Walking Tour of Antwerpen

 If you are following along, refer back to previous posts occasionally  I’m adding more info when I get it!

In Antwerp, like Brussels, there are sections of the original fortification walls are still around the city. 

This statue is in the main square. A legend about cutting off a giant’s hand yada yada. This statue is of the guy throwing or “twerping” the hand. So Antwerp translates to Hand-throwing. 

Speaking of hands….  This museum MAS (Museum on the Stream) offers a hand emblem on the wall in exchange for donors giving the museum a “helping hand”. No real explanation for the figures climbing the building, but they were fun. 

And there was this:

There are 163 statues of the Virgin Mary around the city of Antwerp.

By contrast, there are 3 streets in the Red light district (2 are shown below), featuring 270 “windows”. Prostitution is illegal here, but it is allowed. The sex workers are considered self-employed, pay taxes, and are subject to health regulations. In only this area of three streets, there is no drinking allowed and no partying. Apparently only serious sex transactions. 

Pictures from the Charles Borromeo church. They have a Rubens original (bottom right). They change out the painting 3 times a year, primarily to draw a crowd. 

And the Cathedral of Our Lady. There are 5 Rubens original paintings there, 4 in this post:

Rubens: The Raising of the Cross, The Resurrection of Christ and The Descent from the Cross are below:

Also commissioned from an artist named Schut, we see the prototype (top right) that was approved and then the final version in the dome of the cathedral depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. 

Apparently a big theme, the Rubens painting of The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is not quite historically correct. Rubens painted his wife’s face on Mary Magdalene (light pink dress). Artistic License or making a statement about his wife?

Then we visited the Red Star Line Museum, documenting transporting immigrants from Antwerp to the United States. Apparently centuries of not figuring out an immigration process…. Here’s another selfie of us from the lookout:

And then we changed outfits for the safety drill (not our best selfie work….):

Some facts about Belgium:

Maternity stipend when you have a child: 1200 €

15 week’s maternity leave/ 20 days spouse

2.5 years - 18 years = free education 

After 18 university 1000€\yr - 4 tracks:

Theoretical - ready for college

Technical- ready for STEM

Professional- similar to VoTech, working a trade

Arts- graphic design etc

Drivers license, vote, cigarettes, alcohol = 18 

Beer, sex (both, with consent) =16

Weed / firearms- ILLEGAL!

38 hours/week is considered full time

Ave salary 3800€ /month 

20 paid holidays

Taxes 50% but with free or reimbursed health care, education and retirement, city services, etc.; they get a lot for their tax Euro.