Ah, Antwerp.
I added the ‘Diamond Capital of the World’ to my 2025 travel plans because, like any aspiring traveler, I wanted to visit a place that sounds glamorous.
Okay, okay. The true reason I chose to explore Antwerp was because I couldn’t say, “I’ve been there,” as I watched the Hallmark movie The Perfect Setting.
That feeling didn’t sit well with me. Nothing screams adventure like a character in a cheesy rom-com sipping wine in a city you haven’t even visited. So, I put my foot down and declared that a trip to Antwerp was non-negotiable during my Brussels Mini Adventure.
Opting for the train over a car was a genius move. Trust me, no one wants to witness me behind the wheel of a vehicle in any country, apart from perhaps the U.K. Then again, driving on the wrong side of the road feels more natural.
After an hour’s journey, I arrived in Antwerp, brimming with anticipation and a touch of sweat. The city welcomed me with open arms — or should I say, a blast of heat, as the temperature soared to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
I spent a solid 15 minutes snapping pics of the Antwerp Central Train Station because, let’s face it, it’s stunning. Plus, I had to secure that all-important selfie.
As Captain Obvious, the Hotels.com mascot, would say, “If you don’t have pictures, were you even there?”
Although I had a list of “Things to Do in Antwerp” that included the Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp Zoo, and Meir shopping zone, all I really wanted to do was stumble around, camera in hand, capturing the essence of city life.
After about 90 minutes of wandering, I decided to delve into the city’s Diamond Heritage. I headed to the DIVA Museum. Think of it as a sparkling tribute to diamonds and the history of people dropping ludicrous amounts of cash for shiny rocks.
Honestly, I just needed a break from the sun.
The museum was a delightful escape from the heat. I was greeted by an overwhelming array of glittering diamonds and oddball jewelry pieces that could probably blind a mussel from sheer bling. Who needs sunglasses when you have diamonds?
I gained an embarrassing amount of knowledge about diamonds, including all the fancy jargon like brilliant cut, clarity, and carat weight.
Also, they had some engaging exhibits sprinkled throughout the reading marathon. The €12 entry fee was a steal, considering I walked away feeling slightly wiser, but only about how much money I didn’t have in order to buy a beautiful diamond.
Following my informative diamond exploration, hunger struck. With restaurants serving everything from Italian to Belgian to British, I naively settled on Italiano La Torre.
Spoiler alert: The air conditioning was the highlight of my meal.
My dining experience was straight out of a bad sitcom. I ordered tomato soup, steak and fries. Instead of a well-done steak, I received what I can only describe as the cow’s version of a midlife crisis — medium, at best.
My Virgin Mojito was 99.9% ice. Who doesn’t love a drink that turns into a slushy halfway through?
Customer service started off promising, but then my server decided he wanted to recreate the World Series between the L.A. Dodgers and New York Yankees.
He began swinging a bat around, threatening employees from other restaurants, and hitting olives at their restaurants, narrowly missing paying diners. I’m all for excitement, but at that point, I was ready to grab my stuff and sprint back to the train station.
After five hours of soaking up culture and sweat, I headed back to the train station, heart full of memories and shirt thoroughly drenched.
Antwerp, you were a dazzling yet sticky affair. While I won’t say I’ll never come back, I’ll definitely choose to revisit when the temperatures drop, and my bank account gets a much-needed boost for that diamond I ‘almost’ wanted.
The city’s rich history and beautiful architecture made the trip somewhat worthwhile despite the sauna-like conditions.
Until next time –
Have Passport, Will Travel!
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