Antwerp

placed in the category: Cities

Antwerp, or Antwerpen as it is called in Dutch, is a city in Belgium. It is located along the bank of the river Scheldt. Antwerp has played an important role in the nations of the Benelux economically and culturally. The port of Antwerp is second only to Rotterdam in Europe and was the seventeenth largest port in the world in the year 2005. Numerous petrochemical industries take refuge in Antwerp's dockyards. These also include five oil refineries who are taking advantage of the situation. Antwerp has four nuclear power plants existing and generating electricity.

Antwerp is famous for its diamonds. The diamond trade in Antwerp has long ago set the standards for selling and buying stones. The city currently has four diamond bourses. One of the bourses is for bort, a term which refers to shards of gem-grade or quality diamonds. The rest of the bourses are for gem quality goods. Traditionally, the Hasidic Jewish community dominates Antwerp's diamond trading industry. In the last two decades, though, Indian and Armenian traders have slowly become important. The standards in diamonds, training and the promotion of the Interests of Antwerp as the center of the diamond industry is now lead by Antwerp World Diamond Centre, successor to the Hoge Raad voor Diamant.

The statue in front of the city's town hall is an allusion to the legend from which the name of Antwerp came from. According to folklore, Antwerp is derived from the giant's hand which was cut off (Old English hand and wearpan). Of course, there are those who disagree and insist that Antwerp's name comes from a conjugation of an 't werf (on the wharf).

Today's broad avenues in Antwerp also show the position of the fortifications used before. When Belgian independence was established, Antwerp leads the defense of the citadel and kept its focus. In the city center, a motorway bypass encircles. The banks of the Scheldt are also linked by the Waasland tunnel, Kennedy Tunnel, and the Liefkenshoek Tunnel.

The airport is some distance from the city. A bus will take you to the city. Aside from airplanes, Antwerp can also be reached by Rail/ international trains come in from Amsterdam and Paris.