Antwerp | Antwerpen

Nickname(s):

"Koekenstad"

Demonym(s):

Antwerpenaar

Founded:

2nd C.

Democracy:

Developed:

European Union:

Schengen:

Euro:

National Capital:

RegionalState Capital:

Population (City):

520 000

Population (Urban):

-

Population (Metro):

1 200 000

Population Density (km2):

2 600

Population Density (mi2):

6 700

2nd Largest Metropolitan Area in Belgium

Largest City in Flanders

Language:

Dutch

Currency:

Euro

Avg. Summertime High:

23 °C

74 °F

Avg. Summertime Low:

6 °C

43 °F

Warmest Month:

July

Coldest Month:

January

Avg. Wintertime High:

14 °C

58 °F

Avg. Wintertime Low:

1 °C

34 °F

Advertising

Number of Galleries

More Blog Posts

Once one of the wealthiest cities in Europe, and the world. A former major center of trade, and the center for the world's diamond trade. The city of Antwerp still offers many architectural sights that remind a visitor of the rich past. The guild houses and the city hall at Grote Markt are the most striking examples of this former wealth.

Kingdom of Belgium | Koninkrijk België

Belgium

English

Belgique

French

België

Dutch

Region:

Western Europe

Area:

30 689 km2

Ranked 136 out of 195

Population:

Population:

11 493 000

Ranked 81 out of 235

Urbanization:

98 %

Ranked 7 out of 194

Capital:

Brussels

Population: 2 500 000

Largest City:

Brussels

Population: 2 500 000

Major Cities:

Brussels
Antwerp
Ghent
Charleroi
Liège

Economy & Development:

Human Development Index:

Very High

Ranked 14 out of 189

Inequality-Adjusted HDI:

Very High

Ranked 13 out of 189

GDP (PPP) Per Capita:

$61 587

Ranked 22 out of 225

Democracy & Freedom:

Democracy Index:

Flawed Democracy

Ranked 36 out of 167

Freedom House:

Free

96 points out of 100 possible

Press Freedom:

Satisfactory

Ranked 23 out of 180

Economic Freedom:

2nd Quartile

Ranked 40 out of 162

National Identity:

Independence Since:

1830

Independence From:

Netherlands

National Day:

21st of July

What Is Celebrated On The National Day:

Leopold I swore allegiance to the Belgian constitution and thus became the first monarch of Belgium on the 21st of July 1831. This event is considered to be the start of the modern state and Kingdom of Belgium.

Facts & Codes:

Driving Side:

Right

-

Time Zone:

UTC +1 (CET)

Summer: UTC +2 (CEST)

Country Calling Code:

+ 32

-

Country Code:

BE

ISO 3166

Regions of Belgium | Gewesten van België

Flanders

English

Vlaanderen

Dutch

Flandre

French

Region:

Northern Belgium

Area:

13 625 km2

Ranked 2 out of 3

Population:

Population:

6 653 000

Ranked 1 out of 3

Population Share:

58 %

Of National Population

Capital:

Brussels

Officially. Not geographically part of the Region

Largest City:

Antwerp

Population: 1 200 000

Major Cities:

Antwerp
Ghent
Bruges
Leuven
Mechelen

Information:

GDP Per Capita:

-

-

Climate:

Oceanic Climate

Köppen: Cfb

Time Zone:

UTC +1 (CET)

Summer: UTC +2 (CEST)

Het Steen

13th Century Medieval Fortress

Guildhalls of Sint-Joris

Grote Markt

Groenplaats

City Square

Currency:

Euro

Code:

EUR

Subunit:

Cent

Symbol:

Cash Or Credit:

I only used credit cards and the only time I faced a problem was when I wanted to use the restroom at certain restaurants where they still had the old French attendant system, (“Dames Pipi”).

Good To Know:

-

Local Language:

Dutch

Language Family:

Germanic (Indo-European)

Writing System:

Latin Alphabet

What About English?

English is widely spoken and proficiency is high. I had no problem at all and all the people I interacted with spoke excellent English.

Bilingual Belgium:

Belgium is at its core bilingual. The country is split between the French Wallonia and Dutch Flanders. Brussels is officially bilingual between the two, but with French as the de facto majority language. The majority language in Antwerp is Dutch. You might have a hard time getting by with only the French language in Flanders.

Advertising

Antwerp Central Station

The Antwerp Central Station is a sight of its own. Make sure to slow down and take a look at the station building, both inside and outside.

Leysstraat

Buildings on Leysstraat, near the central shopping street of Meir.

Statue of Anthony Van Dyke

A Statue of Anthony Van Dyke at the intersection where Leysstraat and Meir connect.

Grote Markt

Grote Markt with the Brabo Fountain and 16th-century guild houses.

16th-century guildhouses on Grote Markt

A closer view of the 16th-century guild houses. I find these to be exceptionally beautiful!

Het Steen

Het Steen (The Rock) is a medieval fortress in Antwerp that was built between 1200 - 1225.

Groenplaats

Groenplaats and the Cathedral of Our Lady in the background.

Statue Peter Paul Rubens

Statue Peter Paul Rubens on Groenplaats.

Schuttershofstraat

Schuttershofstraat in the center of Antwerp.