Places and things I would recommend:

First of all, you need a good map and/or city guide. Ask for it at the Tourist Information Office (address: Grote Markt - Grand Market - nr.15, B-2000 Antwerp). A map can also be obtained in every good bookshop ! (I could try to scan part of it, but that still wouldn’t be good enough...)

This is what the Tourist Office says about itself:
"All tourist information about Antwerp and its places of interest, festivities, cultural activities and accommodation is available from the Tourist Information Office. You can also make a hotel reservation here. Booklets describing walks are on sale, as are a Port Route leaflet and a complete guide to the city."

Combination ticket pay for two - visit three!

A combination ticket costs 150 BEF and provides admission to three urban museums. It is on sale at these museums.
With this ticket you can choose three museums from the following:(*)
Rubens' House,
Plantin Moretus Museum,
National Maritime Museum the 'Steen',
Butchers' Hall,
Ethnographic Museum,
Mayer Van den Bergh Museum,
Smidt Van Gelder Museum,
Folklore Museum,
Archives and Museum of Flemish Cultural Life
and Brewers' House.

(*) Personally, I prefer the ones printed in bold!!!

More information on some of these museums:

About the Rubens' House and Butchers' Hall, there's enough in my homepage, I think... (http://www.club.innet.be/~pub00756/)

Museum PLANTIN-MORETUS:


Christoffel Plantijn originally came from St.Avertin in France. Hence the French spelling in the name of the museum. He first set up shop in Antwerp as a bookbinder and leather worker around 1548, but switched to the printing trade in 1555. He moved into this building in 1576 and called it 'De Gulden Passer', meaning Ihe Golden Compass. The compass was his logo and a symbol of his motto 'labore et constantia' (work and tenacity).

He extended De Gulden Passer and at the same time had a great deal of building and conversion work carried out, but the museum as it is today is mainly the result of improvements carried out by Plantijn's grandson and most important successor, Balthasar I Moretus, in the seventeenth century.

The 'Officina Plantiniana' was the most famous printing works in Europe and a centre of humanism and learning. Justus Lipsius even had his own study here. That fame rose to even greater heights under Balthasar Moretus and his close cooperation with Rubens as illustrator.

The printing works are still in a fairly authentic state. The museum also shows the whole book production process as it was in the old davs and an enormous collection of books, printed or collected by Plantijn and the Moretusses. Moreover, visitors can admire the original interior of the patrician house; antique furniture, tapestries, damask coverings and gilded leather walls, works by Rubens, Quellin, Van Mildert, Verbrugghen, etc. The eighteenth-century east wing houses a room devoted to the poet Emile Verhaeren. The City Print Gallery also belongs to the museum.

Address: Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market), 22.
Admission: 75 BEF pp. and 30 BEF pp. for those aged 60 and over and groups of 20 persons or more. Antwerp residents and schools free (school groups only accompanied by a city guide).
Open: every day from 10-16.45 hrs, except on mondays and on January 1st and 2nd, May 1st, Ascension Day (15th of August), November 1st and 2nd, December 25th and 26th.

National Maritime Museum, the 'STEEN':


The Steen dates from around the year 1200, which makes it the oldest building in Antwerp. It was part of a fortification on the alluvial mound.

The first major alterations were made around 1520 when Charles V had the fortress renovated. The Emperor's coat of arms and his motto 'Plus Oultre' still adorn the entrance to the museum. The crucifix opposite the entrance recalls the time when the Steen was a prison: it marks the spot where those condemned to death murmured their last prayer. The fortification was largely demolished in the nineteenth century to allow the quays of the River Scheldt to be straightened.
What remains now serves as the National Maritime Museum. The fascinating collection comprises old and modern ship models, engravings, maps, maritime implements, etc.

There are also a number of ships on the dry land alongside the Steen. One of them, the Lauranda, frequently serves as a venue for exhibitions. These ships, together with the port vessels, constitute the open-air part of the National Maritime Museum.

Address: Steenplein 1
Admission: 75 BEF p.p. and 30 BEF p.p. for those aged 60 and over and groups of 20 people or more; Antwerp residents and schools free.
Open: every day from 10 - 16.45 hrs, except on Mondays and on January 1st and 2nd, May 1st, Ascension Day, November 1st and 2nd, December 25th and 26th.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts:


This neoclassical art temple was constructed between 1884 and 1890 to plans drawn up by the architects Jean-Jacques Winders and Frans Van Dijck. It lies at the centre of the area known as the ‘Zuid’, or South, which was built in the same period.

