Antwerp Travel Guide

Address: Cathedral of Our Lady, Handschoenmarkt, 2000 Antwerp

Antwerp's Cathedral of Our Lady, or Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal in Flemish, is one of Northern Europe's largest Gothic cathedrals. Work on the cathedral began in 1351, and in many ways construction was never really finished. While the bulk of the building was complete in 1521, only one spire was built. In addition to its massive size being a reason to visit, the cathedral also houses several important paintings by Peter Paul Rubens as well as other artists, and a marble Madonna created in the 14th century.

Because the Cathedral of Antwerp has never really been declared "done," it's been added to on and off throughout its existence. This has the effect of leaving traces of different architectural styles in different places around the church - from Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque and so on.

Guided tours of the Antwerp Cathedral are available throughout each day at different times and in different languages. Please consult the ticket booth for times.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00-17:00; Saturday, 10:00-15:00; Sunday and public holidays, 13:00-16:00

Admission: ?2 for individual visitors, ?1.50 for individuals in groups of 20+ people, children under 12 are free (prices are going up at the beginning of January to ?4 for an individual and ?2 per person in a group)

Address: Steenplein 1 B-2000 Antwerp

"Het Steen" literally means "The Stone," but it's also the name of Antwerp's oldest building - the castle which was once part of the city's fortifications. It dates back to about the year 1200 and boasts a nice location right along the river Schelde. This used to be ideal for defending the city, though now it just makes for pretty pictures.

The fortification of Het Steen, once known as Antwerp Castle, has served many purposes throughout the years. For over 500 years, up until the early 1800s, it was partially used as a prison. Part of the building was torn down in order to complete two roads which hadn't connected up to that point. What's left of the castle has been home to the National Maritime Museum since 1952. The museum contains model ships, nautical instruments, and nautical art and photographs. Outside the castle there are actual ships and canal barges on display which visitors can see.

Guided tours of the Maritime Museum are available throughout the day, please check at the ticket booth for times and languages.

Hours: Maritime Museum: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00-17:00; closed Mondays (except for Easter Monday and Whit Monday), Jan. 1-2, May 1, Ascension Day, Nov. 1-2, Dec. 25-26
The Maritime Park next to the museum is open from 10:00-16:45, Easter-October

Admission: €4 individuals - discounts for groups, students, unemployed people

Address: Vrijdagmarkt 22-23 2000 Antwerpen

The Plantin-Moretus Museum is in the home of the former printing press of the two men for whom it's named - Christoffel Plantijn and Jan Moretus. In addition to the building serving as their print shop, Plantin Press, it was also where they lived. It's located in the historic center of Antwerp, in the Friday Market area. The museum has two of the world's oldest printing presses as well as an extensive collection of printed works and is a delight for visitors, even those who are not already fascinated by the printing process.

In addition to the prized old printing presses, the library at the Plantin-Moretus Museum is splendid, as is the building itself. Plantin Press was begun in 1555, so the building simply oozes history. Since it served not only as a work space but also a residence, a tour of the building allows visitors to see the richly decorated house as it looked when the family actually lived there. The entire archives of the business are kept here as well. The museum and the building itself were added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2002.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00-17:00; closed Mondays (except Easter Monday and Whit Monday), Jan. 1-2, May 1, Ascension Day, Nov. 1-2, Dec. 25-26

Admission: €6 adults, €4 groups (at least 15 people) and under 26 year olds
Free admission for - under 19 year olds, over 65 year olds, handicapped people and their helpers, the last Wednesday of every month

Address: Wapper 9-11 2000 Antwerpen

Peter Paul Rubens, the famous Flemish painter, wasn't born in Antwerp but spent much of his youth in the city. He returned later in life after his mother died, and the house he designed and lived in during that period is now the Rubenshuis, or Rubens' House Museum. The villa sits in the center of Antwerp and was both Rubens' residence and his studio. It's during these years when he created many of his greatest works.

Rubens' House was bought and sold several times after Rubens died, and finally in 1937 the city of Antwerp was able to buy it and turn it into a museum. Unfortunately by that stage, the building was in a serious state of disrepair. In the restored building today are displayed 10 of Rubens' paintings as well as items which either belonged to Rubens or are from the period when he lived in the house. The villa itself is modeled after the Italian palazzos Rubens had spent time in prior to returning to Belgium, and although it was remodeled after Rubens' death it has since been restored to its original plan.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00-17:00
Closed on - Mondays (except Easter Monday and Whit Monday), Jan. 1-2, May 1, Ascension Day, Nov. 1-2, Dec. 25-26

Admission: €6 standard, €4 under 26 year olds and groups (at least 15 people)
Free admission for - under 19 year olds, over 65 year olds, handicapped people and helpers, for everyone on the last Wednesday of every month

Address: Cogels Osylei, 2600 Antwerp

The Zurenborg neighborhood of Antwerp is a bit out of the way for most visitors who are only concentrating on the historic center of the city, but if you're looking for something a little out of the ordinary you're in luck. The main street in the area, Cogels-Osylei, is lined with interesting buildings featuring often eyebrow-raising architectural designs.

The initial development of the Zurenborg was a result of the swelling population of Antwerp near the end of the 19th century. Wealthier residents wanting to escape the bustling crowds of the city center jumped at the chance to build mansions in this new suburb. In one area the buildings look like they're all somewhat similar, while in the Cogels-Osylei area each house is unique. Even the streets around the main street of Cogels-Osylei seem random. Architecture enthusiasts will certainly enjoy this area, and it can be an interesting trip on an afternoon when you're looking for something a bit off the beaten path.

You can get a tour of the Zurenborg area, or you can get out there on your own by taking tram #11 or bus #34. Both stop at Cogels-Osylei. You can also take a train from Antwerp Centraal station and be at the Berchem-Antwerp station, which is on the border of Zurenborg, in about five minutes.

Hours: Neighborhood streets, always open

Admission: Free to wander the streets; bus, tram, or train fare to get there