Heading toward the Burgerij/MAS Museum
Last Sunday Koen’s parents came to Antwerp for a visit. We had wonderful, sunny weather and took a nice stroll through the city. After a delicious lunch at Burgerij, we checked out an exhibit about royal luggage and then walked a different route back to our apartment. It’s always fun playing the tour guide!
Red Star Line Museum
A few weeks ago, Koen and I visited Antwerp’s newest museum – the Red Star Line Museum. The Red Star Line was a company that transported European immigrants to America and Canada. The museum is located in the former warehouses and you are able to listen to and read the stories of immigrants who traveled via Antwerp. There are tales of excitement and disappointment and you’re surrounded by photos and artwork of the voyages. If you are interested in history and personal tales, you’ll love the museum (like Koen and I did)!
Antwerp Christmas Market in the Grote Markt
I always look forward to Christmas-time in Antwerp. Not only are the streets and trees filled with lights, but the Christmas market begins! Spread out around the city, little wooden stalls are set up where you can buy trinkets and sweets, and of course warm and strong drinks!
Aquatopia – located at the entrance to Chinatown
Koen and I visited Aquatopia around Halloween! The entire aquarium was Halloween themed, so amongst the fish we found cobwebs, ghouls, ghosts, and grim reapers! I also don’t remember the names of the fish I took photos of, but I will describe them as best I can. There was also an incident where a snake slithered out of his habitat – so scary!
Vlaamse Opera, Antwerp
For my birthday, Koen bought special box tickets for Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde! Because it was opening weekend, there was also a 45 minute lecture before the opera began with dramaturge Luc Joosten, who went into detail explaining the history, development/inspiration, and theme. Koen and I both thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon and if you’re close to Antwerp or Ghent, you should definitely try to find tickets before it closes!
Grayson and Tamar in Antwerp’s Central Station, fresh off of the train!
Before I can start posting my photos from New York City, I first want to make a post about Grayson and Tamar’s (my brother and sister-in-law’s) first trip to Antwerp! In early August they were traveling around Western Europe and made sure to stop over in Antwerp. Not only was it their first time visiting me in Antwerp, but also their first time in Belgium. We drank plenty of Belgian beer and ate a lot of Belgian chocolates and fries.
Maison Clic’Eau
Yesterday was a holiday in Belgium, Dag van de Arbeid (Labor Day), and Koen and I enjoyed the sunny 65 degree weather by taking a long walk around Antwerp. We walked first through the Groenplaats and the Grote Markt, then to ‘t Eijlandje. Not quite ready to return home, we decided to try out a new restaurant, Maison Clic’Eau, to enjoy a few drinks on the terrace.
Jumping Antwerpen
This past Sunday, Koen and I were invited by a friend to enjoy Jumping Antwerpen, a horse jumping event located in downtown Antwerp by the harbor. We had never been to any sort of horse event, so we gladly decided to attend! The weather was great and we really enjoyed watching the events!
The Antwerp Christmas Market has begun! The Christmas market is spread out around Antwerp, and you’ll find cute wooden stalls with a variety of vendors. A trip to the Kerstmarkt isn’t complete without first sampling spekpatatjes met looksaus (bacon potatoes with garlic sauce) and Glühwein (“glow wine”, mulled wine). Koen and I ventured into the huge crowd the opening night, Saturday the 8th of December. Unfortunately I didn’t check my battery level and could only take 2 photos! But I went back Monday to take more photos!
Me enjoying spekpatatjes met looksaus and Glühwein the first night of the Kerstmarkt!
The Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst (Museum of Contemporary Art) featured the work of Jimmie Durham with the exhibition A Matter of Life and Death and Singing. Jimmie Durham is an American artist, essayist, performer, and poet. I think because of his background as an essayist and poet, I really enjoyed viewing his work. The pieces are thoughtful, reflective, and usually have a bit of humor thrown in. If you are in Antwerp, I really recommend this exhibition!
The quotes that are captioning the photos of his work are taken from M HKA’s other website ensembles.org.
M HKA
An American in Antwerp 