Antwerp, located on the Schelde River, is the second-busiest port in Europe. It is the capital of the province of the same name. With about 453,000 people, Antwerp is Belgium’s second-largest city. It is famous as one of the world’s great diamond trading and cutting centres.

Charlemagne, a great French ruler of the eighth century, built the first fort in Antwerp. A fortress dating to the tenth century, the Steen, still stands in the city’s harbour. Another famous landmark is the Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady). It is the largest church in Belgium built in the Gothic style. Gothic churches feature huge towers, called spires, and massive windows. Inside, the church houses great works of art by a master Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens.