The Art and Architecture of Antwerp 7948

We depart London St Pancras International on the morning Eurostar service through the Channel Tunnel to Brussels with onward connection to Antwerp. On arrival we transfer to our hotel.

After breakfast, we head out into the historic heart of Antwerp on an introductory walking tour (please wear suitable shoes and bring along water / waterproofs / umbrellas). We will join our local guide for a visit to Antwerpen-Centraal Station, which has been voted one of the most beautiful stations in the world.  A combination of a stonework building with a Pantheon-inspired cupola and a steel structure covering the tracks, the station is now one of the most impressive in Europe. From here we head to the Saint James Church, one of the largest in the city and home to the burial chapel of the painter Rubens. Here we can also see a striking pulpit, stunning stained-glass windows and numerous statues and paintings. Other highlights of the tour include the Steen, a medieval fortress, along with the beautiful town hall and guild houses. Finally, we head along the charming Vlaaikensgang which leads up to the Cathedral.
This afternoon, we visit the Cathedral of Our Lady where an experienced guide will take us on a tour of the Cathedral, to learn about the building’s history, significance and its art heritage. The cathedral is home to beautiful statues and masterpieces by Peter-Paul Rubens.
We conclude this afternoon with a visit to the Diamond Quarter, several square blocks covering an area of around a square mile and home to a host of diamond cutters and traders, known as diamantaires.

Today after breakfast we have the morning to explore the KMSKA – Royal Museum of Fine Arts. Here we are joined by one the of the local guides for a tour through the collections. We have time to discover works by numerous Flemish masters, over one hundred masterpieces including works by Fouquet, Rodin and Chagall and the largest collection of works by James Ensor and Rik Wouters.
This afternoon we visit Snijders & Rockox Huis. Housed in two former town houses, the museum showcases a collection of 16th and 17th century art. The town houses were once home to artists Nicolaas Rockox and Frans Snijders, who were neighbours for more than 20 years and were both passionate about art. The museum now showcases works by Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck, as well as collections of silverware and terracotta. We are joined by a knowledgeable guide for a tour of the museum and all its treasures.

This morning after breakfast in the hotel we depart for the Rubens Experience Centre and Gardens. The new building opens in June 2024 and lies to the side of the original artist’s home (which is currently closed for refurbishment). The building was designed by Robbrecht and Daem architects and is based on Rubens’ vision but is also highly contemporary, with old and new coming together. The new centre delves deeper into Rubens’ life and work, with interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and even a reconstructed version of his studio. The new baroque garden blends past with present and also features plants from Rubens’ time.
This afternoon we visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the original residence and workplace of the Plantin and Moretus publishing house. The museum was the first to be ordained on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is of great importance in the history of the city. Today over three hundred years of book-printing history can be seen as well as a rich collection of art including works by the family friend Peter-Paul Ruben.

After breakfast this morning, we head to the agreed meeting point where local tour guides will join the group for an ‘Art Nouveau along the railway’ walking tour. (Please wear comfortable attire and bring along water / waterproofs / umbrellas). The duration of the tour is approximately two hours and explores the Art Nouveau buildings of the southern part of the Zurenborg district which is located between Berchem station and Antwerp Central Station. During this walk, we discover the hidden gems of the frivolous architectural style located either side of the Antwerp – Mechlen railway line. Shortly after the arrival of Art Nouveau style in Belgium in 1893, the architectural movement made its way to Antwerp by the way of local architects who took inspiration from colleagues such as Horta, Hankar and Van de Velde, but also contributed original ideas which can still be seen around the city.
We later depart Antwerp by rail, connecting to the Eurostar service returning to London St Pancras in the early evening.