Page 160 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

158  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

Antwerp: Beyond the Centre sympathetic setting for
215 sculp tures from the
There are a number of interesting suburbs that lie outside 19th century to the pre sent day.
the historic hub of Antwerp. To the east is the magnificent Works by artists such as Auguste
Centraal Station, surrounded by the surprisingly unglamorous Rodin, Henry Moore, Barbara
Diamond District – centre of Europe’s biggest international Hepworth, Georges Minne,
Rik Wouters, Juan Muňoz,
diamond trade – whose streets are lined with diamond Panamarenko, Chris Burden,
outlets. Further south, the suburb of Zurenborg, in Berchem, Dan Graham, Ai Weiwei and
has some of Europe’s most exuberant mansions, created in a Roman Signer give a unique
wide variety of styles for Antwerp’s wealthy merchant classes. overview of more than a
The eastern suburb of Deurne has a silver museum, set in a century of visual arts. The
open spaces form the perfect
charming castle, while to the south, Middelheim contains backdrop for the sculptures to
an outdoor sculpture museum of exceptional quality. come into their own. The
museum represents the
pinnacle of a policy to
decorate public spaces with
con temporary sculpture, a
trend that can be seen all
over Belgium.
Every year renowned and
promising artists are invited to
create new work. Freed from
the constraints of the typical
“white cube” of a museum hall,
the artists interact with the
endless opportunities offered
by the park and the existing
Antwerp’s steel-and-glass Centraal Station, a monument to the railroad era collection, which inspires them
to create original pieces,
P Centraal Station reptile house and a giant reef custom-made for the museum.
Koningin Astridplein. Open daily. aquarium with more than Artists with whom the museum
Antwerp’s main railway station 4,000 fish and a wealth of has collaborated include
is a grand build ing designed in tropical corals, along with all the Berlinde De Bruyckere, Wim
extravagant Neo-Classical style other usual favourites - penguins, Delvoye, Yoshitomo Nara, Paul
by the well known Bruges elephants and hippos. The zoo McCarthy, Chris Burden, John
architect Louis Delacenserie, offers plenty for children of all Körmeling and Erwin Wurm.
and built over seven years, ages to enjoy. With an average of 300,000
between 1898 and 1905. With visitors per year and free entry,
its grand staircases, columns, E Middelheimmuseum the Middelheimmuseum is a
marble and gold decorative Middelheimlaan 61. Tel (03) 2883360. gateway to modern and
flourishes, Antwerp’s palatial Open Tue–Sun. 9 7 contemporary art for young
station speaks of a bygone age, ∑ middelheimmuseum.be and old, from nature lovers
when rail was considered the The large, wooded park of the to art experts. It provides an
king of luxury travel. A family open-air Middelheimmuseum environment where culture and
theme park, Comics Station (or the Openluchtmuseum voor recreation come together in
Antwerp, featuring all the most Beelhouwkunst) provides a perfect harmony.
popular Belgian comic strip
characters, is scheduled to open
in a corner of the Centraal A Dog of Flanders
Station by the end of 2017. The suburb of Hoboken is the setting for the children’s
book A Dog of Flanders, which is most popular in Japan.
O Antwerp Zoo It was written by the British author Marie Louise de la
Koningin Astridplein 20–26. Ramée (1839–1908), an animal rights activist and literary
Tel (03) 2024540. Open 10am–6pm figure, under the pen-name Ouida. Inspired by a visit to
Mon–Sat (until 7pm on Sun). 7 Antwerp in 1871, the story is of an orphaned boy,
∑ zooantwerpen.be Nello, and his dog Patrasche, who take a milk cart into
Antwerp each day. A series of tragic events leads to
Founded in 1843, the Antwerp their deaths in front of Rubens’s Descent from the
Zoo is one of the oldest zoos Cross in Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal. Fans travel
in the world. It emphasizes from Japan to visit the bronze statue of these two
wildlife conservation with a figures at Kapelstraat 3, Hoboken, and the
resolutely modern approach. commemorative bench by the cathedral. Statue of Nello and Patrasche
It has a superb tropical
For hotels and restaurants see p268 and pp286–7

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