Let's Go to Belgium - Day 4 in Antwerp!

 Hello!  Thanks for stopping in for Thinking Out Loud Thursday. This is a space where I talk about something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm continuing my recap from our trip to Belgium.  If you've missed the first part of the trip, you can catch up here:

Day 1     |     Day 2     |     Day 3

Day 4 took us to Antwerp!  Antwerp — called Antwerpen in Dutch — is Belgium’s second-largest city and one of Europe’s most stylish and historic destinations. Located along the Scheldt River in northern Belgium, it’s famous for its massive port, diamond trade, fashion scene, medieval architecture, and deep artistic heritage.  Antwerp has a slightly edgier, trendier vibe than cities like Bruges or Brussels. Travelers often describe it as artistic, fashionable, lively, and less touristy — a place where historic Europe and modern urban culture naturally mix together.

We took the 50-minute train ride over from Brussels and immediately fell in love with the train station. The main train station in Antwerp is Central Station and is nicknamed "Railway Cathedral".  The dramatic glass roof over the platforms is stunning!  With it's enormous dome, marble interior, and cathedral-like design, you can see why many people describe it as one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

The moment you step out of the train station, you immediately notice a different energy in the city. It feels much busier and more fast-paced than the cities we had just visited.

Our first stop was at The Chocolate Line Shop, which quickly became my favorite chocolate store of the trip! Their flavor combinations were so unique and fun to sample, and the staff was incredibly generous about letting us try different truffles. Needless to say, quite a few chocolates from this shop ended up making the trip home to the States in our suitcases!

Even if you're not stopping by to try the chocolate, definitely step into this shop!  The historic building dates back to the 1800s and has ties to royalty.  

Next, we ventured to the Cathedral of Our Lady.  It took 169 years to build this masterpiece and was completed in 1521.  Inside, you'll find Baroque decor and Ruben's artwork.  So gorgeous!

You can't miss the beautiful gold clock near the top of the steeple.  

We popped over to the Het Steen next.  This is a small but pretty castle that sits on the side of the river.  The castle dates back to the early 13th Century!  

After grabbing some lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon roaming around admiring the architecture.  

After a fun day exploring Antwerp, we hopped back on the train to Brussels. It was such a fun experience traveling by train and getting to see cities beyond our home base. Just wait until you hear where we ventured on Day 5!

Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

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