Spending a Day in Antwerp, Belgium - The Diamond Capital of the World

Pragnya Das
May 1
3 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Antwerp is a pretty old city with great history. It is one of the biggest cities in Belgium, renowned for it's diamond district for cutting, polishing and trading diamond. It has one of the biggest ports in the world, only next to Rotterdam in Europe, and was a major trading hub in the past centuries. Due to its long history, it boosts of great heritage, cultural diversity and several legends! After spending a few days in Netherlands, we travelled from Rotterdam to Antwerp. So, for us, Antwerp gave us the first impression of Belgium.

Grote Markt, central square Antwerp — Grote Markt

Reaching Antwerp:

We took the very reliable NS International train, by paying 20 euros per head (2nd class) which took around 1 hour to reach Antwerp from Rotterdam. NS International has great network within Netherlands and all neighboring countries. Booking train tickets might become confusing sometimes as there are several rail operators in Europe with various train options (ICE, IC, Intercity Direct, Eurostar, etc.). We would recommend to book your tickets directly with the train operators instead of opting for any third party sites. The websites are smooth, they offer lot of flexible travel options and are always cheaper than third-party sites. Always look for various ticket slots (morning, afternoon, evening) and the flexibility levels. For example: Some tickets will allow you to board a specific train during a specific time only, whereas some tickets will give you the freedom to board any train during the day. Obviously more the flexibility, more the price. Use NS International app which is easy to use, smooth and reliable. Apart from train, there are very limited flights. You can also opt for intercity buses.

Antwerp first Impressions:

The moment we stepped our foot in Antwerp Railway Station, we were mesmerized by its beauty. It is considered as one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world - and it is for a reason! Do spend sometime here to explore the station, to see how beautiful it is. We booked our accommodation at Ibis Budget Hotel Antwerpen Central Station which is just 100 meters from the Antwerp Centraal Station. While walking towards our hotel, we passed through quite a few diamond shops. It is not the cleanest of cities, but surely has its own charm.

How to Spend a Day in Antwerp?

After check-in and dropping off our luggage, we started walking towards the famous Grote Markt. One can cover most of the famous attractions in Antwerp just by walking around the Central area.

On the way to Grote Markt, you will come across Stadspark, where you can spend some time in the green.
Rubenshuis is Antwerp's famous museum dedicated to Ruben's paintings and sculptures. Spend some time at the cafe here to enjoy the vibes.
As you go ahead, you will come across the remarkable Gothic-style cathedral - Cathedral of Our Lady. Take some photos with the cute Nello & Patrasche Statue.

Cathedral of Our Lady

Nello & Patrasche Status
Just a few steps away is the famous Grote Markt, surrounded by the beautiful colorful buildings, numerous cafes and the City Hall, graced by the Brabo's Monument. There is a popular legend associated with this statue. Watch our travel vlog to know about it.
Just a few steps away towards the river, you will come across the DIVA Diamond Museum. Know all about diamonds and its history. Get mesmerized by the beautiful jewelries and precious artifacts.
At the river-front, visit the Het Steen, a 13th century fortress that is still standing strong, surviving multiple attacks and World War.

Het Steen Fortress