Layover to the edge of the river Schelde

colorfull glass

Mol, Belgium, Sunday morning in September 2005. After cycling from the Guest House, located in the middle of the Belgium remote Nuclear Complex, I was taking a breakfast while enjoying a weekend market (local named openmarkt). There were a lot of  special poultry and fish in the Centrum City of Mol. Then, immediately slide to the station, located in the Hangarstraat. Bicycles parked in the parking lot west of the station and do not forget locked. Buy Spoor tickets directly, destination city of Antwerpen. The price of 6.8 euros at the road. Not long to wait, immediately came and started to enjoy the train journey right at 10:47.

Cities that passed by the Geel, Olen, Herentals, Lier, and Berchem. Antwerpen Centraal arrived at around 11:45. This station is quite beautiful and still feels splendor, the old train station that was built a hundred years ago, many have experienced the touch of the latest technology.

Tourist information, on the ground floor, provides a map of the city that is quite simple and easy for visitors who want to explore this old city.

The name  Antwerpen comes from Hantwerpen, the legend said. At that time, the river Scheldt is the main route of the economy, so that the large trade ships passed by.  There are giant named Antigoon always have the quota on the civilian ships through. Until a Roman soldier named Silvius Brabo end of the thugs with cut hands and throw into the river. Hantwerpen word (or “hand throwing”) eventually became Antwerpen.

underground tombs

My main goal in Antwerpen is to the edge of the river Scheldt (Schelde), a lot of interesting places. One of the ineteresting places is the Onze-Lieve Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady) around Handschoenmarkt. This building stood on the 12th century, and changed several times due to fire or authorities.

Cathedral has underground tombs, located just below the cathedral floor, the store of dead bodies of the rich man or authorities at the time. Some demolished for the research and also visited the public (also rather sinister place). What is interesting is the windows of which consists of colorful glass that depict many stories ecclesiastical. If viewed from the outside, quite far, the north tower at the cathedral is very interesting, with a height of around 123 meters. Entrance fee to see inside the cathedral, enough only 2 Euros.

the tower of church

In the north of cathedral there is a Grote Markt (square), with a water spurt in the middle, where many activities where most tourists enjoy the beauty of the local government building (Stadhuis). Building was built between the years 1561 and 1565 by architect Cornellis II Floris de Vriendt (works Floris then known as the Floris style) and Scarini collaboration with Nicolo, an Italian (that his work is known as the Flemish Renaissance Italian style). Around this Stadhuis, there are numerous cafes and restaurants with a typical 16th and 17th century buildings. If we look to the top of the building, visible to the uniqueness of each building. There will always sign the form of small statues or carvings on the top roof indicates that the profession of family building. There are several statues of the ship, indicates the owner is the time sailors or traders.

Delight in the Grote Markt increase when relaxed while drinking hot chocolate … Mmmmm … Chocolate is the most favorite food and national pride for Belgium.

Stadhuis

Delight the other way is along the river Schelde, in Zuiderterras, a broad and long terrace at the edge of the river, and see the many ancient and modern ships, some glued and some downstream. Antwerpen city is the second largest seaport in Europe, so do not wonder if there are also many ships and giant ports in the northeast part of town. Schelde River, one of the main economic point of Europe can not be crossed only by a bridge, but also through the river bottom, there is a tunnel that is currently used for the tourists “adventure” in the bottom of the river. Unfortunately not enough time to “walk through” the tunnel under the river … there are also the tickets is quite expensive… :)

Antwerpen word may be derived from the word aanwerp, an alluvial sediment in the area of the river Schelde in the region Steen (areas where there are first-time residents living there).

frituur

Antwerpen is located in 51°13’16” N and 4°23’60” E, known as one of the diamond trade center in the world. One square kilometers in the city is a special area of diamond trade. The process of the establishment of diamond cutting and can be seen with a free tour for 20 minutes.

Also a lot of delicious food, there is boiled eel with special sauce is delicious, delicious meal or rabbit meat and beef. The most favorite is the Mussel (green shells), wow yummy…! Many also sold frituurs, roast potatoes typical Belgium. They claim french-fries came from Belgium, that is frituur.

Many places that should be visited again, but time is not enough, ok-lah, another opportunity may be…

: )