The name Antwerp, according to legend, goes back to a giant’s severed hand. A hero named Brabo freed the city from the giant’s cruelty, cut off his hand and threw it into the river, and the name comes from this tale of “hand throwing”. The fountain telling the story stands in the middle of the city’s loveliest square.
What kind of city is Antwerp?
Belgium’s second largest city beats to the rhythm of fashion, art and diamonds, and is one of Europe’s most characterful cities. With its squares, historic buildings and lively atmosphere it is a stop you should not skip in Belgium. We loved it, and the square alone is worth the trip. It is a port city on the Scheldt river in Flanders.
What is there to see at Grote Markt?
The heart of Antwerp beats at the Grote Markt, the Great Square, a medieval square with:
- Town Hall (Stadhuis): a magnificent building in the Gothic style.
- Guild houses: decorated with golden details, each representing a different trade, with statues on top telling who they were.
- Brabo Fountain: the legendary fountain in the middle of the square.
Guilds were medieval associations of people in the same trade, and here you read the city’s craft and trade history in its facades.
Where does Antwerp fit on a route?
Antwerp sits in the heart of Europe, so you can add it to trips through Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Germany. The same Turkish site also covers Brugge, Ghent and Brussels. For long city walks we packed Rider Healthcare’s Cryo Silver + Modal socks and a Galata Healthcare body cream, and Educated Moto Riders offers trips for those who prefer to go with company.
Read the full story in Turkish with photos and videos: Antwerp Gezi Rehberi.