This day found us in Antwerp. We started our morning with some fantastic coffee at the Oasis. We chose Oasis because our friends in Brussels shared that this company was intentionally created as an extension of Breaking Chains, a nonprofit anti human trafficking ministry with the purpose of reaching out to those trapped in prostitution. And their coffee is outstanding, being direct trade and locally sourced as well. If you find yourself in Antwerp, please be sure to stop in.

Although we arrived via river cruise ship, we made our way to the Antwerp Central Station, because we’d heard it’s one of the prettiest train stations in all of Europe. It was true!

We then meandered back through the city to discover some beautiful architecture.

The Het Steen (above) is a medieval fortress turned museum and visitor’s center. It is located near one of Europe’s largest ports in Antwerp, in the old town area. The surviving structure was built as early as 1200 – 1225 after the Viking Raids in an attempt to protect the city.

Here are a few more buildings we found intriguing.

Notice how intricate the artwork, carving, and images are above and below.

Of course, the cathedrals are always so beautiful!

And the photos of this clock tower do not do it justice. It’s so much more intricate than an iPhone camera can capture.

The main town square, the Grote Markt, also has interesting buildings along with the famous Guild Houses, which used to house craftsmen or merchants practicing the same trade. You can also find cafés and restaurants nearby, along with some shopping.

In and around the city, you’ll find a lot of memorials and statues, which is something I’ve really come to appreciate about Europe.

And of course, along with the historical and serious, you’ll find some fun ones too.

Last but not least, we did also spend a little time sampling the Chocolate, Frites, and Waffles in Antwerp.

From left to right in the photo above: Hazelnut, Orange Marzipan, Caramel Passion Fruit, Speculos, and Strawberry! There were far too many choices and this was a fun way to sample a few.

The above Frites, served with mayo, was from Frituuur No.1. Delicious for sure. We also sampled the Liege Waffles from the Australian Homemade Ice Cream and Waffles store just across from the Hilton Hotel. The owner here was very friendly and agreed to make the waffles from fresh dough (versus serving us one he had already cooked). We had it with fresh whipped cream and caramel sauce, and it was amazing – although we could not taste the sugar pearls in it like we could when in Brussels and Bruges. Nonetheless, it was delicious, and next time we may even try it with ice cream.

And last but not least, we stopped in at Pierre Marcolini, one of the best chocolate shops in Antwerp, and finished the day off with some thick, decadent hot chocolate. I believe the smile says it all.

In reflection, Antwerp offers a unique blend of the historical with the contemporary. While our time here has been enjoyable (how can it not be with Frites, Liege Waffles, and Chocolate?), I can’t help but compare it to the undeniable allure of Bruges and Ghent. There is indeed a bustling energy and vibrant cultural scene, but can not boast the quaint charm and picturesque beauty found in Bruges and Ghent. Despite this, Antwerp is a destination worth exploring, and to be fair, we didn’t have quite as much time here as we did in the other two cities, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt and come see for yourselves what you think.

For more information on our itineraries, feel free to email us at dtgainor@gmail.com or visit Global Getaways to learn more about how who we are and how we work.