled down a large part of the historic city and left only ‘t Steen standing. Today it stands proud as Antwerp’s oldest building.

The Legend of Brabo

The fearsome giant Antigoon used to roam the waters at the bend of the Scheldt, collecting taxes from each passing ship. Those who refused had their hand cut off. As with all good legends a knight in shining armor called Silvius Brabo put an end to the giants reign by killing him, chopping off his hand and throwing it into the river Scheldt. Hence the name ‘Hantwerp’, meaning hand throwing, in time it became ‘Antwerp’. And so Brabo became a hero, with a statue on the Grote Markt (market square).

‘t Eilandje

On similar lines to the docklands of London and Barcelona, the harbour is being magically transformed into a hip and happening focal point in the busy city. The piece de resistance is undoubtedly the 62m high Museum aan de Stroom (MAS), which will also contain a quay for visiting ships. It will become an architectural beacon for the 21st century and an international meeting place. But there is more to it than just MAS…

Docks of Napoleon

The origin of the present day ‘Eilandje’ goes back to Napoleon. From a military viewpoint – he had his eyes firmly on the harbor of Antwerp so in the beginning of the 19th century he dug out the Bonaparte Dock. The Willem Dock followed a year later. After the fall of Napoleon the new infrastructure was gratefully used to renew trade and industry and a time of good fortune followed. It was not long when the ships started getting bigger and another dock - ‘Kattendijk Dock’ was built to the north. The city centre developed around the harbour and dock and city life mixed effortlessly. The area became an island within the city and hence ‘‘t Eilandje’ was named. As far as the future is concerned, the Bonaparte Dock is to be named as a museum dock for historic ships and the Willem Dock will be expanded to create a modern yacht harbour.

 WarehouseS

There are a great number of warehouses that remind us of days gone by when carriages rattled over the cobbles between the harbour and the city centre, carrying merchandise to the traders on the shore. These architectural wonders now stand as testimony to the changing times and form part of the new Eilandje development. As for future plans, the old cranes (harbor cathedrals) are to be restored. The Red Star Line exhibition centre soon to be found at the end of the Rijnkaai tells the tale of 3 million Europeans who emigrated to the US via Antwerp between 1850 and 1935. Finally The Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ballet of Flanders have also recently moved into the harbour complex. Since 1976 the St Felix Warehouse on the Willem Dock has been a protected monument, for good reason. This warehouse stands as one of the most outstanding examples of warehouses from the 19th century. Designed and built in 1859 by the architect Félix Pauwels, the situation of the warehouse was perfect. One gable looks out at Willem Dock, the other gable backed onto a goods  station and railway line on Oudeleeuwenrui. This warehouse was therefore perfect for the storage of all sorts of goods like grain, tobacco, cheese, shoes for a short or long term. Godefridus Warehouse, embellished with amazing gables and even a half forgotten stone carved statue of Hermes the Greek god, is another remarkable warehouse. Since 2000, Dries Van Noten, the fashion designer, has been resident here. 

Facts & Figures
Population
470,913 inhabitants

Surface area
10,466 ha

Climate
Temperate maritime climate
Average maximum temperature: 13.9°C
Average minimum temperature: 6.3°C