|
Bored of Brussels? OutUK's Adrian Gillan hits Belgium's bejewelled second
city, Antwerp, in the run up to EuroGames 2007 this July. Swallow that Flem!
|
|
One of Europe's biggest ports, Belgium's second largest city, Antwerp, is
also the main town of Flanders - perched on the mighty River Scheldt, scarce
twenty miles north of capital Brussels. Occupied by the Germans in WW2 and named
European Capital of Culture in 1993, Antwerp's ½ million-strong population proudly
speak Flemish, or immaculate English - so skip your cod French! ... and it also happens
to be the centre of the Belgian gay scene.
Antwerp hosts the 11th EuroGames between 12th and 15th July. This is the biggest LGBT athletic and cultural event in Europe
and will welcome over 3,000 participants and an expected 10,000+ spectators.
|
|
WHERE TO STAY
Sparkling like one of Antwerp's famous diamonds, the smart, 4-star
Corinthia
Antwerp Hotel is a great choice and is conveniently located just 10 minutes away
from the historic city centre.
Or for something more intimate, in the centre, the 4-star Hotel 't Sandt
is a boutique design hotel with individually-themed rooms, all flooded with light, plus
large garden terrace. For an unrivalled choice of hotels with guest reviews at low online prices check out our
hotel partners Booking.com.
|
WHAT TO SEE
Stroll along the city's system of boulevards, which replaced the walls that formerly encircled
the city; take in the historic city centre - the Grote Markt, the Groen Blaats, the magnificent
Gothic Cathedral (14th - 15th Century) with its 120m spire, even the renovated (and thankfully cleaned-out)
underground former city sewers.
|
|
|
Then browse the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, hanging out with
Rubens and van Dyck; visit palatial Rubens' House ; or shimmy through the
boutique-lined fashion quarter and Fashion Museum MoMu to learn how the "Antwerp Six"
put the city on the global couture map.
|
|
Drool through the Jewish Quarter, with its Diamond Museum
to learn about the four "c"s (colour, clarity, carat & cut), and drop into the Diamondland
showrooms, to see cutters at work - maybe even fixing a Diamond Cocktail evening, where you or your mates
get the chance to walk off with a
sparkling stone; troll the gorgeous southern art nouveau district, Zurenborg; or see Antwerp from the
docks with a Flandria river cruise, maybe even including dinner.
|
Photo: Rick Lord/Dreamstime
|
WHERE TO EAT, BOOZE & DANCE
Sit and chill at Café den Draak - the light-and-airy café-bar beneath Antwerp's
main LGBT community hub, Het Roze Huis, down south around Zurenborg. Another great
place to sip and stare, or have a tasty munch, is Popi Café, nearer the centre, overlooking the river.
As night falls, two-level Café Hessenhuis gets crammed with young, trendy, teasing cuties.
For something crusier, check out aptly-named video bar Rubbzz on Geulinckxstraat; or for
leather 'n fetish, slip into The Boots on Van Aerndtstraat.
Antwerp's two main gay clubs are swish D Club, up on Damplein, Weds-Sun; and cavernous
Red & Blue, on Lange Schipperskapelstraat, every Saturday - the biggest gay venue in Benelux.
Both get packed with handsome hot Flemish hunks.
If you're still restless, you can always let off steam at the central Metropolitan
Sauna on St. Elizabethstraat; or in the gay cinema with private cabins and darkroom
at boy toy shop Gay Ron on Van Wesenbekestraat. Or men oft take airs in the Stadspark.
GETTING THERE
Highly recommended airline VLM fly direct from London City and Manchester direct to Antwerp and you can
book low price fares at
eBookers with return fares including all taxes and charges from as low as £105.
THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK
Café den Draak (Draak plaats 1; T: (+32) 03 290 5304)
Café Hessenhuis (Falconrui 53; T: (+32) 03 231 1356)
D Club (Damplein 27; T: (+32) 03 232 71 60; Website)
Gay Ron (Van Wesenbekestraat 54; T: (+32) 03 234 0443; Website)
Metropolitan Sauna (St. Elizabethstr. 47; T: (+32) 03 213 4821)
Popi Café (Plantinkaai 12; T: (+32) 03 238 1530; Website)
Red & Blue (Lange Schipperskapelstr. 11-13; T: (+32) 03 213 0555; Website)
Rubbzz (Geulinckxstr. 28; T: (+32) 03 295 6901; Website)
The Boots (Van Aerndtstr. 22; T: (+32) 03 231 3483)
|
|
