Antwerp's Astridplein © antwerpenR

Antwerp has shrugged off its reputation as a purely industrial port city and is now known for its energetic nightlife with an active cultural scene. It has a dense concentration of things to see. Among the beautifully preserved Gothic and Baroque architecture are many churches, museums and galleries. The work of the local sculptor, Peter Paul Reubens, surfaces all over the city, most notably at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. At the centre of the city is the Grote Markt with the baroque Brabo Fountain in the middle. There are countless shopping opportunities and trendy bars and nightclubs around the city for the fashion-conscious and young at heart.