Diamond Industry | About Belgium | Beer Tourism Diamond Industry The city of Antwerp is the capital of Flanders but it is also the current capital of the diamond industry, being home to around 1,500 diamond firms, the largest concentration in the world. Diamond manufacturing in Antwerp © BeerTourism.com These businesses include rough diamond producers and dealers, manufacturers and polished diamond wholesalers. As soon as you get of the train you will be see dozens of diamond shops and jewellers all located very nearby in the city's diamond quarter, which is right outside the beautiful Central Station. The world’s two largest diamond banks have their headquarters in the city too, also within the diamond quarter. “Cut in Antwerp” is still an internationally recognised quality label when we’re talking 'bling', and the city’s strong affiliation with diamonds goes back centuries . Diamonds are indeed, one of Belgium's best friends and how deep the love goes is clearly exhibited in the diamond museums of the famous, medieval cities of Antwerp and Bruges. If you are tempted to put theory into practice be sure to look for a quality jeweler and get the best possible advice on what promises to be a quite substantial purchase as well as the ultimate Belgian souvenir.

Curious Pebbles Diamonds were first discovered in India and Alexander the Great was the first to bring them to Europe in 327 BC. In 1725 miners panning for gold in Brazil came across what Diamond mine © BeerTourism.com they described as “curious pebbles”, which turned out to be diamonds. The first alluvial diamonds (stones which have been washed out of the rocks which originally held them) were discovered in South Africa in 1859. Ten years later mining began in the hard rock sources from which these river bed gems had sprung. Today, in addition to South Africa, diamonds are mined in Botswana, Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia and Australia. A peculiarity of the diamond industry is the remarkable geographic concentration of the trade in gem quality diamonds; both the wholesale and diamond cutting businesses are limited to just a few locations. Diamonds are actually the world’s hardest known natural substance and can only be cut by another diamond. As they are composed of carbon they will burn if heated to a bright red. A diamond in the rough They occur naturally, but are extremely rare compared to other minerals.

It is thought that they are formed deep inside the Earth in conditions of extreme heat and pressure and volcanic eruptions later bring them to the surface. After the softer volcanic rock has eroded, the diamonds are often found in alluvial deposits. In the end it doesn't really matter how they are formed, it is an undeniable fact that since their discovery diamonds have been so desired that, sadly enough, during the course of history they have also been the source of suffering and bloodshed. Nowadays the precious gems have even become no less than essential to modern day industry. Diamonds & Belgium There are of course other large diamond centres, such as the Indian cities of Mumbai and Surat. Israel is another trade centre and mainly supplies the North American market, while Dubai is the regional Antwerp © BeerTourism.com diamond distributor for the Middle East. Nevertheless, for well over 500 years the city of Antwerp and the diamond industry have been synonymous and in spite of competition from centres in the developing world its commercial future seems secure. The reason for Antwerp’s significance to the diamond trade is interesting. The stones originally come from India and as long ago as the time of the Roman Empire a flourishing trade in diamonds between eastern Asia and Europe was established.

An important city on this trade route was Venice and as a result the Italian city state became the most important mercantile city in the western world. Venice had the monopoly of the diamond trade, sending the gems on their way to the rich markets of southern Germany. At the far end of this route was Bruges, which gradually developed into the pre-eminent diamond-cutting centre. At that time Bruges was an important port, but the river Cut dimonds © BeerTourism.com which gave it access to the sea began to silt up and the city’s fortunes began to decline. Antwerp was the beneficiary, with many of Bruges’s economic interests shifting to its port where newer and better communication and exchange facilities were developed. Before long Antwerp was the commercial hub for the whole of Europe; approximately 40% of world trade passed through the port, including the most valuable trade of all. But the rival city of Amsterdam, with its religious and civil liberties, was a rising star as a trading centre. By the end of the 17th century the Dutch capital had taken much of Antwerp’s trade and had a near monopoly in the diamond industry.

Amsterdam supplied Antwerp with diamonds, but kept the best ones for its own diamond cutters. But the skilful craftsmen of Antwerp were able to use this to their advantage by transforming these apparently small and mediocre stones into finely worked finished gems. The Setback In the 1860s, after the start of diamond mining in South Africa, there was a huge influx of rough diamonds into Europe. Many of these came to Antwerp and it New York Stock Exchange (1929) © BeerTourism.com only took a few months for the diamond trade in the city to rise back towards its pre-eminent position. This revival in production created an even greater demand for gemstones, but it was a fragile business. The Great Depression of the 1930s saw a serious decline in the Antwerp diamond trade, forcing many cutting shops to close. Things took a turn for the worse with the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Many of the diamond industry’s leading figures were Jewish and large numbers of diamond traders and craftsmen fled to the United States, Portugal or the UK.

In an attempt to save as much as possible of their existing stock and prevent it from falling into German hands, the 500 dealers who had fled to London transferred their diamonds there. An agreement was made with the British government to keep them safe for the duration of the war and to return them to Antwerp Deportation of Antwerp Jews © Das Bundesarchiv once hostilities were over. Tragically, many of these traders did not manage to get away in time and the first anti-Jewish measures were introduced soon after the German invasion. Although between 1942 and 1945 about 800 Jews were sheltered safely in the city of Antwerp alone, figures indicate that during that time around 30,000 Belgian Jews perished. Despite the Nazi's thorough efforts to destroy an entire community as well as the city's inhabitants' brave actions to harbour their Jewish fellow citizens half a millennium of tradition wasn't erased. Nore the horrors of war nore the massive loss in life could break the trading spirit and the city proved its resilience as it was only a matter of time before Antwerp’s blooming diamond trade would rise again...

