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Photo: DRG-fan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
One of the oldest zoos in the world, with over 4000 animals and lots of 19th-century design and architecture.
Antwerp Zoo is a zoo in the centre of Antwerp, Belgium, located next to the Antwerpen-Centraal railway station. The zoo is the oldest animal park in Belgium, and one of the oldest in the world; it was established on 21 July 1843.
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ECK is an art space for contemporary visual arts, based in an old bottling factory. Its shows are mostly experimental, but always intriguing.
This is south and southwest of the central station. You will find countless jewellery shops, as well as the Antwerp Diamond Exchange, one of the most important financial centres of the world's diamond industry. Majority of the world's rough diamond transactions take place here. The district is interesting from an ethnic and cultural perspective, for at least 50% of the diamond industry is in the hands of the city's Jews. Antwerp has a large population of Jews (about 50,000 people), a lot of them Orthodox.
Van Den Nest synagogue
The main synagogue of Antwerp.
A sort of medieval monastery for women. The well-kept gardens are great photo opportunities.
The house of painter Peter Paul Rubens is now a museum of his life and artwork. Many of his paintings and artworks and his contemporaries are installed in the rooms, as well as furniture of his period. Paintings include his early Adam and Eve (c. 1600) and a self-portrait made when he was about fifty.
Bourlaschouwburg
19th-century neo-classicist theatre building. Charming from the outside and even nicer if you manage to get in for a theater show or a concert. It houses a spectacular pastry salon inside the large cupola above the theatre. Great place to have tea with cake or waffles, of course.