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Jan 20, 2022 · In the 16th century, Antwerp was the hub and centre of the known world, and the city’s great rivals like Venice said so when they reported home. The world waited for every bit of news: the market in money or gold, the rumours of peace or better yet, scandal.
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Antwerp, city, Flanders region, Belgium, that is one of the world’s major seaports. It gained fame as a centre of the diamond industry and for its legacy of fine arts.
Antwerp is situated on the Schelde (Scheldt) River, about 55 miles (88 km) from the North Sea. The Schelde, together with the Meuse and the Rhine, forms the biggest estuary in western Europe, and Antwerp is an essential part of an enormous harbour complex, one of the greatest in the world. The harbour installations of Antwerp grew especially after World War II. For many years this expansion took place on the right bank of the Schelde only, but beginning in the 1970s there was much development on the left bank as well.
The unique flavour of Antwerp is derived from the combination of, and tensions between, the diverse aspects of its personality: a passionate commitment to commerce goes hand in hand with an abiding interest in the life of ideas and in the arts; respect and affection for the past are juxtaposed with a fervent desire to participate fully in the prese...
The residents of Antwerp generally speak the local Brabantian-Antwerp dialect of Dutch. Dutch as spoken in the Netherlands and by Dutch-speaking cultured Belgians, however, is taught in the schools and is gaining ground in economic life. Although French is still much used in commercial and industrial circles, it is losing steadily as a means of expression. This does not mean that Dutch-speaking Antwerpians do not know French or other languages, for the international character of the city implies a readiness of many of its residents to understand foreign languages.
Most of the foreigners living in Antwerp are Dutch, followed by Moroccans, Spaniards, French, and Germans; there are also small numbers of British, Americans, and Israelis. Unlike the other foreigners, the Moroccan and Spanish groups are largely unskilled workers who migrated to Belgium during periods of labour scarcity after World War II. There have been associated social tensions, notably concerning discrimination in housing.
Sep 9, 2022 · An arresting clash of old-world grandeur and industrial power plays out across Belgium’s unpretentious second city, home to historic dockyards, award-winning cuisine, captivating museums and ...
- Grote Markt. Market. Share. You’ll find Grote Markt, the old market square, right in the center of the old city district. Historic guildhalls line the edge of the square, flanking the impressive structure of Antwerp’s city hall.
- Vlaeykensgang. Share. Vlaeykensgang is a small alley near the Grote Markt, connecting several streets in an otherwise secluded community. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Vlaeykensgang was the home of Antwerp’s shoemakers and cobblers.
- Antwerp Ruien. Share. At one point in its history, Antwerp was characterized by its waterways, which were crucial to the town’s defense, transport, and local resources.
- Het Steen. Building, Museum, Zoo. Share. The oldest building in Antwerp, Het Steen is a small castle built in the early middle ages following Viking invasions into Belgium.
It is about 40 km (25 mi) north of Brussels, and about 15 km (9 mi) south of the Dutch border. The Port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world, ranking second in Europe after Rotterdam [4][5] and within the top 20 globally. The city is also known as the hub of the world's diamond trade.
5 days ago · On a facade dating from Antwerp’s golden age (16th century), the City Hall flies flags from dozens of countries — representing the importance of international trade to the city.
People also ask
Why is Antwerp so important?
What if Antwerp was a new world city?
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Is Antwerp a gamma city?
May 8, 2015 · Sixteenth century Antwerp, however, was the first world city of an expanding capitalist world economy. Understanding this phenomenon and its decline can raise important questions about the modus operandi of subsequent world cities.
