I’ve just finished my stay in Antwerp. I arrived on Thursday, 3rd April and left on Saturday, 6th April.
The reason for the trip was to attend the European Sitecore User Group Conference (SUGCON 2025). I have shared my key takeaways from the conference separately, but here are some reflections from my stay in Antwerp and my travels through the city in general.
I really enjoyed my time in Antwerp. Here are some things I noted whilst I was there 🙂
1) Giants are big in Antwerp
On Saturday, a few of us went on a fascinating historical tour of the city led by an elderly local guide. He shared stories about statues and historical locations. According to legend, Druon Antigoon was a giant who lived near the River Scheldt in what is now Antwerp. He would demand a toll from anyone wishing to cross the river. If they refused to pay, he would cut off one of their hands and throw it into the river. Eventually, a Roman soldier named Silvius Brabo defeated the giant, cut off his hand, and threw it into the river instead. Apparently, this is where the name Antwerp comes from, taken from hand werpen, or “to throw a hand”.
A statue of Silvius Brabo stands in a central square, with its backside cheekily facing the office of the then conservative local leader. This was done at the request of the artist, who was known to be more liberal in his views.
There was another giant, Lange Wapper, who used to follow drunk men and send them home. It sounds like he was performing a public service, but locals soon realised he was afraid of light. They stayed in well-lit areas or carried lanterns and candles to keep him away.
2) Give Antwerp a big hand
While the original tale of hand chopping was rather violent, over time the hand symbol has come to represent more positive values such as helpfulness, unity, and support. Today, the official coat of arms of Antwerp includes hands, representing the idea of lending a hand and showing how the city has embraced a more generous and welcoming identity rooted in its colourful past.
3) Museums
On Sunday, I visited a few museums. I asked ChatGPT to suggest some that were close to each other, starting with the MAS (I decided to start here because it looks like a Minecraft building, and my kids love Minecraft). The MAS was a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive experience. The surrounding area was beautiful, and the views of Antwerp and the harbour from the museum were stunning.
As the founding trustee of a charity that raises funds to educate children from deprived backgrounds, I was particularly impressed by one of the floors, which was dedicated to compassion and explored why people choose to help others. This tied in nicely with the theme of the giving hand that Antwerp is known for.
I followed up with the Red Star Line Museum. This was a fascinating place that highlighted the journeys of people who passed through or settled in Antwerp, often escaping persecution, poverty, or simply seeking a better life. Reading about the sacrifices people made and what they left behind was deeply thought provoking, and it made me reflect on what it must have been like for my own father, who left his family and friends in Pakistan at the age of 14 to come and work in the mills of Yorkshire.
The last museum I visited was the Rubenshuis, the former residence and studio of the renowned Flemish Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. I had never heard of this artist or museum before, but I chose to go as it was closer to the train station and convenient for my return journey. I’m glad I did. The artist seemed wildly ambitious from a young age, and the digital presentations in the basement really brought his art to life with vivid colours and engaging interactive styles. The garden was also beautiful and tranquil, and I even had a quick nap there to recharge. As I said, I was genuinely impressed by the artist, his motivations, and his work, and I feel inspired to learn more about him.
4) Food
The food in Belgium was amazing, and you could find almost anything you wanted. As someone who loves Thai, Korean, and Middle Eastern food, I was pleasantly surprised to find plenty of options. Of course, I sampled many variations of Belgian waffles, both sweet and savoury. They were available almost everywhere and always delicious. Naturally, I bought some chocolate too. If I had more time, I would have looked for more independent and less tourist focused places to buy my food, waffles, and chocolate. Even so, I was not disappointed.
5) Traffic
Traffic rules and signage in Antwerp seem to be more like suggestions. The flow appears to be decided by the size and speed of the traveller, with trams followed by cars, then motorbikes, fast bikes, slow bikes, and finally pedestrians.
I tried a bit of reverse psychology with the traffic, crossing the road even when I did not have priority. This actually worked quite well, but only if you walked with confidence. That said, I owe a big thank you to Mo and Anna, who may have saved my life a couple of times at some crossings.
Disclaimer: I know very little about Belgian culture or history, but these were a few things I noticed during my lovely visit to Belgium, and especially to Antwerp.
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