Hampshire Hotel O - Kathedral Antwerp ★★★★

Many interesting places of interest and bustling areas in the historic city centre of Antwerp, are around the corner or opposite Hampshire Hotel O - Kathedral. These include Grote Markt, the 16th Century Antwerp town hall and Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal. And there are also many beautiful museums, and great things to do with the children. A few tips:

Museums
ModeMuseum, or MoMu, is located (how fitting) in the heart of Antwerp’s shopping district. This dynamic museum has a collection of more than 25,000 items of clothing, shoes and accessories. Changing and themed exhibitions are composed here regularly. What story does a photograph tell with its images? You’ll learn about this in FotoMuseum Provincie Antwerpen, or FoMu. MAS | Museum aan de Stroom is located in an impressive building in the old port of Antwerp. With permanent and changing exhibitions, this museum tells the story of the city, the river, the port and the world. Famous baroque painter Rubens purchased a building in 1610 which he converted entirely into a home. This building is now a museum, Rubenshuis, that tells the story of his life and work.

Children
One of Europe’s oldest zoos is located in the heart of the city: Antwerpen Zoo. A beautiful, historic place where around five thousand animals live and where there’s lots to see and experience. If the weather turns, you can let the children blow off steam in the indoor playground Pirateneiland. This indoor playground has a pirate ship, climbing and clambering places, slides and games. Aquatopia is also indoors, and is a top attraction with seven wonder water worlds: rain forest, swamp, mangrove, coral reefs, ocean, lab and diving boat. Ecohuis is to the east of Antwerp. In this interactive house you can learn with the whole family how to live in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. You can really take advantage of this.

Special places
Het Steen is a beautiful castle built around 1200. The monument is on the Schelde and is the oldest building in Antwerp. Begijnhof is certainly worth a visit, an oasis of peace in the city with historic small houses, the Sint-Catharinakerkje and a beautiful enclosed garden. The streets around Antwerp central station together form the diamond district, the heart of Antwerp’s diamond industry. You can find precious stones, gold and silver here.