Welcome to Belgium’s largest city. Antwerp is famous for being the second-largest sea port in Europe and for its diamonds, which are processed and traded here more than anywhere else in the world. After all those superlatives, there’s room for one other: Antwerp is home to the oldest skyscraper in Europe, the Boerentoren, built in 1930 and measuring 97 metres tall. On a clear day, you can even see the Atomium in Brussels from the roof. The Cathedral of Our Lady is one of the most beautiful Flemish Gothic buildings and the Grote Markt with the town hall has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. YOU HAVE TO SEE : Museum aan de Stroom, MAS for short. An interactive museum opened in 2011, dealing with the city, the port and shipping across 10 floors. YOU HAVE TO TRY: Antwerpse Handjes. These are hand-shaped biscuits or chocolate, with or without marzipan, and often dipped in Elixir d’Anvers. “Pas op!” – Amsterdam’s cyclists are likely to tell you to watch out if you wander absentmindedly through the streets, fascinated by the canals andmerchants’ houses. And you should certainly keep your eyes open as there’s plenty to see. Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s The Milkmaid are on display at the Rijksmuseum. Countless cafes and restaurants are waiting for your visit. You can explore the 9 straatjes, a quarter full of quirky shops and even quirkier designer boutiques. And if you still have time after shopping, how about a canal trip? The Prinsen-, Keizer- and Herengracht invite you to discover Amsterdam as it wants to be discovered: from the water. YOU HAVE TO SEE : The Houseboat Museum. Built in 1914 and 15 metres long, decorated with great attention to detail and with a photographic exhibition showing its history. It is located where Prinsengracht and Elandsgracht meet. YOU HAVE TO TRY: Poffertjes, the fluffy, sweet street food that couldn’t be more Dutch. It can be found on any corner – even though it tends to hide under a generous sprinkle of icing sugar! Cologne is colourful. So colourful that it’s hard to know where to start. The cathedral is obviously an absolute must and only a stone’s throw fromwhere the ship is moored. After that, the old town around the Alter Markt with its twisting alleyways is an option. Or you could visit Museum Ludwig with the biggest pop art exhibition in Europe. If you fancy something a bit sweeter, try the Schokoladenmuseum with its three-metre-high chocolate fountain, which you can even taste. Alternatively, grab a slice of cake in the Belgian quarter. YOU HAVE TO SEE : Cologne from above. After climbing the 533 steps, you will find yourself at the top of the south tower of Cologne Cathedral and can enjoy a fantastic view of the city and Rhine. YOU HAVE TO TRY: Kölsch beer, of course – ideally in an old brewery. Enjoy a Halve Hahn with it. While the name might suggest otherwise – Hahn is German for “chicken” – this is a cheese roll. AMSTERDAM ANTWERP COLOGNE R H I N E , M A I N & M O S E L L E 101
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