Antwerp Rocks It is said that what New York is to the world’s money markets, Antwerp is to the global diamond trade. Antwerp is also the centre of the secondary or rough diamond market. Diamond merchants Antwerp diamond gallery © BeerTourism.com from all over the world visit Antwerp, often on a monthly basis. For most people, the diamond trade means De Beers. The mines owned by De Beers and its subsidiary companies are responsible for 40% of annual world diamond production and Antwerp has the largest concentration of De Beers clients. The Diamond Trade Company, which is the distribution arm of De Beers, sorts and distributes 45% of the world’s supply and much of the remainder ends up in Antwerp too. More than 50% of global production of rough, polished, cut and industrial diamonds passes through Antwerp. Around 80% of the world’s rough diamonds are handled in Antwerp generating an annual turnover of some €30 billion. The most valuable diamonds are usually cut in Antwerp , but as the economy globalises Antwerp remains a nerve centre with much of the actual diamonds shipped out to other, cheaper locations.

Antwerp Diamond Quarter © BeerTourism.com Rough diamonds are first sorted and graded, before being dispatched from Antwerp to cutting plants around the globe. They will then return as polished diamonds when they are classified again, according to the “Four Cs”: cut, clarity, colour and carat weight. They will then be sold to the jewellery markets, generally through wholesalers. Antwerp is home to hundreds of wholesale offices dealing in polished diamonds and of the four diamond exchanges in the city, three primarily serve the polished diamond trade. It will come as no surprise that this close to the raw material there are many diamond retailers and jewellers in and around the city to tempt diamond fans. The Four C's The sorting of rough diamonds is based on their shape, size, colour, cuttability and quality. The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, with one carat being the equivalent of 0.2 grams. These carats Diamond cutting © BeerTourism.com are not the same as the measure of purity use for gold, which Americans spell with a K to avoid this confusion. After it has been cut and polished, a one-carat diamond will measure about 6.5 millimetres across. Large diamonds are extremely rare and therefore extremely valuable.

To take one well known example, the Koo-i-Noor, which sits proudly in the British crown, is a 105.6 carat diamond. One of the legendary stones of the Antwerp industry is the 137.27 carat Florentine Diamond, which was cut and polished by the great Flemish jeweller Lodewyk van Berken for its owner Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. If you fancy tracking it down, it’s believed to have been recut and sold in America after World War I . When it comes to colour the perfect diamond is purely transparent, or white, and the colour grades used in the industry measure the amount of yellow in a stone. The majority of diamonds fall within a small colour range, either colourless or with a faint yellow or brown tint. Coloured diamonds with a bright pink, blue or green Old diamond advertising © BeerTourism.com appearance are very rare and known in the trade as “fancies”. With clarity and as with colour many of these distinctions will only be visible to a trained professional with some serious magnification to help them.

Of course, a flawless diamond is rarest and most valuable, and after being crushed into being miles beneath the earth’s surface very few stones are flawless. Finally we come to the cut which is the hardest to judge of all the grading scales of diamonds. Diamonds aren’t all that great to look at when they’re discovered – remember those ‘pebbles’ – and polishing and cutting are needed to bring out their best. Cutting is an incredibly complex business and The Antwerp Diamond Games trophy © BeerTourism.com one that still develops. As diamonds can only be cut with other diamonds it wasn’t until the late Middle Ages that diamond cutting started to develop as an art. Cutting diamonds also means lopping off a hell of a lot of valuable material – usually around half – so it’s a responsible and, when it comes to the great stones, often controversial job. The most common cut is the 58 facet round brilliant. Fashion too can play its part – oval cuts emphasise long fingers and so are favoured in some ring designs.

Last but not least Antwerp's "brilliant" image used to be emphasised even more with the "Antwerp Diamond Games", a WTA-tournament that was organised each year before it was taken off the WTA calendar in 2008 . Any tennis player that succeeded in winning the title three times in five years won a gold and diamond racket worth a whopping million Euros, French Amélie Mauresmo (and not Kim Clijsters or Justine Henin!) was the only one ever to pull it off. Related Pages Rough trade: Is the world's biggest diamond market about to crumble? | The Independent Europe Rough trade: Is the world's biggest diamond market about to crumble? Antwerp's position as the world's diamond capital is being challenged by emerging markets in Israel, Dubai, India and Botswana – and three high-profile European heists have netted $188m (£110m) this year Saturday 7 December 2013 00:00 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Traders inspecting stones in the Antwerp diamond district Tim Dirven It's a good day at the Antwerp diamond bourse.

The board where bereft traders post notices for missing stones is completely bare, each precious carat in this Belgian port city accounted for. Thefts are rare, but occasionally a speck of the glittering rock can dart off a trader's bench, or disappear into the folds of packaging and find its way into the bins. And who knows what accident could have befallen the rough stone worth $5.8m (£3.5m) which was nestled in my palm a little earlier? All the wealth the iceberg-shaped rock could buy flashed through my mind. But then I remembered the cameras following my every move; the armed guards stalking the corridors of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) headquarters; the heavy security presence on the street outside in a district which a decade ago experienced one of the biggest diamond heists in history. Security is everything in this small patch of a city where 84 per cent of all diamonds pass through at some point in their journey criss-crossing the globe.

At a time when Antwerp's position as the world's diamond capital is being challenged by emerging markets in Israel, Dubai, India and Botswana – and when three high-profile European heists have netted $188m (£110m) this year – officials are keen to stress that Antwerp remains one of the safest places to do business. "This is something that we live with every day, we wake up with it and we go to bed with it, security is very important to us," says Ari Epstein, the CEO of AWDC, the industry body responsible for documenting each gem imported and exported through the city. Losing its sparkle: A trader inspects raw diamonds (Tim Dirven) That something so small holds so much value is crucial to the history and aura of the diamond, says Vashi Dominguez, the UK-based entrepreneur behind the jewellery website Vashi.com. "It is the most valuable item per size [and] they are unique, just like fingerprints or snowflakes," says Dominguez, who is in Antwerp sourcing diamonds for the busy Christmas period.

