Brasschaat "city of parks", "green holidayresort, "biking friendly"etc. statements which shows it is a green and very livable city. In and around Brasschaat there are numerous opportunities for biking and hiking.
For the kids there is plenty to do as well.
On top of that there are two good golfcourses close by.
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.
Not as big as the 'Grand'Place' of Brussels, but certainly as beautiful is the 'Grote Markt' (= Town Square) of Antwerp. Here is still the heart of the old city. The Grote Markt is beautifully surrounded by the Town Hall and the so-called houses of the Guilds or corporations. In the background the tower of Our Lady's Cathedral completes the magnificent view.
The houses of the Guilds are unfortunately not the original ones. A large part of the Grote Markt burned down in 1576. Most of the houses were rebuilt afterwards by Hans Vredeman, the town architect, in Flemish Renaissance style. In the 19th century the houses were again renovated. The house number 7 is one of the most beautiful. It was the house of the guild of Archers and is crowned by the statue of St. George. The house number 25 , a reconstruction of a house that used to stand at the 'Meir' is situated on the spot were an Inn used to stand. This Inn was mentioned in the medieval play of 'Marieken van Nieumwhegen'. Nowadays the Grote Markt is one of the most pleasant squares in the city (certainly since traffic has been banned from it). During beautiful warm summer days most people choose this spot to enjoy a refreshing beer from one of the many terraces.
The Meir is the name of the most famous shopping street of Antwerp. The large avenue is now free of traffic and invites thousands of people every day to a pleasant shopping stroll in a beautiful historic surrounding. Roughly spoken, the shopping district of the Meir stretches from Our Lady's Cathedral to Central Station.
The street boasts numerous beautiful historic buildings. One of the most important is the 'Osterrieth'-house at number 85. This house was built between 1745-1746 by architect Van Baurscheit in Rococo-style. The middle section has almost literally been carved out with a chisel and is decorated with a monumental fronton. It is now the seat of the Paribas Belgium bank and houses a remarkable collection of Belgian paintings.
Another of the historical buildings alongside the Meir is situated at number 50. It used to be the former Royal Residence of the Belgian Kings in Antwerp. It was also built, like the Osterrieth House, by architect Van Baurscheit in Rococo -style around 1745. It is now used for expositions and for the film museum. It is a beautiful testimony of the last wave of Baroque art, the ornately decorative Rococo Style.
In the middle of the Meir is a side-street, called 'Wapper'. In this street stands the House of Peter Paul Rubens.