Vanberg & Dewulf,
experts on the good Belgian life

Antwerp, daughter of the River Scheldt and second largest city of Belgium.. The 500.000 inhabitants call it the 'Metropolis' (Antwerpians are known in Belgium for not being too modest). This city has so many different facets that it takes a while before one gets to know it thoroughly.

It is the second largest harbor of Europe (after Rotterdam). Moreover, Antwerp is a splendid city with numerous architectural highlights, most of which date from the 16th (the golden era of Antwerp) and the 17th century. The destructions of the Second World War, unfortunately, has scarred somehow the fair face of the old town. Still there are enough monuments left for those who like monument-hopping to spend a few days admiring them. The past is also represented by the numerous paintings of Peter Paul Rubens who lived in the Antwerp of the early 17th century.

Antwerp, the diamond center of the World. If diamonds really are a girl's best friend, than a lot of ladies will not leave out a visit to the diamond district around the Railway Station. This area is also the Jewish part of the city. The presence of many 'Chassidic' Jewish people gives the city a flair that cannot be found in other Belgian cities.

Antwerp, however, does not only live from the past. Nowadays, Antwerp has earned a place among the fashion cities of the world thanks to the efforts of numerous young Flemish fashion designers ( e.g.: Walter Van Beirendonck, Nadine Wynants, Ann De Meulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Kaat Tilley and others). Visit the fashion area of Antwerp near the Meir shopping street.
 

Antwerp is Belgium's fashion capital. Most famous are "The Antwerp Six", six designers all of whom graduated from the Academy in the early eighties. Ann Demeulemeester, Martin Margiela, Dries Van Noten, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Van Saene and Dirk Bikkembergs are all established fashion names now. Between them they have made Antwerp a regular stopping-off place for the fashion world between Paris and London. They have been followed by new waves of designers, including Kaat Tilley and An Vandevorst, Bernard Willems, and Raf Simmons.
 

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