Few products come weighted with such mythology, a unique mix of glamour and danger, with its connotations of decadence and wealth, but also a shady world of smugglers and thieves. The diamond remains snuggly situated in the cliché firmament: they are forever; as big as the Ritz; a girl's best friend. When it appears in headlines, it's often preceded by the word 'blood' or followed by the word 'heist'. The Kimberley Process – launched in 2003 in response to forced labour and atrocities as warlords pillaged diamond mines to fund civil wars – has largely kept conflict diamonds out of the market, although debate remains over whether Zimbabwe's stones should be sanctioned. But it is the string of heists worthy of Hollywood which have captivated the world this year. In February, armed thieves intercepted a cargo of diamonds from Antwerp on the tarmac of Brussels Airport. In a meticulously-planned raid which experts say must have had insider involvement, the gang cut through the fence, ran up to a chartered plane and stole more than 100 packets of uncut stones worth about $50m (£30m).

More than 30 people were arrested, but most have been released and a pan-European investigation is ongoing. Then in May, $1m (£610,000) worth of diamonds destined to grace the necks and wrists of celebrities at the Cannes Film Festival were stolen from a hotel room. The glamour of the case attracted worldwide attention, but that was to be surpassed in July when $136m (£83m) was snatched from another Cannes hotel – this time the Carlton, which featured in Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief – by one opportunist who managed to pull off the biggest heist in France's history. He walked into the hotel in a simple disguise of hat and gloves, entered a private diamond show, waved a gun > at the handful of people, then in the space of a minute made off with a small bag containing extraordinary value. He is still at large. "It was done by an amateur and showed the world that in 60 seconds you can do something like that, run across the hotel, and still get away with it," says Vashi Dominguez.

"We are probably going to see some more [attempted robberies] in the next few months." By contrast, the robbery in Belgium was expertly planned and executed, although as AWDC's Mr Epstein points out, $50m (£30m) is a drop in the sparkling ocean for Antwerp's diamond trade, where goods worth at least $200m (£122m) pass through its offices each day. "I would not minimise it, but it's a quarter of a day of imports and exports for a country like Belgium – we have an annual turnover of $50bn (£30.6bn)," he says. Vashi Dominguez sourcing diamonds in Antwerp (Tim Dirven) Antwerp's four diamond bourses and hundreds of traders' offices are packed into a few heavily-guarded streets near the station. What is remarkable about the 'square mile' is how drab it is for a district dealing in a product known for its sparkle. There are a few jewellery shops on the fringes of the area, but it is dominated by functional modern office blocks that soar into the grey Flemish skies. Burly security guards load and unload their valuable cargo into armoured security vans.

With more than five centuries experience – and plenty of insurance for companies operating there – it is not jitters about thefts making traders think twice about staying in Antwerp. A greater threat comes from the globalisation of the industry, with big players like De Beers looking at removing some of the many geographical leaps their product has to take. To understand how the modern industry is changing, let's follow an imaginary diamond on its journey from deep below the Earth's crust to a beaming fiancée's ring finger on Christmas Day. It takes millions of years for the crystals of pure carbon known as diamonds to form about 100 miles beneath the Earth's surface. Slowly they are pushed up to the surface, and today they are mostly mined in Canada, Russia, Australia and across a swathe of southern Africa. Our diamond is a particularly fine rough specimen from Lesotho, which is extracted by a mining company, then sold to one of a select few diamond trading companies at sales known as 'sights', which take place at sorting centres all over the world.

It is now that our diamond – like eight out of 10 rough stones – travels to Antwerp, to be traded between some of the 1,700 companies registered in the city. Antwerp's position as the world's premier hub for the diamond trade dates back to the 15th century, when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama's discovery of a direct sea route from Europe to India – where most diamonds were mined at the time – brought trade in the stones to the port of Antwerp, with its good land and sea connections to the rest of the continent. Over the centuries, the traders set up shop, and with them came the banks financing the business, and the expertise for cutting the stones. But while Antwerp was once a key cutting and polishing centre, the advent of cheap and easily accessible labour in India means the majority of diamond > manufacturing is now done in Mumbai, which employs some 700,000 polishers, compared to about 800 in Antwerp. Our stone is bought and shipped to Mumbai, where it is analysed and cut into three separate diamonds.

One is sent for sale in Hong Kong, a second to Dubai and our diamond returns to Antwerp, where 50 per cent of polished stones are still traded. There, the cut diamond is sold again to a jewellery manufacturer, who ships the stone to London, sets it in a ring, then either sells it directly or on to a high-street retailer. It is here that a love-struck suitor walks into the shop with a chunk of his salary and prepares to pop the question. Already, individuals such as Dominguez are doing away with many of the middle men and selling direct to the customer online. But it was when De Beers announced this year that they were moving their sight sale from London to Botswana's capital, Gaborone, that diamond dealers really started to worry. De Beers sales represent a huge proportion of the stones on the market, and up until now traders could simply hop on the Eurostar or a flight to London, buy the stones and bring them back to trade in Antwerp. Now they will have to spend days travelling to southern Africa, and in the long-term, it could make more sense to relocate their businesses.

They could then send the stones direct from Botswana to emerging, cheaper markets in the Middle East and Asia. Boxes full of the cut stones (Tim Dirven) Anish Aggarwal, a partner at the Antwerp-based consulting firm Gemdax, thinks the De Beers move could have an impact, especially as Gaborone strives to promote itself as a hub in one of the most diamond-rich areas in the world. "If you consider that the majority of the world's diamonds come from neighbouring states to Botswana and Botswana itself – South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe – there would be a natural gap in the market for a southern African centre," he says. To maintain its position, Antwerp needs to make sure it keeps courting the big diamond companies so their business stays put.For Ari Epstein, Antwerp has another draw over competing hubs, and that's the quality of life in a stable, ethnically-diverse city at the heart of Europe. "We've got 73 different nationalities doing business together peacefully and these are nationalities which in other places in the world would not be able to do business together," he says.

