Antwerp

1. 1

   Cathedral of Our Lady

   The tallest Gothic church in the Low Countries rises 123 meters above Antwerp’s skyline, its single completed spire (a second was never finished) visible from across the Scheldt. Construction spanned from 1352 to 1521, and the resulting interior holds four masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens — including the monumental ‘Raising of the Cross’ and ‘Descent from the Cross,’ painted specifically for this space. The nave’s seven aisles create a sense of vast, columned space that amplifies the impact of the Rubens triptychs. Beyond Rubens, the cathedral houses significant works by other Flemish masters and ornate Baroque altarpieces. The recently restored stained glass windows fill the interior with colored light on sunny afternoons. Admission is €12 for adults; children under 18 and Antwerp province residents enter free.

2. 2

   Museum aan de Stroom (MAS)

   This striking, stacked-box contemporary building in the Eilandje harbor district houses a museum dedicated to Antwerp’s relationship with the world — tracing the city’s history as a trading port, diamond center, and cultural crossroads through centuries of accumulated objects and stories. Each floor explores a different theme: power, prestige, life, death, and the city’s connections to global trade. The architecture itself tells a story: the building’s red sandstone and curved glass panels create a spiraling ascent to the rooftop terrace, which delivers a 360-degree panorama of the city, port, and Scheldt River — arguably the finest viewpoint in Antwerp. The building and rooftop terrace are free to access; only the galleries require a €10 ticket. The surrounding Eilandje district has transformed from industrial docklands into one of Antwerp’s most dynamic neighborhoods.

3. 3

   Grote Markt

   Antwerp’s central square has served as the city’s civic and commercial heart since the medieval period. The Renaissance-style City Hall (Stadhuis, completed 1565) dominates one side, flanked by a row of ornate 16th-century guildhalls — each representing a different trade guild — whose gilded facades reflect Antwerp’s Golden Age wealth. The Brabo Fountain at the square’s center depicts the legend of Silvius Brabo throwing the severed hand of the giant Antigoon into the Scheldt — the mythological origin of Antwerp’s name (‘hand werpen,’ to throw a hand). The guildhalls, though reconstructed in the 19th and 20th centuries, faithfully reproduce the original designs and offer a living textbook of Renaissance architectural ornamentation. The square hosts seasonal markets, including a popular Christmas market with an ice rink.

4. 4

   Antwerp Central Station

   Consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful railway stations, Antwerp-Centraal is a cathedral to rail travel designed by Louis Delacenserie and completed in 1905. The monumental stone façade draws from the Lucerne Station and Pantheon; the train hall behind it features a spectacular iron and glass vault engineered by Clément van Bogaert that spans 44 meters and soars 75 feet above the platforms. A major renovation completed in 2009 added two underground levels while preserving the station’s historic grandeur, creating a space where 19th-century ambition meets 21st-century infrastructure. The main hall’s marble, glass, and ironwork form one of the finest examples of railway architecture in Europe — a building that transforms the mundane act of catching a train into a cultural experience.

5. 5

   The Diamond District

   Concentrated along Hoveniersstraat and Pelikaanstraat near Central Station, Antwerp’s Diamond District processes 84% of the world’s rough diamonds and 50% of polished diamonds, making it the global center of the diamond trade. The district’s four diamond exchanges (bourses) handle over $48 billion in diamond transactions annually. While many wholesale operations are closed to casual visitors, the DIVA (Diamond, Jewellery, Silver) museum on Suikerrui provides an accessible deep-dive into the science, craft, and cultural significance of diamond cutting — a trade that has shaped Antwerp’s economy and identity since the 15th century. The surrounding streets are lined with showrooms and retail jewelers where visitors can purchase diamonds directly. The district’s largely Hasidic Jewish community adds distinctive cultural character to the area.

Editor-curated picks carried over from our original guide. Where a full place guide exists, the card links to it.