Shopping, Antwerp

Every year on August 15th the Rubensmarket takes place. Its to honour the famous painter P.P.Rubens. The sales people are all dressed like the people used to dress when Rubens was living. The decorations are also very special.%c¨*

Antwerp, and especially its old center, is a haven for those who like to browse around in antique and bricante shops and fleamarkets. One such market is held on Sundays on Sint Jansvliet, the square at the exit of the pedestrian tunnel. This is a mere five to ten minutes or so away from Grand Square and City Hall by following the lovely shopping street Hoogstraat (High Street). On this market all kinds of trinkets and stuff are sold, ranging from books over beer glasses of famous Belgian beers to an endless array of "antiquities" in some or other form. If you have the time and patience real bargains can be struck in places like this

One of the few things that the Wallonians and Flamand people have in common are their love for cartoonbooks: "stripboeken". Brussels might hold the records in this field, Antwerpen has also it's specific bookstores that are only living of cartoons. There's also a huge collection which origins in Belgium and for the lover of these comics: this country must be paradise.

You probably all know what to buy when you are in Antwerp and in the rest of Belgium, indeed:

BELGIAN CHOCOLATES ARE THE BEST!!!!!

Of course don't forget to try out the fries with lot's of maynaise and have a beer afterwards. We have beers in all kinds even with cherries. I like that one, it is called 'kriek' the most. Although some men say it's a typical beer for women. When you tasted it, let me know if you agree with our Belgian men.

ENJOY YOUR MEAL!!! (Not a very healthy one... . Just this once won't hurt you.)