While Israel is a key centre for polished diamonds, traders from elsewhere in the Middle East are unwilling to do business there. The same applies in reverse to Dubai, where Israeli citizens are banned. Mumbai is trying to grow its rough stone market, but does not yet have the capacity – or offer the easy quality of life – to attract the big companies. Walking around Antwerp's square mile, that diversity is instantly apparent in the people hurrying about shouting into phones or lugging what look like laptop bags stuffed with the precious stones. The business was traditionally dominated by the Jewish community, which found a niche in the 15th century in one of the few trades open to them. Storing wealth in such small, portable objects was also attractive to a persecuted community which all too often had to pack up and flee their homes. Today, with the advent of the cutting and polishing trade in Mumbai, the Indian community is equally represented on the streets of Antwerp, mingling with dealers from the Middle East, the Far East, North America and across Europe.

At the centre of the district is the AWDC headquarters, where inside the Diamond Office – under supervision of Belgian government officials – diamond experts toil every day opening each diamond packet which passes through the city, painstakingly checking the contents for classification, weight and value and verifying the Kimberley certificates. The inner sanctum is fortress-like: the diamonds travel by secure lift and bins are kept for days in case a stone is reported missing. In 2003, at a similar office building just metres away, Italian thieves managed to breach the vault and steal between $100m (£61m) and $500m (£305m) in diamonds, depending on which account you read. The huge haul made headlines worldwide, but for the dealers and traders who spend every day handling stones worth more than a Kensington town-house or a Scottish castle, they are bemused by visitors' fascination with the seamier side of the trade. "It's hype," says An Goossens, who works for the trading company Sur Jewel.

"I still run around very happy with my bag full of diamonds over the street – for us, we don't even see the risk." Diamondland – Diamondland Chamber of commerce number(kbo): BE 0552.710.750 Tel: +32 (0)3 369 07 80 Fax: +32 (0)3 369 07 89 Open from Monday until Saturday from 09:30 to 17:00. Appelmansstraat 33A | 2018 Antwerpen | Belgium | T:+32 (0)3 369 07 80 | E: info@diamondland.be All About Antwerp Diamonds BLOG Antwerp Diamonds Antwerp diamonds have international fame. When you buy a stone in New York, Paris, Sidney or Tokyo, it most likely passed several times Antwerp in its journey to your ring or necklace. The diamond cutters of Antwerp are world renowned for their skill. A Guide to Diamonds in Antwerp PERMANENTLY CLOSED The Diamond Museum : find out where you can still see some of the items.

More than 12,000 expert cutters and polishers are at work in the Antwerp Diamond District, at 380 workshops, serving 1,500 firms and 3,500 brokers and merchants. The diamond district annually trades 85% of the world's rough diamonds, 50% of cut diamonds and 40% of industrial diamonds. The highest international mark of approval for polished diamond is the “Cut in Antwerp” label. Why is Antwerp the Diamond Center of the world? If you want to see polishers at work go to: Krochmal & Lieber workshops 03.233.2169 Shopping for Diamonds in Antwerp? Shopping for jewellery or an Antwerp engagement ring? The variety of diamond settings (rings/bands) available is almost endless. Here is where you begin: Diamond setting . Your first stop should be the Diamond High Council ( HDR ) this center provides a directory of diamond-related businesses that operate in Antwerp and information on what to look for when buying a stone. Diamondland - Appelmansstraat 33A 2018 Antwerpen.

Antwerp's largest diamond shop with some 1.500 pieces of diamond jewellery on display. It is especially popular for it’s engagement specials and here you can see polishing and cutting demonstrations 21 Facts about Diamonds Fun diamond trivia and interesting Diamond Fact s about Love & Magic, famous diamonds, crime and diamonds, Diamonds in Antiquity. Certified Diamonds Certified diamonds come with a Diamond certification: written proof of a diamond's attributes. Although many diamonds look the same - they are not. Professional laboratories will judge bigger diamonds on the 4 facets Cut, Carat, Color, Clarity). Certifications are issued by independent gemological laboratories. There are several grading laboratories, the most prominent being: International Gemological Institute (IGI) Gemological Institute of America (GIA) American Gem Society (AGS) They will not give a price-estimation but only an independent point of view on the quality of the stone. A certificate with a number that will be lasered into the bottom of the diamond (this won’t influence the price nor one of the 4 C’s). From the certificate, they will make a micro copy and they will seal it together with the diamond.

Those kind of diamonds will offer disappear for many years as part of an investment. Later, on the hand of the certificate, they can track the diamond back and sell it and/or shape it again. Without it, you have no assurance that the diamond you are buying is of the quality you're paying for. Certification gives you the information you need to assess a diamond's fair market value. It also allows you to make an intelligent comparison with other diamonds either in the same jewelry store or in another. Antwerp, Diamond Capital of the World The Kimberley Process Antwerp, Diamond Capital of the World The Private Diamond Club is located in the heart of Antwerp, in the Diamond Exchange Building, the most important market place for rough and cut diamonds, with New York, Tel Aviv and Bombay. By far, Antwerp houses the most important diamond exchange centers, selling 70% off all the cut diamonds and more than 80% of the total production of rough diamond in the world. This strategic situation gives Private Diamond Club the opportunity to buy high quality rough and cut diamonds at the best prices.

The diamond district of Antwerp houses the four most important markets, each with their own expertise: - The Beurs voor Diamanthandel for cut diamonds - The Diamond Club van Antwerpen for cut and rough diamonds - The Vrije Diamanthandel for cut and rough diamonds - The Antwerpse DiamontKring for rough diamonds. For obvious security reasons, the process of becoming a member of one of these markets is very restricted. After World War ll, the best place for buying diamonds shifted from Amsterdam to Antwerp. Nowadays, Amsterdam is known for it’s tulips and canals. For cut and rough diamonds Antwerp has become the place to be ! The most famous jewellers of the world buy their diamonds from the diamond capital of the world, Antwerp. Antwerp World Diamond Centre, the successor to the Hoge Raad voor Diamant, plays an important role in setting standards, regulating professional ethics, training and promoting the interests of Antwerp as a centre of the diamond industry. A question?

