Traditions and culture in Antwerp

Antwerp began its transformation from a provincial Belgian town into a major economic powerhouse in the 16th century, when traders from across the world started to bring their wares to the city.

Though overshadowed for many years by nearby Amsterdam, the trading culture of the past has gifted Antwerp with some of the most fascinating architecture in Europe, particularly in its historic centre.

In recent years, the city has attracted a large number of artists, writers and intellectuals, giving it a truly bohemian feel.

As such, amid the numerous churches and museums, contemporary bars, clubs and restaurants serve as a focal point for the booming Flemish arts and cultural scene, offering visitors the perfect mix between the old and the new.

Things to do in Antwerp

The compact nature of Antwerp's historic centre makes it an ideal place to wander around on foot, with most of the main tourist attractions within a few minutes of each other.

Historic highlights of an Antwerp holiday include the massive Gothic masterpiece of the Cathedral of Our Lady, the City Hall and the Old Market Square over which it looms, and the 19th century Antwerp Zoo.

For visitors of a cultural-bent, the former house of Flemish painter Rubens now serves as a museum to his life and work and the nearby

Plantin Moretus museum is dedicated to the lesser-known Christoffel Plantin and is widely known as the finest museums dedicated to the printing industry in the world, while it's also well worth taking a tour of the city's working port, which remains one of the world's busiest.

Aside from the history, Antwerp is also a shopping paradise, with 70 per cent of the world's diamonds passing through the city's Diamond District, just to the south of the main railway station.

As well as jewellery shops, this neighbourhood also boasts a large number of top-end restaurants, bars and hotels, though the 'hidden street of Vlaeykensgang' is a much more fascinating place to while away an afternoon or evening.

Weather in Antwerp

As with the rest of the Benelux region, Antwerp receives heavy levels of rainfall most of the year round.

While the winter months can be bitter, with this made worse by the coastal winds, summers can be pleasant and temperatures of up to 28 degrees Celsius not uncommon.

Destination checklist for Antwerp

Antwerp has a population of 460,000

The city is one hour ahead of GMT

The official languages spoken in Belgium are Dutch, French and German

The official currency of Antwerp is the Euro

The city's international dialling code is +32