Antwerp - Part 1 • VIARAMI

Antwerp (Dutch: Antwerp) is a port city in the Belgian region of Flanders and the capital of the province of the same name. It lies on the banks of the Scheldt river. This is also the location of the seaport of Antwerp, which is the busiest port in Europe after Rotterdam.

Vibrant street mural on yellow building facade along narrow cobblestone alley with Gothic church in background

Mural depicting men carrying goods in front of a building in Antwerp, Belgium.

The city of Antwerp is Belgium's most populous city with a population of 520.000. The City of Brussels has a a total population of 176.545 people. If you count the metropolitan area, however, it is behind Brussels (Brussels: 1,7 million; Antwerp: 1,2 million).

Historic stepped-gable brick building with flower boxes on a cobblestone street in Antwerp, Belgium

Gothic cathedral tower rising above a narrow European city street with tram tracks and pedestrians

Antwerp street scene with tram tracks and historic buildings, Cathedral of Our Lady in the distance.

Antwerp church entrance, viewed from a narrow alley.

Gothic cathedral facade with crucifix and statues under a blue sky in Antwerp Belgium

Street musician playing a piano in Antwerp, Belgium.

Gothic cathedral clock tower against dramatic cloudy sky in monochrome

Historic brick buildings with stepped gables lining a cobblestone square with outdoor café terraces and pedestrians in a European city

The Cathedral of Our Lady (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) overlooks the buildings in the area easily with a height of 123 meters. The tower of the Gothic church, which was completed in 1521, is the highest in the Benelux.

The belfry of the cathedral is part of the group of 56 historical buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list of Belfries of Belgium and France.

Antwerp Cathedral silhouette against a bright sky.

Black and white photo of a statue of a woman on a building in Antwerp, Belgium.

Antwerp fountain with Cathedral of Our Lady in the background.

Antwerp City Hall on the Grote Markt square with the Brabo Fountain, colorful flags, cobblestone plaza, visitors and benches in foreground

Verdigris bronze fountain with mythological figures in front of a grand historic civic building adorned with flags and gilded heraldic shields

Ornate historic guild houses with golden statues and stepped gables on a city square

The market square (Grote Markt) is the historical centre of town and is framed by typical medieval Flemish buildings. The City Hall of Antwerp is still located there today.