Our customer service is available any time at +32 (0)3 227 08 20 or To be called back Sign up for news and special offers Subscribe +32 (0)3 227 08 20 (Mon - fri / 9:00am - 6:00pm) Pelikaanstraat, 62 - B-2018 Antwerpen - Belgium Testimonials « I made the choice for your very clear and user-friendly web-site - Excellent design and beautiful solitaire ordered - By comparison I can say that the price / quality ratio is exceptional – Your sale services are of upper competence - My wife is so happy to wear it! » — Hervé S. « The quality and price are unbeatable and are exactly what I wanted - I made my choice on a very clear, easy going and fast website - I am pleased to have chosen this company. I recommend! » — Mr. Sebastian « I was able to learn on this site with all the criteria of the diamond to make my choice - Jewelry is very well developed - Despite the strike, my jewel was delivered by hand within the agreed period - true professionals whom I thank.

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After an accident on an article I was able to deal with the AFTER SALE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. Very few companies can boast such services. hank to you to Mr. Delcourt who… » — Benoit. N - France « Thank you for your serious activity and for the jewelry which is beautiful and of very high quality ! » — Hierry W - Antibes Antwerp | Belgium | Britannica.com Antwerp Antwerp, Flemish Antwerpen, French Anvers, city, Flanders region, Belgium . It is one of the world’s major seaports. Guildhalls in the Grote Markt, Antwerp, Belg. Brand X Pictures/Jupiterimages Overview of Antwerp. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Antwerp is situated on the Schelde (Scheldt) River, about 55 miles (88 km) from the North Sea . The Schelde, together with the Meuse and the Rhine, forms the biggest estuary in western Europe, and Antwerp is an essential part of an enormous harbour complex, one of the greatest in the world. The harbour installations of Antwerp grew especially after World War II .

For many years this expansion took place on the right bank of the Schelde only, but beginning in the 1970s there was much development on the left bank as well. Because Antwerp lies in the Dutch- (Flemish-) speaking part of Belgium, the city plays the role of unofficial capital of Flanders . Antwerpians generally take this role very seriously, conscious as they are of the great importance of their city in the past and present. The pride and competitive attitude thus exhibited by the residents has led to their being designated by the nickname Sinjoren (from the Spanish señores). Pop. (2010 est.) mun., 483,505. Physical and human geography The landscape The city site Antwerp’s site on the right bank of the generally south–north-flowing Schelde is a vast flat alluvial plain. Since 1923, however, the city’s territory also has included an area on the left bank of the river.

Annexation of villages on the right bank north of Antwerp in 1929 and 1958 extended the city’s territory to the Dutch frontier, and further annexation in 1983 of municipalities surrounding the original city added considerably to Antwerp’s area and population. The total area of contemporary Antwerp measures 75 square miles (195 square km), compared with 7 square miles before the beginning of the annexations. Only a part of this territory is completely built up. The extension of the agglomeration is continuing; many outlying villages have already lost their agricultural character and have grown in population as a result of emigration from the city. The city layout Charleroi Until 1859 Antwerp lay surrounded by its 16th-century fortified walls, which were transformed in the latter half of the 19th century into broad avenues as a larger half circle of fortifications was built. This later encircling belt was replaced after World War II by another system of ring roads, which connect with a network of national and international highways. Several tunnels connect the right bank of the city with the left bank, where considerable residential and industrial development has taken place since World War II.

The city centre, however, remains on the right bank; it stretches westward from the Central (railway) Station along the lively artery constituted by the Keyserlei and the Meir into the old city and thence to the terraced right bank of the Schelde. The old city, within the arc once formed by the 16th-century fortifications, has many narrow, winding streets and old buildings. This area contains the Cathedral of Our Lady, begun in the 14th century and restored in the 19th and 20th centuries; it is one of the nation’s finest Gothic buildings. The 19th-century city, with broader and substantially right-angled streets, stretches beyond the old city and merges with some of the suburban extensions annexed in 1983. A third right-bank area spreads beyond the 19th-century fortifications and is characterized by numerous modern buildings. The Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp, with a statue of Peter Paul Rubens in the foreground. Eric Carle/Shostal Associates Overview of St. Paul’s Church in Antwerp. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Capitals & Cities: Fact or Fiction?

The largest part of Antwerp, however, is the essentially nonresidential northern seaport complex. Most of the agricultural waterside villages incorporated by the city have been eliminated to make room for expanding, if somewhat bleak, areas of docks, industrial sites, and railway yards. Locks connect this right-bank complex with the tidal Schelde River: the first, the Kattendijk, was opened in 1860; and the 1,640-foot (500-metre) Berendrecht was, when it opened in 1988, the largest lock in the world. Left-bank port and industrial facilities have access to the Schelde via the Kallo lock. The character of the city Britannica Stories Ringling Bros.

Folds Its Tent The unique flavour of Antwerp is derived from the combination of, and tensions between, the diverse aspects of its personality: a passionate commitment to commerce goes hand in hand with an abiding interest in the life of ideas and in the arts; respect and affection for the past are juxtaposed with a fervent desire to participate fully in the present and in the future; and awareness of being a truly European and cosmopolitan city, with a resulting openness and broad curiosity, coexists with a sense of tradition and of idiosyncratic particularity, which lend an almost provincial charm to life in the city. In its centre a lively social activity is conducted on the streets and in the countless cafés. The Schelde is the veritable heart and soul of Antwerp, the raison d’être not only of Antwerp’s dynamic economic life but also of its sense of identity and of the deep attachment—touchingly expressed in many literary works—that Antwerpians tend to feel for their city. The people The residents of Antwerp generally speak the local Brabantian-Antwerp dialect of Dutch .

