In the capital city of Antwerp, in the Flemish Region of Belgium

 "When we were studying at the Royal Antwerp Academy, we were taught to seek inspiration from everyone, everything, and everywhere."

-- Dries van Noten

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(in the Flemish Region of Belgium) Lively Antwerp is a hidden gem. Its medieval streets, Renaissance monuments, and vibrant nightlife tend to be overshadowed by its reputation as center of the diamond trade and as the world's fifth-largest port. Biking is a popular choice for getting around this stylish Flemish city. See thousands of Old Masters at the Royal Museum and Rubens House.

+ The city of Antwerp is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third largest city in Belgium after Tournai and Couvin). It is the most populous municipality in Belgium, and the country's second-largest metropolitan area, after Brussels. Flowing through Antwerp is the river Scheldt. Antwerp, linked to the North Sea by the river's Westerschelde estuary. 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.

+ Both economically and culturally, Antwerp is (and has long been) an important city in the Low Countries, especially before and during the Spanish Fury (of 1576). The Bourse at Antwerp, originally built in 1531 was re-built in 1872;, and became the world's first purpose-built commodity exchange.

+ There is a folklore tradition that the name Antwerpen is from Dutch handwerpen ("hand-throwing"). A giant called Antigoon is said to have lived near the Scheldt river and extracted a toll from passing boatmen. He severed the hand of anyone who did not pay, and threw it in the river. Eventually the giant was killed by a young hero named Silvius Brabo, who cut off the giant's own hand and flung that into the river. This is is celebrated by a statue (illustrated below) in the city's main market square, the Grote Markt.

+ Historical Antwerp allegedly had its origins in a Gallo-Roman vicus. The Merovingian Antwerp was evangelized by Saint Amand in the 7th century. Antwerp became a margraviate in 980. In the 11th century, the best-known leader of the First Crusade (from 1096–1099), Godfrey of Bouillon, was originally Margrave of Antwerp, from 1076 until his death in 1100, though he was later also Duke of Lower Lorraine (1087–1100) and Defender of the Holy Sepulchre (1099–1100). IAntwerp was also the headquarters of Edward III during his early negotiations with Jacob van Artevelde.

+ During World War I, Antwerp became the fallback point of the Belgian Army after the defeat at Liège, but the city was taken after heavy fighting by the German Army, and the Belgians were forced to retreat westwards. Antwerp remained under German occupation until the Armistice.

+ During World War II, the city was a strategic target because of its port. It was occupied by Germany on 18 May 1940 and liberated by the British 11th Armored Division on 4 September 1944.