The collection presented at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp provides a representative picture of art produced in our regions between the fourteenth century and the present day.

The collection comprises works by Jan Van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Hans Memling, Quinten Metsijs, Frans Floris and the Bruegel family, Jean Fouquet, Lucas Cranach, Titiaan, Peter Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens, Antoon Van Dyck, Cornelis de Vos, Frans Snijders, Daniël Seghers, Frans Hals, Henri Leys, Nicaise De Keyser, Henri de Braekeleer, Jan Stobbaerts, James Ensor, Constantin Meunier, Eugene Laermans, Emile Claus, Rik Wouters, Jakob Smits, Jozef Peeters, George Minne, Constant Permeke, Gust de Smet, Frits van den Berghe, Rene Magritte, Paul Delvaux, Osip Zadkine, Lucio Fontana, Pierre Alechinsky, Karel Appel, Vic Cientils, Fred Bervoets, etc.

An audio Gallery Guide providing information about the most important art works is available in Dutch, French and English (included in the admission fee). 'Uitgelicht/ingelicht', an interactive multimedia programme about Early Painting, can be consulted free of charge. The Communication Department arranges guided tours on request.

Address: Leopold De WaeIplaats
Admission: 150 BEF p.p.; students, those aged 60 and over and groups 120 BEF p.p.; free for minors (under 18). On Fridays: free.
(Different prices apply for special exhibitions.)
open: every day from 10-17.00 hrs, except on Mondays and on Januari 1st, May 1st, Ascension Day (15th of August) and December 25th.

MIDDELHEIM Open-air MUSEUM


The Middelheim Open-Air Statuary Museum is situated just outside the 'Ring' in a park that was pur-chased by the City back in 1910 to prevent it being cut up into lots.

The collection now consists of more than 300 pieces, beginning chronologically with Auguste Rodin. Most are out in the open air and share the seasons with the wonderful nature. However a number of sculptures require protection from the elements and so are housed in a pavilion. The castle orangery is now the documentation centre.

Address: Middeheimlaan 61
Admission: free except for special exhibitions.
Open: October to the end of March 10 -17.00 hrs, April and September 10-19.00 hrs, May and August 10-20.00 hrs, June and July 10-21.00 hrs, closed on Mondays and on January 1st and 2nd, May 1st, Ascension Day, November 1st and 2nd, December 25th and 26th.

DIAMOND MUSEUM:


Antwerp is the world centre of diamond processing and of the diamond trade. The famous Antwerp cut and the advanced scientific research are founded on five centuries of tradition, which are brought to life in this museum.

The displays guide visitors through the whole production process from mining to the dazz-ling end product. The history of the fascinating industry and trade that have developed around these little gems is also covered. A complete nineteenth-century diamond workshop has been reconstructed in the museum, but the real centrepiece is the treasure chamber where price-less pieces of jewellery sparkle seductively.

On Saturday afternoons and by arrangement in advance on weekdays, you can see a diamond cutter at work in the museum. Guided tours of modern cutting and polishing shops and showrooms can also he arranged.

Address: Lange Herentalsestraat 31 - 33
Admission: free, except for special exhibitions.
Open: every day from 10-17.00 hrs, except on January 1st and 2nd and December 25th and 26th.
Demonstrations: free on Saturdays from 13.30-1630 hrs; upon request during the week when a charge will be made.

Some city views...


Left: Terraces on the Grand Market; Right: You can stroll along the River Scheldt - also there's a 500m tunnel to cross the river on foot: quite an experience for children !

Left: The main shopping street, the 'Meir', leading from the old part of the city to the Station (right). This trainstation rather looks like a cathedral...

Right to the left of the station is the Antwerp ZOO ! Nice are the Dolphinarium (regular shows), feeding of the sea-lions (inquire at the entrance when), the Aquarium, and of course, the monkees ...

Well, there's a lot more to see and to do; I just mentioned the most important. There's lots of terraces, cafés and restaurants; most of them are very nice and vivid, especially in late evening/night. People have a broad view and a good sense of humour.
The city is safe, there's almost no criminality - just watch out on crowded markets for pickpockets (like everywhere, but let's not exagerate).

And after staying in Antwerp for a few days, why not consider visiting BRUGGE (BRUGES) with its small canals? That old city is gorgious! I lies at 2 hours from Antwerp (by train, for instance). Surely make a reservation in summer when you would like to stay overnight!

That's it for now, I hope I put you on the track; enjoy your journey when you come...!