Dutch as spoken in the Netherlands and by Dutch-speaking cultured Belgians, however, is taught in the schools and is gaining ground in economic life. Although French is still much used in commercial and industrial circles, it is losing steadily as a means of expression. This does not mean that Dutch-speaking Antwerpians do not know French or other languages, for the international character of the city implies a readiness of many of its residents to understand foreign languages. Most of the foreigners living in Antwerp are Dutch, followed by Moroccans, Spaniards, French, and Germans; there are also small numbers of British, Americans, and Israelis. Unlike the other foreigners, the Moroccan and Spanish groups are largely unskilled workers who migrated to Belgium during periods of labour scarcity after World War II. There have been associated social tensions, notably concerning discrimination in housing. Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest The prevalent religion in Antwerp is Roman Catholicism. There are also small groups of various Protestant churches and a sizable Jewish group of different tendencies. (By the 19th century Antwerp already had a great number of Jewish residents, but many Jews died in World War II German concentration camps.) A large and growing part of the population is nonreligious.

The economy Industry and commerce Antwerp’s economic life has long been closely connected with its existence as a seaport, and as such it is inseparable from the city’s favourable geographic location and from the port’s facilities and functions. In the 16th century the city developed an important sugar-refining industry, in which partially worked sugarcane was brought in by ship, refined, and reexported. The first petroleum refineries were established during the 1920s and ’30s, and they were soon joined by automobile assembly plants. After World War II, industry expanded at a rapid pace. Larger petroleum refineries, closely followed by petrochemical industries, were established, together with chemical plants in the 1960s, and the automotive industry was restructured on a larger scale. Other important products include photographic and electronic equipment and cut diamonds , the latter for which Antwerp is world-famous. According to legend , the first diamond was cut in Antwerp in 1476. Since the 16th century, cutting and dealing establishments have thrived in the so-called diamond quarter adjacent to the Central Station, and Antwerp has become the international centre of the diamond industry.

Antwerp’s complex of harbour and industrial activities is served by many commercial agencies, commission agents, import and export firms, banking establishments, insurance companies, road-transport enterprises, and railways. Transportation A dense network of railway lines and highways serves Antwerp’s huge port and industrial complex, and the city is a rail and road centre for Belgian and international destinations. Antwerp is also well integrated into Europe’s vast inland waterway network. The airport at Deurne is important for freight and passenger flights. On the local level, public transportation in the city consists of a network of bus lines and tramways; some of the tramways have been transformed into subway lines. Administration and social conditions Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Government Like all Belgian municipalities, Antwerp is governed by an elected city council, which in turn elects a board of aldermen, headed by a burgomaster , nominated by the king on recommendation of the council. Generally, the burgomaster is a member of the elected council, but this is not obligatory. Each alderman has a specified department to manage, but decisions and resolutions are always taken by the board as a whole.

Under the board of aldermen is the town clerk, the chief official to whom the different administrative services report. The city is also the residence of the government of the province of Antwerp, headed by a governor appointed by the king; a provincial council, elected every four years; and its board of deputies, who have, in regard to the province, the same task as the city aldermen. The provincial recorder is the counterpart of the town clerk. A third kind of public service is the Commission for Public Relief. The members of the commission are appointed for six years by the city council. Health and education The Commission for Public Relief, responsible for public health and care of the aged and orphans, manages a series of institutions, among which are several large hospitals. Together with these official establishments, there are a number of independent, mostly Roman Catholic, institutions. This duality is also found in education. Besides the different schools of all grades (i.e., kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, and technical institutions) managed by the city administration (and for a small part by the state), there exists an independent, essentially Roman Catholic, network.

This is also the case at the university level: both an official (state) and an independent (Jesuit) institute were founded in 1965. Higher artistic training is given in the National Higher Institute and Royal Academy for Fine Arts (1663) and the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Music (1898). Cultural life It is significant, in view of Antwerp’s long-standing involvement with learning and with the arts, that two of the most important figures of its cultural past are still present in the modern city through the preservation of their homes and workshops as museums: the 16th-century humanist printer Christophe Plantin (Plantin-Moretus Museum) and the 17th-century painter Peter Paul Rubens (Rubens House). Rubens’s works may be seen in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, as well as in the Cathedral of Our Lady and many other Antwerp churches, such as the Church of St. James, where the painter is buried. Rubens united Italianate traits and an attachment to the Flemish artistic tradition to create a highly personal style.

His students and coworkers included the three 17th-century Antwerpians Jacob Jordaens , Anthony Van Dyck, and Frans Snyders; their works also may be seen in the Royal Museum, which houses a vast collection from the 15th to the 20th century. Trending Topics Opium Wars A number of other museums are located in historical buildings such as the Steen, the medieval riverside castle that is home to the National Maritime Museum; the 16th-century Butchers’ Hall and Brewers’ Hall, both of which house historic arts and artifacts; and the Maagdenhuis (Flemish: “Maidens’ House”), a 16th-century charitable foundation for needy young women, where Renaissance art and furniture may be seen. Other small museums were established by 19th-century patrician families, such as the Mayer van den Bergh Museum, which contains sculpture, furniture, and paintings, notably Pieter Bruegel’s famous Dulle Griet (or Mad Meg). Museums for folklore and for ethnography are located not far from the Schelde.

For modern art, there is the Museum of Contemporary Art, installed in a 1920s Art Deco grain silo in the old dock area of the port, which is close to the Provincial Museum of Photography, housed in a former warehouse built in 1911. In the Middelheim Open-Air Museum of Sculpture, the permanent collection is displayed among the trees and lawns of a public park located south of the old city, and every other year a special exhibition features works by young contemporary sculptors. Antwerp’s architecture ranges from Gothic to Postmodernism. The performing arts in the city are represented by the Royal Flemish Opera House and by the Royal Dutch Theatre, and numerous theatrical and musical performances of traditional as well as modern works take place in the framework of Antwerp’s monuments, such as in the courtyard of the Rubens House. The city’s zoological garden is one of Europe’s oldest and most-modern. History Early settlement and growth The site of Antwerp was probably already inhabited, as excavations on the right bank of the Schelde have proved, in Gallo-Roman times, in the 2nd and 3rd centuries ad.

