Right in the core of Antwerp, sits the town’s wonderful Grand Place (also known as the Grote Markt), which contains some of Belgium’s finest examples of guild house architecture with their typical steeple-roofed shape.
The Town Hall here is a well-preserved example of 16th-century construction, and the interior is worth viewing for its collection of paintings that show Antwerp’s history.
The guild houses that still rim the plaza are the major reason to visit the Grote Markt though.
Among the best facades are the Coopers’ House and Grocers’ House but all of them are well-preserved examples of this Belgian-style of architecture.
A nature-lover’s delight, the Semois Valley provides a needed dose of lush countryside after all that historic rambling through Belgium’s cities and towns.
Here, in the southern corner of the country, the winding Semois River cuts through farmland overlooked by gently undulating forest-clad hills. It’s Belgium’s prime hiking territory and also a good place for riverboat trips following the sinuous curves of the river.
Villages such as Membre, Laforet, and Alle offer good accommodation options, from mid-range guesthouses to camping within the region.
The Plantin-Moretus Museum, which incorporates printing history and recreates the ambience of an Old Flemish noble home, is housed in the structure today.
This museum is among the fascinating tourist destinations in Antwerp because of the original furnishings, diverse displays, and, most importantly, the mood that still permeates the space because of the close closeness of home and work.