Flanders: Ghent and Antwerp
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Flanders is the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium and is one of Belgium's communities, regions, and language areas. The region is not the largest in Belgium, but it is the region with the largest population if Brussels is included. 7,797,611 out of 11,431,406 Belgian residents live in Flanders or the bilingual Brussels region. The largest cities in the area are Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, and Leuven. The official capital of Flanders is the city of Brussels, although the city belongs to the capital region with its own government. Flanders has its own parliament and government that monitors the social aspects of Flanders such as culture and education. During the second half of the 20th century, major national investments were made in the port infrastructure in Flanders, with the result that their economy grew rapidly. Today, Flanders and Brussels are much richer than Wallonia and are one of the richest regions in Europe and the world.
Ghent
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As the medieval architecture has remained intact and well-preserved, there are many highlights that tourists can visit. Saint Bavo Cathedral with Ghent Altarpiece, the belfry, the Gravensteen castle and the architecture along the old Graslei harbor are examples of places that tourists can visit that are interested in magnificent architecture. In the town there are also many old churches to visit and three beguinages. The belfry and the beguinages listed UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998 and 1999. For those who are more interested in Ghent's history, we can recommend the Ghent City Museum which tells and explains the city's past.
Other important museums that can be visited are the Museum voor Schone Kunsten which shows paintings by many famous Flemish artists. MIAT is another museum that presents the city's heyday in textile manufacturing. Here you can see a recreation of workshops and shops from the 19th century and original machines that were used during this time.
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Local delicacies that tourists can try when they visit Ghent are pralines and jelly-filled sweets called Cuberdons. Waterzooi is a local stew originally made from freshwater fish caught in the Ghent rivers. But nowadays it is cooked with chicken instead of fish. What may also be interesting to know is that the city promotes meat-free days on Thursdays called Thursday Veggie Day where public canteens only serve vegetarian food. This is a campaign that is linked to the fact that meat production has harmful environmental effects and where the city takes its responsibility to reduce its greenhouse gases.
Ghent is a port and university city in the Flemish region of Belgium with 262,219 inhabitants. The city is located inland but right next to the river Leie which means that the city has a connection to the North Sea.
The area has long been populated, only from the Stone and Iron Ages. During the Middle Ages, Ghent was the leading city in textile manufacturing. The city was occupied during both world wars, but they survived destruction which means that very old architecture in the city is preserved.
Antwerp
Antwerp is a port and industrial city in northern Belgium and is the second largest metropolitan region after Brussels. Through the city flows the river Schelde which connects with the North Sea which has and is important for the city's business life.
The history of the city goes back a long way. The area was used as early as the 100s A.D. as a Roman settlement. During the 6th century, buildings began to emerge, and trade began to gain momentum. The city and its trade continued to expand and especially in the late 14th century. During the 16th century, Antwerp was Europe's richest trading and industrial city. Throughout history, the city has faced many setbacks and conflicts. In 1576, the largest massacre in the history of Belgium took place among the people of Antwerp. This is called the Spanish Fury and the reason for this tragedy was a late payment. Many merchants left Antwerp in this tragedy. Antwerp was hit hard during the two world wars, but they managed to maintain their position in trade and industry. There is a long history behind Antwerp and for those who are more interested in history, we recommend visiting the Museum aan de Stroom which tells the story of Antwerp, the port, and the history of shipping. At the top of the building, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city.
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But Antwerp also has a reputation for its art, fashion, museum, beautiful architecture and its good food and drink.Due to the merchants' wealth during history, very beautiful houses were built that have been preserved and can be visited in the city. Antwerp City Hall is an example of such a building that was built in 1565 in Renaissance style. Antwerp Central Station is also an example of a building with beautiful architecture. The Central Station was built between 1895 and 1905 and has many times been named the most beautiful railway station in the world. The Cathedral of Our Lady is another remarkable building that is a Roman Catholic Gothic cathedral in Antwerp. Construction of the cathedral began in the 14th century and was completed in 1521. The cathedral's bell tower has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the cathedral you can also see important works by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. For those who are interested, it is also possible to visit Rubenshuis, which was the artist's former home and workshop in Antwerp. His house is now a museum and there you can view many of his collected works.
Throughout history, Antwerp has been known for its trade, which they are today. Their port is the seventeenth largest port in the world and the second largest in Europe. In 2018, the port handled 235.2 million tonnes of goods. Another market that is also large in Antwerp is the diamond trade, which was started as early as the 16th century. 85% of all the world's rough diamonds pass annually in Antwerp and in 2011 the industry had a turnover of 56 billion dollars. However, the industry in the city has deteriorated in recent years as production has moved to Dubai and India as it is a cheaper labour market.
