I love traveling - and probably travel more than anyone I know - so it makes sense that I write about it. Get Lost is a series of short, snappy travel guides (250 words or under) where I write about the places I visit.
Living up to its billing as one of Europe’s hottest tickets, Antwerp is re-imagining its maritime past and building a future that celebrates the very best of modern Belgium.
Exploring Antwerp, you’ll soon discover that the city still pulses to the beat of its medieval heart, and its tangled maze of tight cobblestone lanes that meander past glossy boutiques and plush cafes. The ornate centre is punctuated by handsome squares perfect for indulging in the famous Belgian beer culture, recently inscribed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The imposing Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp looms above the old city’s rooftops, while to the east the internationally renowned diamond quarter stretches out to Antwerp Centraal, one of the world’s finest train stations.
Although laden with history, Antwerp has the unmistakable feel of a city with a youthful thirst for change. Regeneration to the north has seen Antwerp’s former dockyards revitalised to create Het Eilandje, a burgeoning new waterfront neighbourhood that boasts two feats of contemporary architecture. Zaha Hadid’s Port House juts confidently towards the future, while the ultramodern MAS museum affords crisp views out over the city from atop its ingenious vertical public space.
Antwerp is the black sheep of modern Belgium, the wild relation to its better-heeled Flemish brothers. It’s where Belgians come to let their hair down, whether they’re late-night partygoers, fashion fanatics, or fine art enthusiasts. Belgium’s second city is most definitely the country’s new capital of cool.