Nationaal Scheepvaartmuseum or National
Maritime Museum
is on the foreshore of the River Scheldt to the immediate west of the old city
center. It lays within the partly-restored confines of a castle called the
Steen that dates from 1200 and is Antwerp's
oldest building. The museum contains a collection of charts, models, paintings,
and actual representations of canal boats, fishing boats, and other sailing
craft that have shaped Belgium
history.
Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal
The Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal or the Cathedral of Our Lady
is the biggest and best Gothic church in Belgium
and one of the highpoints of Antwerp
with its 493 foot spire. It took nearly 170 years to bring this landmark
construction project to completion in 1521.t has subsequently been graced by
four canvases daubed by the baroque master Rubens. Those include The Raising
of the Cross (1610), Resurrection (1612) and Assumption
(1625)m all excellent examples of this artist's early work. But the best-known painting is the enigmatic
triptych The Descent from the Cross (1612).
Openluchtmuseum voor Beeldhouwkunst Middelheim
The
Openluchtmuseum voor Beeldhouwkunst Middelheim is an open air sculpture garden
containing three hundred sculptures decorously scattered throughout the large
park. They include works by such artists as Rik Wouters and Auguste Rodin.
Rubenshuis
This is the former home and studio of the famed Belgian
artist, Peter Paul Rubens. He built this baroque mansion in 1611 and lived in
it until his death in 1640 at the age of 63. There have been some judicious
restorations to the artist's living quarters, the studio where he produced many
acclaimed artworks, and to the formal garden in the mansion's grounds. The
collection of paintings by Rubens himself and by some of his contemporaries
alone already makes it worth the entrance fee. During a visit one can stroll
through the reconstructed garden, visit the work shop of Rubens and his private
quarters.