we are in Amsterdam and are contemplating a day trip into Belgium to see a bit of it and to buy chocolate. Has anyone done this train trip? Is the city centre (Antwerp) close to the central train station? would this city be a good choice given the limited time?
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
If by "city center" you mean the Grote Markt, it sits about a 20 minute walk from the train station. There's a fairly long pedestrian-only shopping street that connects the two. If you don't want to walk, you can take a subway to the Groene Markt ("Green market"), which sits closer to the Grote Markt.
As for if the trip is worth it? I couldn't say, not knowing how much time you have. Antwerp does have some interesting sites, like the before-mentioned Grote Markt with the famous statue of Brabo tossing the giant's severed hand, the Reubenhuis, a nautical museum in an old castle, an interesting Jesuit cathedral, and a very impressive late-Gothic cathedral (the most under-rated in Europe, in my opinioin) filled with Reuben's paintings. But, unlike nearby Bruges, Antwerp didn't spend the majority of the past 500 years in hibernation. So, although it does have some Old World charm, it is also a bustling, modern city, with all the hustle and grit that one would expect. Personally, I think it's a very interesting city, but I would never call it pretty.
Posted by
OP
Coquitlam, BC, Canada
23 posts
thanks for the good info. Jana
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, US
3 posts
We took a side trip to Antwerp from Amsterdam to Bruges, then a day trip to Ghent on the way to Paris. Ghent was really amazing and I recommend it over Antwerp if you have the option. There were some really beautiful cathedrals and a fun bar (Dulle Griet) where you have to give up one of your shoes as collateral for the glass the house beer comes in. We met some great people in that bar.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
If this sort of thing interests you, the Antwerp zoo, which sits immediately adjacent to the main train station, has a new baby elephant. Must have been a slow news day in Belgium on Sunday, because this was the main story on VTM's Het Nieuws". The elephant even has its own website:
http://www.baby-olifant.be/ (in Dutch only)