Story Title: Discovering Antwerp
Episode: 7
Broadcast Date: 8th February 2014
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

Antwerp can cater to the most demanding of gourmets and offers unlimited opportunities for entertainment and recreation. It is a melting pot of cultures and history. It will impress you like it has many first time visitors who can’t wait to come back.

City of Beauty and Passion!

• Antwerp is the capital of the Antwerp Province of Flanders. It is the largest municipality in both Flanders and Belgium due to its population of 507,007.
• It is located on the right eastern bank of the river Scheldt, which is linked to the North Sea by the estuary Westerschelde.
• Antwerp’s port has always been one of Europe’s largest trading hubs and many of the city’s original merchant shipping buildings remain
• Antwerp hosted the 1920 Summer Olympics.
• Many sculptures around the city display the symbol of a severed hand relating to a local legend of a giant who cut off the hand of those who wouldn’t pay a toll to cross the River Scheldt into Antwerp’s mighty port.
• The Roman Soilder, Brabo, cousin of Julius Caesar, became a city hero when he bravely chopped off and threw away the hand of the greedy giant. The legend of the giant may have led to the name Antwerp, which could be translated as ‘’throwing a hand”.
• In August every year the Bollekesfeest takes place. The Bollekesfeest is a showcase for Antwerp’s local products like it’s famous Belgium Chocolate, Beer and Diamonds.
• One of the most known products of the city are the biscuits, the ‘Antwerpse Handjes’, literally "Antwerp Hands". Usually made from a short pastry with almonds or milk chocolate, they symbolize the Antwerp trademark and folklore.
• The jewel in the crown of the city’s architecture is the Gothic church ‘Cathedral of Our Lady’ in the centre of Antwerp. The bells within the magnificent spire ring out over Antwerp on the hour.
• For more information on European Tours click here.

Contact
Scenic Tours
P: 1300 723 642
E: www.scenictours.com.au/contact-us/
W: www.scenictours.com.au