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Europe > Belgium > Antwerp > Introduction
| A N
T W E R P |
| Antwerp, the diamond capital of the
world, has a definite charm. The city is thoroughly cosmopolitan, but has its feet firmly
entrenched in the past. Part of Antwerp’s magic is its beautiful medieval churches,
fascinating museums and the River Schelde, without which Antwerp would probably never be
Antwerp. A whimsical legend describes how Antwerp got its name… The River Schelde
was home to a giant who demanded huge tolls from passersby. The giant wreaked havoc till
he was killed by a Roman centurion, who cut off his hand and threw it into the river. This
gave the city its name of ‘handwerpen’, Flemish for ‘throwing of the
hand’.
Antwerp today is the world’s fifth largest port and an important centre of the
diamond trade. The city’s fascination lives on… whatever it may be, the river,
monuments, or its famous scion, the Flemish master Rubens… Antwerp is undoubtedly a
city with a character of its own. |
F A C
T B O X |
| Area |
195 sq
km |
| Population |
452,000 |
| Language |
Flemish
(Dutch); French |
Religion |
Christianity,
predominantly Roman Catholicism |
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