Antwerp Holiday
Forget waffles, the glorious city of Antwerp is Belgium's main attraction.
Holidaying in Antwerp shatters the misguided holiday makers impression that Belgium is about as interesting as a soggy waffle.
Its glorious history, glamorous bars and equally chic and fabulous shopping makes it one of Europe's most up and coming holiday destinations.
Not as quaint as Bruges, as tacky as Blankenberge or as overwhelming as Brussels, Antwerp has an allure all of its own.
From the heart of the old city around the Grote Markt to the banks of the Scheldt river and the hip bars of the old Bonaparte dock area, Antwerp knows how to show visitors a good time.
In its heyday in the 16th century Antwerp was a trading hub as well as a cultural centre. Famous artists like Rubens and Van Dyck painted here and the Rubenshuis, where the artists lived, is one of the city's greatest attractions.
The heart of the old city around the Grote Markt is similarly popular and its cathedral is also a major attraction. The latter dominates the city and inside is a veritable treasure trove of Rubens paintings and a statue of the Virgin Mary.
Holiday makers who like nothing better than strolling around new and interesting cities will love Antwerp. There's loads to do on the cultural front and if it's museums you're after, the city is positively brimming with them, covering everything from the golden age to fashion.
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts definitely merits a visit as does the MoMu fashion museum, which is a celebration of the city's status as an epicentre of cutting-edge design.
A further nod to the city's fashionable side is the number of boutiques which have sprung up, making its shopping facilities a challenge to Brussels' well-loved shopping districts.
Alongside fashion, culture and beautiful surroundings, good food also features heavily in Antwerpaan life, blowing dim preconceptions of Belgium's cuisine firmly out of the water.
Seafood and fish feature heavily on the menus of the city's restaurants, which are concentrated mainly along Suikerrui and Grote Markt. Maritime is famous for its mussels and sole and is a safe bet for a great meal. The general rules is not to be drawn in for lurid tourist traps and head for smaller, more tucked away establishments.
For some chic post-dinner drinks head for the old Bonaparte area where you will find cool bars scattered among hip loft conversions.
The best times to visit are spring when the Printemps Baroque du Sablon (22-30 April) brings the streets alive with chamber music around the upmarket antiques district, the Grand Sablon.
In May, when the weather should be picking up and flights are cheap, experience a taste of Brussels' love affair with jazz at the ever-popular Brussels Jazz Marathon (20-22 May).
On July 7th the Ommegang takes place. It is a lively, colourful parade held every year to commemorate the entry of Charles V, the new Emperor of the Spanish Netherlands, into the city.
Antwerp has everything you need for a city break: diamonds, good food, great people and fab bars. The usual tourist fluff is there and if you can't resist having a waffle just because you're in Belgium, then why not? But for a real taste of the city it is worth delving a little deeper – you won't regret it.
