Antwerp is not listed on my favorite list. It's a city similar to the normal modern European city with commercial buildings in specific areas, the long and crowded shopping street where all brands are grouped, and the old city hall area with those historic buildings, church or tower, normally that area would become a good place for a glass of wine at night.
I don't like the main shopping street of Antwerp, to me, it's too crowded and not what I'm looking for in my trip (shopping is everywhere in Hong Kong); while just one street aside, it's another quiet world. The buildings with wooden 'face' and iron 'structure', delicate window frames and decorations on the corner, a little bit old and dusty window reflecting the sunshine. Stone road is like the bed sheet with straight lines of tram roads. The purely white and black church is just steps away, and those dark grey rocky statues is no longer intact under years of erosion. When you walk farther away from the city center, you will go across the Red Light District where shocks me a lot by the little boutiques with those ladies 'showing-off' in the costumed scenes behind square window one by one (while the little kebab shop on the corner sells delicious milkshake :P ). The MAS located besides the old port (Willemdok) is a new large museum of Antwerp, telling the world about the story of this city in cultural, people, technology, shipping, sports and all things about Antwerp life. On the roof of MAS (super windy!!!), you will have a view of this city with a crawling canal and blocks connected downside, of course, the City Hall (Old Market Square) with Cathedral of Our Lady is always the highlighted spots.
Besides, I do think the central station (rail station) of Antwerp is one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe I have been to. At the first step I get out the train chamber, I was so impressive by those transparent glass roof with bronze-color ironic frames. The stone structure arch-shape building inside the station and facing to the rail tracks with golden parts around the clock.
Another good view and place to relax in Antwerp, is when you walk till the end of City Hall (Grote Markt/ Old Market Square), the Fee's Kaai is just in front of you. Walking onto the white stone road a little bit (like a bridge, but it's not), you will have a horizontal view of the river, Scheldt.
For arts, Ruben House is a must-go place, while I didn't plan a schedule there this time.
MUST-CHECK-POINTS >
City Hall / Old Market Square (Grote Markt) >
Street Meir (Main shopping street & Spots of local designs) >
Fee's Kaai >
St. Jacobskerk >
Central Station >
Delicious Catalog
