May, 2022

Antwerp is my go to answer whenever someone asks which city to go to in Belgium. Brussels ain’t terrible and I am being unfair because I’ve only been there once, but it is just not it. Some things are just like that.

Antwerpen Centraal

If you take the train from Amsterdam then the first thing that will greet you in Antwerp is its central station. Antwerpen Centraal is considered to be one of the best looking train stations in Europe.

Cathedral of Our Lady

The usual itinerary involves walking down De Keyserlei, passing by Stadsfeestzaal, to the Grote Markt, then eventually the Cathedral of Our Lady.

It houses four altar pieces of Peter Paul Rubens which includes The Elevation of the Cross. What mainly caught my attention though was how intricate the wood carvings were.

Waffles and Fries

They were okay. Heh.

Chocolate Nation

Surprisingly, I had a great time here. It is an “interactive museum” just like the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam. My favorite part of the tour was the tasting fondue. They give you a small spoon in which you can dispense different types of chocolate and if you happen to like a specific flavor, then you can buy it afterwards.

Bier Centraal

I always go here to eat and I always order the same food: Puff Pastry with Chicken Ragout.

The Smurfs and The Adventures of Tintin

Both comics came from Belgium. During one of my visits, it happened to be Free Comic Book Day. I got to see “Trese”, one of the more famous Philippine-based comic by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo.

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See also: Antwerp photos