Day 10: Antwerp

Today I decided to brave the unseasonal heat and humidity and check out Antwerp. This city of 1.1 million people is only 40 minute from Brussels by train.

And what a station to arrive at. Antwerp Central was recently ranked by Newsweek as the 4th most beautiful train station in the world. Unfortunately, it is undergoing some restoration right now which marred an otherwise fantastic scene. Above is an interior shot and below is the outside.

Like every other city or town in Belgium, Antwerp has a disproportionate number of old churches and cathedrals. Here is the Cathedral of Our Lady, which was begun in 1352.

Above and below we see statues commemorating the key folktale of the city. According to legend, Antwerp got its name after a diabolical giant named Antigoon who exacted a toll from anyone who wished to cross the Scheldt river. Antigoon supposedly chopped off the hand of anyone who refused to pay the toll and tossed it into the river. However, a Roman soldier named Brabo fought Antigoon and chopped off HIS hand instead. Hence the name: hand werpen (hand to throw) which gradually became Antwerpen. It's worth noting that this story is completely mythical and linguists have other theories about the name involving silt and rivers and such. But Antigoon and Brabo are much more exciting! Check out Wikipedia if you want more details. Check out Brabo tossing the giant's hand.

Next we turn to the guildhouses on the Grote Markt. These guilds dominated the commerce of Antwerp, which emerged as the center of the growing worldwide economy during the 16th century. Antwerp's merchents became the primary middlemen for spices, precious metals, and textiles. No other city had ever functioned as true global trade depot and Antwerp rapidly became the wealthiest city in Europe. This position would be short lived as a result of the Dutch Revolt which broke out in 1566. Antwerp ultimately returned to the Catholic fold but its economy never recovered its dominant position, which shifted north to Amsterdam.

Cool relief carving on a wall:

Another church:

It wouldn't be Belgium without odd statues of naked women: