Antwerp Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Antwerp

A major city-port on the River Scheldt in Belgium, Antwerp is known primarily as the diamond capital of Europe. For centuries, Antwerp's Diamond District has been the center of diamond trade, with thousands of dealers, cutters and polishers processing 85% of the world's rough diamonds each year.

Historical Antwerp has its origins in a Gallo-Roman settlement, first mentioned in the 4th century AD. The actual translations of its name range from the “land thrown up at the riverbank” (Andhunerbo) or “on the wharf” (an t werf), in old German, to the Celtic “Andoverpis” – possibly meaning "those who live on both banks".

However, a folklore legend celebrated by statue in the city's main market square, the Grote Markt, holds that a mythical giant once lived near the river Scheldt and extracted toll from passing boatmen under the threat of cutting their hands off. Eventually, the giant was slain by a young hero, who cut off his hand and threw it into the river; hence the name Antwerpen from Dutch hand werpen (“hand-throwing”).

Both economically and culturally, Antwerp has long been an important city in the Low Countries. The Bourse of Antwerp, originally built in 1531 and re-built in 1872, was the world's first purpose-built commodity exchange. The city is also famous for its Flemish Renaissance architecture and close association with the 17th-century Flemish Baroque painter, Peter Paul Rubens, whose house is now a museum.

Among other landmarks here are:

Het Steen – a medieval fortress in the Old Town, built after the Viking incursions in the early Middle Ages.

Plantin-Moretus Museum – a real gem and the only museum in the world recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vlaeykensgang – a historic maze of small alleys, offering an idyllic refuge from the hubbub of the city center.

Cathedral of Our Lady – the highest Gothic building in the Low Countries; richly adorned with the Rubens paintings.

Antwerpen-Centraal – the Antwerp Central Station, one of the city’s main landmarks, and one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

Antwerp is a reasonably-sized city, with most places of interest located close by to one another. It is therefore best explored on foot. If you wish to discover the most prominent attractions of Antwerp in a relaxed manner, take this self-guided walk and get to know the city at your own pace.