Things You Didn't Know About Antwerp Belgium

While you may have picked up on Antwerp’s status as diamond central or the steady stream of talented fashion designers it produces (just think of the influential Antwerp Six), the second-largest city in Belgium has a lot more pleasant surprises in store.

Home to one of the world’s most beautiful railway stations

A gorgeous blend of baroque adornments and modernist industrial features, Antwerp’s central railway station is a sight for sore eyes. While architect Louis Delacenserie’s eclectic flavor makes it hard to fit the station’s aesthetic into a neat box, agreement on the illustrious beauty of this multi-leveled architectural gem is strong.

Ornate columns and glass ceilings at Antwerp’s central railway station

Named for a legend

The statue of brave young Brabo in front of City Hall, throwing the giant’s hand into the Schelde

The world’s largest coffee storage site

What better city to go in search of that perfect cup of joe than the one storing the most beans in the entire world? With over 300,000 tons of coffee being stored in the port of Antwerp at any given moment, it’s no wonder the city runneth over with stylish bars dedicated to the black gold – many of which also roast their own beans.

The museum that transformed a neighborhood

The city truly hit the bullseye when it planted an imposing new museum in the middle of the harbor quarter in 2011. Outlining the role of Antwerp as a port city throughout the ages, the long-awaited MAS (Museum by the Stream) became an architectural beauty with windows in the form of ripples, surrounded by the water the city holds so dear. Its presence has been the backbone of harbor area ‘t Eilandje’s transformation into one of the most vibrant neighborhoods around, not to mention its gorgeous rooftop view.

The MAS and it’s rippling glass as seen from below

Home to one of Europe’s oldest zoos

Along with almost a 1,000 species, a lot of history is to be found in the temples and grounds of Antwerp Zoo. One of the oldest on the European mainland and part of Builder King Leopold II’s inheritance, the animal park first opened its gates in 1843, a mere 13 years after Belgium became an independent country.

The entrance gate to the Antwerp Zoo, one of Europe’s oldest

All aboard for Ellis Island

Centuries ago, the journey for many immigrants to a new life in North America went through Antwerp. Two million people from all over Europe flocked to Belgium’s port city to board the ship setting sail to the land where big dreams were reported to come true. The new Red Star Line Museum commemorates the lives of the passengers in the very place where they first stepped aboard the ship that would carry them across continents.

The Red Star Line carried Europeans from Antwerp all the way to Ellis Island

A dialect worth saving

You’ll sooner know a true local Antwaarpener by the sound of his voice than anything else about his or her appearance. The unique words incomprehensible to any other Belgian, the sharp ‘a’s, the juicy pronunciation… Antwaarps is alive and well. Even today, a lot of speakers are passionate about keeping the dialect alive, as proven by the recent publication of a small dictionary and even a new edition of a Spike and Suzy album, completely in the dialect of their spiritual father, Antwerp-born Willy Vandersteen.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.