The second largest city in the tri-cultural nation of Belgium Antwerp is also named Antwerpen and Anvers in the Dutch and French dialects. The capital of the Northern region, Flanders, Antwerp is also known as the Diamond City referring to its large Diamond District where one gets to bargain prices and make good deals. The city also has a port on the River Scheldt which ranks as the thirteenth largest container handling port in the world. This is also home to the Antwerpse Handjes a wicked flavor of chocolates and biscuits that brings a rare texture to the senses. The De Konick beer referred to in fondness as the Balletje, a diminutive ball because of its bottles shape also has its home in this city.

The professional tennis tournament, the Diamond Games with its uniquely magnificent trophy contains 2008 diamonds and weighs 10 pounds; the trophy has a home in this city and costs $1.5 million dollars, quite a lure for anyone traveling to Belgium. The trophy is kept by anyone who wins the tournament thrice within the period of five years.

The city’s history has quite interesting turns and lore, excavations indicate habitation by the 2nd and 3rd centuries in the A.D. The port surpassed Bruges in the 15th century and was quite the economic hub. The port did get its inhabitants spinning off myths then with one which stated the existence of a monster giant that thrived on the citizen’s taxes thus their poverty. The port was saved by a young man, Brabo according to lore who cut off the monsters hand and threw it in the river, thus the name Antwerpen. Ant-werpen basically means ‘thrown hand’ and a monument commemorating this victory stands prominently opposite the town hall in the middle of Grote Market.

Home to the first stock market in the world, the 1531 inception of the Antwerp mart saw the inspiration for models of the same at London and in Amsterdam. With unique diamond cutting techniques, Antwerp attracts visitors who come to learn about quality diamond cuts together with the clarity, color and carat as per the basics of the industry.

Peter Paul Reubens, Anthony Van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens and all the famous Flemish Baroque masters have their roots in this respectable city. This quite vividly explains the vibrancy, culture and sense of pride in Antwerp which has a way of seeping into your bones.