After the great Eurasian migrations of the 4th and 5th centuries, the region was occupied and Germanized by Franks and possibly Frisians, who gave it its present name, from the Germanic prefix anda (“against”) and a noun derived from the verb werpen (“to throw”), indicating a structure—possibly a predecessor of Antwerp’s 9th-century fortified castle, the Steen—erected against something or someone. A more picturesque etymology for the name of the city involves the story of the evil giant Druon Antigoon, who severed the hands of the river’s boatmen when they refused to pay his exorbitant tolls. The Roman soldier Silvius Brabo challenged him to a fight, cut off one of his hands, and flung it into the river, not far from the site of the present Steen, thus putting an end to the giant’s extortion and giving the city its name: literally, “to throw a hand.” Antwerp’s coat of arms consists of a fortified castle with a hand on each side; and in the Great Market, in front of the 16th-century Town Hall, the Brabo Fountain (1887) depicts the legendary event.

The city probably developed from two nuclei: a southern one called Chanelaus–Caloes–Callo and a later northern nucleus grown around the Steen, which eventually became the more important of the two. Christianity was introduced in the 7th century. In the 9th century the region became a border county of the Holy Roman Empire . In 1124 the religious centre was transferred from Chanelaus to the northern nucleus. It was around the castle, built originally as a seat for the border county, that Antwerp developed, in the course of the centuries, in more or less concentric half circles. Situated relatively far inland on the deep right bank of the Schelde, Antwerp was predestined to become a trade and shipping centre. This was already fully the case in the 13th century. At the end of that century and the beginning of the 14th, freedom of trade was given to the English, Venetians, and Genoese by the dukes of Brabant, who had made themselves masters of the county.

The city of Antwerp became one of the duchy’s capital cities, together with Leuven and Brussels, in Belgium, and the city of Hertogenbosch (Bois-le-Duc), in the Netherlands. In the first quarter of the 14th century, the Antwerp fairs began to flourish. These, together with the fairs of nearby Bergen op Zoom (now in The Netherlands) became one of the foundations of Antwerp’s medieval economic growth. From the 15th to the 19th century Antwerp succeeded in the 15th century in becoming the successor of Brugge (Bruges) in Flanders, which until then had been the mercantile metropolis of western Europe. At the end of the 15th century, when nearly all the Low Countries were united under the Burgundian and Habsburg dynasties , the economic preeminence of Antwerp over Brugge is indicated by the fact that the majority of foreign merchants transferred their residence from the old Flemish town to Antwerp. It quickly became the leading commercial centre of western Europe, profiting from the beginnings of colonial trade and stimulated by the great discoveries of the Portuguese and Spaniards.

Toward the mid-16th century, the population totaled nearly 100,000, whereas there had been about 20,000 people in the city at the end of the 14th century. Extensive urbanization plans were developed to lodge the increasing population, who earned their livelihood in trade, transport, and industry. The port underwent its first northward extension. New industries included breweries, malt factories, and bleaching works. Together with the already established finishing works of (English) cloth, tapestry, and silk factories, the sugar refineries, and the diamond industry, they made Antwerp one of the greatest industrial centres of western Europe. Antwerp also became a financial centre: its Stock Exchange (inaugurated 1531), a model for the younger London and Amsterdam exchanges, was the scene of dramatic and momentous events, in which financial agents and bankers of the Habsburg, Tudor, and Valois monarchs played their part, together with Antwerpian, English, French, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and German merchants.

Antwerp also became a great cultural centre: its school of painting began to flourish at the end of the 15th century; the city’s printing houses became known throughout Europe; and humanism began to thrive. State bankruptcies in Spain , Portugal, and elsewhere, together with religious troubles and ensuing wars (Antwerp early in the 16th century became a centre of Protestant activity), brought about a decline. Antwerp became involved in the revolt of the Netherlands and was taken, in 1585, by Alessandro Farnese , duke of Parma, governor general for the Spanish king. The consequences of this strife with Spain were severe: from 1585 to 1589 the population diminished from 80,000 to 42,000. The Schelde, gateway to the sea, was closed by the Dutch, maintaining their positions against King Philip II of Spain. Capital and enterprise emigrated from Antwerp, mostly northward. The economic greatness of Amsterdam in the 17th century was due in part to Antwerp emigrants and their financial support, as was the case, to a lesser extent, for Hamburg , Frankfurt am Main , and other mercantile cities.

Yet Antwerp was not reduced to the status of a nonentity. The city remained the dynamic economic centre of the Spanish (later, in the 18th century, the Austrian) Netherlands . Antwerp became a more famous art centre than ever before: this was the time of Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, and other major artists. The French Revolution and the Napoleonic period, followed by Belgium’s temporary union with The Netherlands (1815–30), reversed the general decline in trade of the 18th century. With the Schelde once more freely navigable (restored by the French in 1792), the attraction of Antwerp as a seaport became evident again. Population grew, and the city began to expand and modernize. The modern city Since the second half of the 19th century, the growth of Antwerp’s seaport has been interrupted only by the two world wars and associated German occupations; even the economic depression of the 1930s did not affect the expansion of port traffic and facilities.

Immediately after liberation in 1944, Antwerp’s nearly unharmed port was instrumental in the supply of the Allied armies aiming their final blow against Nazi Germany , although bombardment by German missiles devastated the city. Since World War II Antwerp, its suburbs, and its seaport have grown apace, spurred by a commercial, industrial, and maritime boom. Port facilities, highways, and inland waterways have all been extended and improved. Some of this expansion, however, has created ecological problems, which have been investigated and addressed to some degree. Antwerp also has become the most important centre of finance and other services in northern Belgium, although the closure of the Antwerp Stock Exchange in 1997 reflects the increasing concentration of financial activities in Brussels. Additional Media Antwerp is known as The Diamond Capital of the World... Antwerp is known as The Diamond Capital of the World... Antwerp is known as The Diamond Capital of the World... Hi everyone, welcome back to our site! August is here; thatâs the last month without an âRâ in it.

