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Visit Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp is one of the most important economic centres of Belgium. It is the fifth largest harbour in the world and probably the most productive one. This is no wonder, as the Belgians are the most productive workers of the world per working hour. And the Antwerp harbour workers also score high with yearly productivity.

Apart from the economic importance Antwerp has always been and still is one of the most important cultural and artistic cities of the country and of Europe. Old masters like Peter Paul Rubens an P. Van Dyke lived and worked there. The city’s cathedral is among the most famous and beautiful of the world. The cathedral and a number of places of the city play a very important role in the famous story “The Dog of Flanders” which is extremely popular in Japan.

When you visit this city, be sure to visit the famous Antwerp cathedral one of the important masterpiece of European Gothic.. Its construction began in 1352 as a church. But only in 1559 it became known as the Antwerp cathedral of Our Lady. It is among the finest and exquisite gothic constructions of Europe. Famous architects worked on it: Jean Appelmans, Herman de Waghemakere, Domien de Waghemakere, Antoon Keldermans II and Rombout Keldermans. What you can see now as a beautiful architectural masterpiece is indeed the work of centuries. The central nave is flanked by three aisles. Each aisle has 48 pillars. The total length of the Antwerp cathedral is 117 m. Its interior height is 40 m.

Spanish emperor Charles V also had his influence on some parts of this magnificent construction. The Antwerp cathedral suffered a lot from water damage, wars and plundering, but it has always kept its unique grandeur. When you visit the place, you’ll be able to see three paintings of Peter Paul Rubens, Antwerp’s most famous painter. They are: the Descent from the Cross , the Elevation of the Cross and the Resurrection. 

Antwerp has a lot of museums, art schools, cultural centres and academies. It is , like Paris, London and Milan, one of the most important fashion cities of Europe. In the old beautiful city centre you can find great restaurants, excellent hotels in every price range and typical Belgian bars and cafés with the world famous Belgian beers.

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