Antwerp, Belgium Monday, August 24, 2026
After a 20 minute ride on the bus, we are grabbing the Eurostar, an 1 1/2 hour train ride to
Antwerp, Belgium from Amsterdam.
We saw the first unusual piece of architecture as the train approached Antwerp. It was the Port House, built of glass and it sits on top of the brick fire station.
Windmills dot the landscape.
The train station is another piece of architectural wonder.
This railway station is famous for its breathtaking monumental architecture, earning it the nickname the "Railway Cathedral" and regular rankings among the most beautiful train stations in the world.
Built between 1895 and 1905, it has 20 types of marble.
Belgium is known for its diamond industry.
Jewelry shops are all along the main street, Meirstraat.
What's a girl to do?
Drool?
Antwerp is a mixture of very old and modern architecture.
The Statue of David Teniers II is a historic bronze monument. It was created in 1866 honoring the famous 17th-century Flemish Baroque painter David Teniers.
Meir Palace
We went into the palace to find a manicured court yard.
A cute little restaurant served guest inside or out.
Inside were the Palace Stables. The stables were pristine.
The restaurant had a horse theme with lots of horse pictures and paraphernalia.
Also within the palace was the Chocolate Line.
All kinds of chocolate delights were dancing in our eyes. The aroma was incredibly delicious.
The chocolate sculptures were unbelievable.
We need to try out this kinda lotion.
"Groooowl", I think it could bring out the tiger in me!
LOL!
It had a warning on the label.
DO NOT USE ON WHITE SHEETS!
The rooms in the store were decorated by Napoleon.
Fabulous paintings adorned the walls. They were created by an Antwerp artist in the early part of the 18th century.
It was truly very magnificent.
The owners of the business bought a plantation in Mexico to grow the
cocoa beans to make the chocolate.
Mosquitos are like family....They are annoying but they carry your blood. Yes, that is a chocolate mosquito.
The Chocolate Line Plantation employees.
The Chocolate Line Factory.
Unique art adorns the buildings.
This is thought to be the first Stock Exchange. Although it burned down twice, it was rebuilt more magnificent than the preceding structures.
Maps are painted on the walls of the countries that
were participating in trade with Belgium.
The acoustics were fabulous. We enjoyed listening to a violinist and pianists while visiting.
Lovely little cafes dotted the sidewalks.
Magnificent architecture surrounded us on all streets.
Antwerp City Hall in Grote Market
Brabo Fountain 1887 in Grote Market
Legendary Roman soldier, Silvius Brabo, is throwing a severed hand of the wicked giant, Davon Antigoon into the Scheldt River. According to folklore, this act gave Antwerp it's name. (hand-throwing)
My camera is straight...the buildings are not.
This isn't a joke.
Clock Tower of the Cathedral of our Lady
A street decorated with colorful balls.
Ferris wheel has views of the
Scheldt River and city.
My MAN!
What a gorgeous cathedral, the couple ain't bad either.
Views of the Scheldt River
Integration of modern and classic architecture.
What a fairytale castle!
The bronze statue is of Lange Wapper, a folkloric trickster who would change his size at night to scare the locals.
Hey Steen Castle is a...
medieval fortress and oldest building in the city
Built 1200-1225
One room in the castle
Local Beer bottle lights were strung across this little cafe.
Larry had to try this out.
It was so heavy and painful to sit with it on for only 30 seconds. What a torture it must have been!
We walked along the river spotting a river cruise boat on the left.
So many spires across the sky.
The flowers were huge in this courtyard where we stopped for a picnic lunch.
Cathedral of Our Lady
1352-1521
We heard the carillon bells ring every fifteen minutes.
A famous sculpture in Antwerp
Such scenic alley ways
This style architecture is everywhere
A lot of walking makes you thirsty.
We arrived back at the train station at 6:30 to catch our 7:05 train back to Amsterdam. Unfortunately, the train was delayed an hour, but it gave us an opportunity to talk with some folks waiting with us.
One interesting conversation was with an Iranian nurse who had immigrated to Calgary, Canada.
She wished to go back to her homeland, but stated it was not safe there....so sad.
What a great day in Belgium!
No comments:
Post a Comment