In Michigan any month with an âRâ in it is likely to have suspect weather, so letâs enjoy this warmth while we can! Last month I noted that we are at the very early stages of planning our annual trip to Antwerp, Belgium. Antwerp is known as The Diamond Capital of the World; more than half of all diamonds sold in the world pass through the four block diamond district there. We have been travelling to Antwerp for nearly 20 years now, because there we can look at more diamonds in one day than we normally would otherwise see in one year. As I said last month, when you look at that many diamonds, you find certain stones that âspeakâ to you. You find diamonds that look better than the other diamonds in the same parcel (and for sale at the same price). It is that hard work with a keen eye for bargains that lead to the incredible values we are able to find. I also talked about Davy Lapa and Overseas Diamonds; this month let me tell you about some of the other diamond dealers we have worked with while in Antwerp.

Backes and Strauss is the worldâs oldest diamond dealer; formed in 1789 (think of the changes in business THEY have encountered)! K. Einhorn is a large firm and a DeBeers siteholder. Diamstones has our dear friend Eddy Katz who I have known for over twenty years and from whom I purchased the diamond I wear proudly every day. Windiam specializes in Russian diamonds â excellent quality and cut, and a firm that is known for giving back to communities with great socially conscious programs. Royal Gems; creator of the Royal Diamond program (see our Diamond and Fair Trade pages for more information on this). Finally, Fischler Diamonds; this is a well-respected family company quite involved in high-level diamond trade associations and one of the real stand-up âgood guysâ in the industry (and where some key former employees of Overseas now work). There are still more offices we will visit, but these represent the lion share of our Antwerp contacts. People ask us if we still get excited about going to Antwerp to buy diamonds after this many trips and Iâll respond, yes, but in a different way.

Now, it is more like going to see old friends or family that you get to see too infrequently. As I mentioned, we have a twenty year history with many of these folks! If you have any interest in an important diamond in the near future, talk to us. We are happy to act as your diamond broker, selecting a diamond just for you, and selling it at our cost plus a small commission. We do this because we can pass along savings if we know for sure a diamond is sold before we buy it (no overhead to consider), and because it makes our total purchases more important in the buying offices abroad. We feel that this is positively the best way you can possibly buy the diamond of your dreams! Also, our regular Fall (YES, FALL!) merchandise is pouring in now. Purchases made at the Fall IJO buying show and with our regular salesmen will be arriving on an almost daily basis. Stop in early and often for the best selection! Thanks once again for checking in with us, and weâll look for you in our store soon!

Hotels In Antwerp | TRYP by Wyndham Antwerp TRYP by Wyndham Antwerp Plantin en Moretuslei 136, 2018, Antwerpen, Belgium Tel.: 32 3 2710700 - Fax: 32 3 2723800 E-mail: info@trypantwerp.com STAY IN THE HEART OF IT ALL TRYP Antwerp is a hotel designed to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers. We bring you 176 (non-smoking) rooms, each with a different mood, fully appointed to meet your wishes. Each room includes complimentary high speed Wifi (naturally) and a hospitality corner. The TRYP Antwerp is located within a good stroll of the center of Antwerp. It's around the corner from the historical city center and right on the border of the most charming 'Art Nouveau' district of Zurenborg. If you're looking for bars & restaurants exuding style, look here! History meets a trendy lifestyle at the TRYP by Wyndham Antwerp in the charming district of Zurenborg.

Situated in the center of Antwerp, Belgium, our hotel provides easy access to the downtown area as well as Central Station and Antwerp Airport. Visitors to the TRYP by Wyndham Antwerp will discover a world of charm, style and luxury in this famous Art Nouveau District, surrounded by beautiful squares, restaurants, bars and shopping opportunities. Our hotel offers sleek accommodations with amenities that include a mini bar, free WiFi and a free safe. Our hotel is also close to the Antwerp Zoo and the Diamond District, making it the ideal choice for both business and leisure guests. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN CULTURE Antwerp is well known as the world center for diamonds, and the Diamond District features countless jewelry shops as well as the Antwerp Diamond Exchange, the most important financial center of the world’s diamond industry. Families will enjoy a visit Antwerp Zoo, the oldest animal park in the country with over 4,000 animals. Visitors are also welcome to step into the shoes of leading Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens at Rubenshuis, a museum that includes a charming garden along with Rubens’ workshop. Other nearby attractions include City Park and the stunning Cathedral of our Lady.

CONVENIENT AND EXCITING CUISINE AWAITS Start your morning at Sir Plantin’s Restaurant with a sumptuous breakfast, or join us in our on-site Lounge & Bar Moretus for cocktails before heading out for the evening. Nearby Brasserie Van Loock is a classic restaurant with Belgian dishes, while Cuichine is a modern Chinese restaurant with inventive fare. ALWAYS READY FOR BUSINESS From executive conferences to social occasions, the cutting edge meeting space at the TRYP by Wyndham Antwerp can accommodate groups of up to 100 attendees. Allow our experienced event planning team to create a conference package tailored to your unique business needs.

HOTEL AMENITIES Complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel Ideally located around the corner from the historical city center and on the border of the 'Art Nouveau' district of Zurenborg 10-minute drive to the Antwerp Exhibition Center & Antwerp Airport Explore one of the world's greatest train stations, less than 1 km from TRYP Antwerp Premium Breakfast Buffet Breakfast restaurant, bar & living room Contemporary TRYP Rooms, Premium Rooms, Connecting rooms & Rooms for physically challenged guests (twin/queen) 1 well equipped function room (110 M²) Antwerp-inspired Art throughout the hotel Individually controlled air conditioning

Question: Which Belgian city is known as the 'diamond cutting capital of the world'?
Answer: ANTWERP