Page 154 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

152  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Central and
Southern Antwerp

Antwerp stretches from its centre out into sprawling suburbs
for a distance of 7 km (4 miles). Since it was badly damaged
in both World Wars, the city has a broad mix of architecture,
ranging from the medieval to the ultramodern. The old
city centre is concentrated around the Onze-Lieve-
Vrouwekathedraal and the Grote Markt. To the east of the
cathedral – beyond Antwerp’s pioneering 1930s skyscraper,
the Boerentoren – lies the Meir, a premier shop ping street.
The Zuid (South) district is an area of drained docks. Now
rejuvenated, this is a vibrant part of the town, and the old Late 16th-century printing press in the
dockland architecture of the streets Waalse Kaai and Vlaamse Museum Plantin-Moretus
Kaai now houses a variety of clubs, bars and museums. painted by Flemish and Dutch
masters. The museum is devoted
to the early years of printing,
talent. Stars such as Dries van when Plantin and others began
Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, to produce books that bore no
Walter van Bierendonck and resemb lance to earlier illumi-
Martin Margiela all have a nated medieval manuscripts.
presence in the city. Antwerp was a centre for
This museum pro vides the printing in the 15th and 16th
historical context to Antwerp’s centuries, and Plantin was its
rise to glory in the fashion world. most successful printer. His
Stylish items and acces sories are legacy was carried on by his son-
innovat ively displayed in changing in-law Jan I Moretus. Today, his
exhibi tions, allowing the museum workshop displays several historic
to serve as a resource for both printing presses, as well as wood-
instruction and inspiration. cuts and copper plates. Plantin’s
library is also on show. One of its
Modernist interior of the reputed E Museum Plantin-Moretus gems is an edition of the Gutenberg
Modemuseum Vrijdagmarkt 22. Tel (03) 2211450. Bible – the first book to be
Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun, Easter printed using move able type, a
E Modemuseum (MoMu) Mon & Whit Mon. & free on last Wed technique that was invented by
Nationalestraat 28. Tel (03) 4702770. of month. ∑ museumplantin Johannes Gutenberg in 1455.
Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun (until 9pm moretus.be
on the first Sun of the month). & This fascinating museum and P Maagdenhuis
∑ momu.be World Heritage Site occupies Lange Gasthuisstraat 33. Tel (03)
Following the rise to celebrity in a large 16th-century house 3382620. Open 10am–5pm Mon &
the 1980s of the influential fashion that belonged to the printer Wed–Fri, 1–5pm Sat & Sun. &
designers called the Antwerp Six, Christopher Plantin, who moved Literally the Maidens’ House,
the city has entered the stratos- here in 1576. The house is built this orphanage and foundling
phere of international haute around a courtyard with ancient hospital for girls was built in two
couture, and maintains a glowing rooms and narrow corridors that phases during the 16th and 17th
reputation for nurturing new resemble the types of interiors centuries, and remained in
operation until 1882. It is a
delightful historic building with
a foot note of tragedy – baby girls
were abandoned here by their
mothers, often anonymously in
a “foundling drawer” set into an
outer wall. One half of a playing
card was attached to the child,
and the mother kept the other
half, in the hope that one day
they might be reunited. Such
cards are among the quirky but
intriguing collection of items
now on view in a series of rooms
The charming inner courtyard of the Maagdenhuis that includes furniture, paintings
For hotels and restaurants see p268 and pp286–7

152-153_EW_Belgium.indd 152 18/10/16 3:01 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm