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.
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.