1. Antwerp
The Dutch-speaking city of Antwerp has long been known as a center for craftspeople and artists, as well as an active trade port. Visitors can explore the old town’s Grand Place (Grote Markt) to see the historic guild houses and the old Town Hall (Stadhuis), and just a block north is the ornate Butcher’s Hall (Vleeshuis). More historic buildings can be found nearby, including the Plantin-Moretus Museum and the Rubens’ House (Rubenshuis), both of which have collections open to the public.
Antwerp’s museums are some of the best in Belgium, and the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) contains a surprising variety of exhibits that dive deep into history, both local and global. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts, as well as the Museum Mayer van den Bergh focus on fine arts produced by some of the city’s most famous artists, including Van Dyck, Rubens, and Jordaens. One of the city’s newest additions is the Red Star Line Museum, housed in the steamship company’s former port building, which looks at the massive wave of emigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Antwerp has some excellent family attractions as well, both located close to the impressive Antwerp Central Station (also known as Middenstatie). A visit is not complete without a stop at Chocolate Nation, where you can learn about Belgian chocolate and, of course, sample it to your heart’s content.
Nearby, the Antwerp Zoo keeps kids occupied with over 6,000 animals while parents appreciate the spectacular architecture that ranges from reproductions of ancient temples to Art Deco.
Tourists hoping to see ecclesiastical architecture and artwork have several options, the most famous of which is St. Paul’s Church (Sint-Pauluskerk). This late Gothic church was built between 1517 and 1639 and houses paintings by Jordaens, Van Dyck, and Rubens. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp (Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal), the largest Gothic church in the country, is located in the heart of the old town near Grand Place, and St. James’ Church (Sint-Jacobskerk) is the city’s finest Baroque church, located just a few blocks from here.
2. Ghent
The old city of Ghent is rife with beautiful historic buildings, many of which are the guild houses and markets that run along the Graseli Canal. The oldest of these buildings is the Romanesque Koornstapelhuis, built around the year 1200. The House of the Masons (Gildehuis der Metselaars) and House of the Free Boatmen (Gildehuis der Vrije Schippers) date back to the early 16th century, and the Customs House (Tolhuisje) was built in 1682. The Korenlei Canal is lined with more fine examples, most of which once served as private homes to the city’s elite merchants.
Ghent’s Old Market Area sits close to the canals, starting with the Groot Vleeshuis (Meat Market), a fantastic medieval structure built in 1410. Next door, you will find the Vismarkt (Fish Market), built in 1689, and two blocks away the Korenmarkt (Wheat Market) sits at the head of an old market square that is now home to numerous cafés and restaurants. Nearby, tourists can also visit the city’s old Town Hall (Stadhuis), known for its miscellany of architectural styles from centuries of additions.
The city is also home to some spectacular churches, most notably the Cathedral of St. Bavo (Sint-Baafskathedraal), which also chronicles architectural styles, including a Romanesque crypt, a 13th-century High Gothic choir, and a 16th-century late Gothic nave and tower.
