As well as recharging the brain cells and developing a tea light-monitoring obsession, I managed a quick getaway between Christmas and New Year. Me and Mr That's Not My Age went on what the travel industry likes to call a 'Twixmas Break' to Antwerp. I've visited the Belgian city once before, for a fashion show, but didn't have the time to explore. So it was lovely to go back for a few days. Architecturally, Antwerp reminds me of a cross between Paris and Amsterdam - with a bit of a Berlin hipster vibe. A wonderful mix of old and new. And of course, home to designers like Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten and Walter Van Beirendonck, the city is a European fashion capital in its own right. We spent a fair amount of time dodging the icy blast off the North Sea in very chic cafés...
And lovely museums: MAS is the museum of the city of Antwerp which has a viewing platform on the roof, MoMu is part of the fashion institute and, my personal favourite, Plantin-Moretus which chronicles the history of printing and contains the oldest surviving printing presses in the world - over 400-years-old and still working.
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| Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) |
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| Raf Simons for Dior at MoMu |
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| Museum Plantin-Moretus |
I was going to call this post 'It's hard being a vegetarian in Belgium' but there's always beer, frites and seasonal patisserie:
And as promised here's my Olga Chernysheva-inspired Belfie.
Hope you've had a lovely break, and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAntwerp looks gorgeous, what splendid architecture.
I've become so spoilt with India I've forgotten what a nightmare it still is to find affordable veggie food in loads of places. Chips and beer sound pretty good though! xxx
I have never been...thanks for the tour!
ReplyDeleteWas in Antwerp last spring. Beautiful! Love your blog....
ReplyDeleteLooks fabulous! I've never been to Antwerp but it's on our list. Cute hat!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Alyson - thanks for the peek at Antwerp, it looks charming! xo
ReplyDeleteWe are planning a trip to Belgium for next summer (not a usual destination from Texas) and wasn't sure whether to add Antwerp. Thanks to your post will most definitely— fashion museum for her, printing museum for him. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy dear AW,
ReplyDeleteLooks as though you indeed had a merry twixmas in what now strikes me as charming and interesting Antwerp. I've never been and have only thought of it in terms of that 'girls best friend' market....friends GSL has never been anxious to make.
Dig the belfie.
It looks and sounds like an interesting city, and you could easily pick up a diamond or two in the right shops there! Love your coat - warm and cosy.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year TNMA
ReplyDeleteAntwerp looks FAB & so do you! X
ReplyDeleteAntwerp is indeed a very nice place
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