Category: Belgium

Underneath Antwerp in the underground is the old canal system that made Antwerp look like Amsterdam. We took a tour below here to learn the history. As you walk through the system you can see the original bridges. As we walked it is as if we were boats on a canal moving through the city.

We put on a protective coverall with wellies on our feet as we would be walking through storm water run off in some low areas.

There were others down there with us. Rats which we only saw one and spiders. These are only females as they eat the makes after mating. They are much like a small tarantula. The temperature usually stays around 15 degrees Celsius.

In the middle ages the city of Antwerp was founded in low lands and closer to water, namely the Scheldt river. Canals were created and used for trade, defense, and removing waste. As the population grew, more canals were added, but the stench and disease became a problem.

The city council solved this problem by wanting people to build over the canals. Whoever covers the canal in front of their buildings owns that portion of land. You can see many restaurants with extended outdoor seating far off the sidewalk.

Underneath in the old canals were constructed a sewer system of pipes. As we walked along we heard the history of used of the water in the canals, excess dumping if human waste as the population grew and how disease caused a change in policy. I wonder what else they could have done as the prettiest part of Amsterdam is the canals.

This is a sluice gate where water could be stopped. Before adding the pipes, water would be stopped through multiple gates. At low tide, the bottom hate would open, letting water and waste it, then the next one further up would be opened, washing waste out and do on up through the ruein.

There is still water through these underground canals as storm water run off comes through here as well.

This spot has a church above it and there is a passageway that leads to a closet in the back. This allowed church members to flee through these passageways if needed. It is also rumoured that priests would use the passageways to visit prostitutes.

Here are some informational posters at the end though they are all in Dutch.

It was quite interesting.

Getting around Europe is pretty easy. You can take a train just about anywhere. We walked into the train station and purchased a ticket from Brussels to Antwerp Centraal. Within the hour, we were there.

Do a little research and find hotels that are close to the train station. We walked only a couple blocks each time which is helpful when you are carrying luggage. I chose the more Centraal train stop as it is in the middle of the city. I usually don’t carry a lot when I travel but after winning a class set of VR cubes, my pack is heavier. Okay, I also did buy 4 pairs of shoes and am bringing back a couple more shirts… Quite the workout…

The inside of Antwerp station is beautiful.

We walked to the hotel and unloaded our stuff, charged the phones a bit, and planned the afternoon and evening.

On the walk to see the sights we had chosen, we saw a few interesting sculptures.

Hehe… What my parents used to call me…

Next we visited the botanical gardens. This looks like a Christmas tree (like the artificial kind), but up close it is different…

That was the tips of the tree. They look different but they were hurtful to touch like sharp needles.

This sculpture was really cool.

Of course, statues and art…

De Kathedraal. It is sad that they built other buildings so close to it.

Some of the buildings we saw along the way…

Hidden passageways through doors leading to back alleyways. The sign “Vlaeykensgang” marks where the door is. I know there are more than one.

Grote market. Grote means great.

In the center of Grote market is Brabo fountain. The water was turned off that day. In fact there is a lot of construction here and in Brussels. The history of the fountain according to Wikipedia:

The reason is the legend of the name of the city, in which it is said that the giant Druon Antigoon cut off a hand to all the ship captains who moored in the area and refused to pay toll, then throwing it to the Scheldt. The captain of the Roman army Brabo cut off the giant’s hand imitating what he had done. The fountain reflects the moment when the Brabo throws the giant’s hand into the river.^[1][2][3]According to this legend, the etymology of the name of the city Antwerp is a composition of the Dutch words “(h)ant” (hand) and “werpen” (launch).^[

The sculpture dates to 1887. There is a lot going on in the sculpture with animals (sources of the water) and the giants hand being cut off and thrown.

Dinner was at an Ethiopian restaurant called Little Ethiopia. It was on a side street of if Grote Market. Their food was amazing.

After dinner we went in search of Het Steen castle. Unfortunately it is under construction inside until July 2020.

Along the river Scheldt there are many windmills around the port.

I love all of the stone paths and streets in these cities. We cast a long shadow at the end of the day.

Another beautiful church…

And another…

We also saw what reminds me of Gringotts bank from Harry Potter. And… It actually is a bank… Nationale Bank Van Belgie.

Tomorrow we tour a couple more places in Antwerp and then travel for the last night in Amsterdam. Only one more day and I head back to China. I can’t believe school starts August 5th.

European travel. It seems there is always something. Our train, among others, was cancelled due to a power outage. Instead we took a train to Rotterdam and then on to Brussels. Just put us behind a few hours.

I met a friendly person at the train station named Jon who it turns out actually worked at the power plant in Punxsutawney and new of the steam being used for the greenhouse to grow hot house tomatoes. What a small world!

Brussels is beautiful with the old buildings.

The cathedral.

Views of streets as we were walking.

The Grand Place. These have been government buildings and was also the bread market, notably so all trade occurred here and nobility could directly tax the people. All of the buildings surround the square on four sides.

Later on we took pictures at night. Just beautiful.

While walking through the streets looking for fine chocolates and of course, waffles!

Of course we also set out to find the pis statues.

We found comic book graffiti at as this place is famous for comic books.

We literally ate our way around this city. From fries, to chocolates, to Turkish delights, ice cream (Becca not me), cheese…The best fries ever including one of 8 sauces including a pickle sauce.

Turkish delights.

Waffles everywhere.

Lunch waffles at The Sister right off of the Grand Place. They have gluten free waffles made with chick pea flour. Auderghem waffles for lunch with tomato, avocado, goat cheese, and ruccola (arugula).

Their menu is on wood.

Belgian beer and cheese at the hotel.

Indoor market at St. Hubert’s..

The royal palace and the park.

Statue near Grand place of Bruegges.

Statue of Elisabeth.

Unexpected find in a comic book store: a whole Harry Potter section.

Other statues or artwork that caught my eye.

A really great panorama of the city during my morning run.

Before taking on Brussels.

We stopped at the Marie Louise garden and statue. This is me, Louise Marie in front of Marie Louise.

So true. All about inclusion.

The arch in the park.

Next stop: Antwerp.