Antwerp

Antwerp is the second biggest port in Europe after Rotterdam. It became a center of European trade in the 15th century after Bruges access to the ocean silted up. Its Cathedral of Our Lady was built from 1352 to 1521.

Much of the church was destroyed by Protestants during the Beeldenstorm, an episode of iconoclasm in 1566.

Antwerp became the center of the international economy during the 16th century, and grew incredibly rich from the trade that developed from the Age of Exploration. Antwerp accounted for 40% of world trade. It was said Antwerp earned the Spanish crown seven times more revenue than Spanish colonization of the Americas.

During the 80 Years War, Antwerp was viciously sacked during the Spanish Fury. Later in the war all Protestants were evicted from the city. Most went to the Netherlands and helped start the Dutch Golden Age when the war ended in 1648. Antwerp became part of the Spanish Netherlands, and its access to the ocean was closed.

Cute

Antwerp City Hall

Het Steen was built in the 13th century by the Duke of Brabant.

Lange Wapper, a Flemish giant and trickster, stands outside Het Steen.

Belgium is filled with places selling "Australian Home Made Ice Cream" with waffles.