St James's Church, Antwerp — Local services in Antwerp

I spent the day in Antwerp to see where Rubens lived, and where he was laid to rest. This is the church you can pay your respects to the great painter.

The church is not as big as other cathedrals in the country, but that doesn't mean this is not impressive. There was a lovely couple who was manning the welcome desk when I arrived, and they gave me some information and a pamphlet, and I thanked them by donating to the church.

The interior is very different, with a lot of white and one area was whitewashed, and a totally different aesthetic and feel as opposed to the larger, darker stone churches. It was nice to see a different style and experience a different type of interior. It was similar but distinct, and had its own vibe so to speak.

Of course, the stunning part was a large Rubens- because of course there had to be one! This is a perfect way to end your day if you visited the Rubens...

St. Jacobskerk (St. James' Church) is a early 16th century church built upon a resting stop for pilgrims seeking to visit the burial place of St. James the Great, for whom the church is named.

Within the church are artworks by the likes of Jordaens and Peter Paul Rubens. You can also see Rubens tomb as well as fine representation of Baroque style architecture. The exterior of the church remains predominately Gothic in style and can be admired year round from the outside. It is nice to see even if less impressive as nearby Antwerp Cathedral.

In the end, being open part of the year might impact your ability to visit the inside of the church and limited hours means that you need to plan accordingly if you want to see St Jacobskerk during the time of year...

The care and passion they have for this church is a blessing to witness. One of the largest churches in the city, St. James is currently under renovation with more than half of it's structure. But we were still able to spend over an hour admiring the beautiful ornate sculptures and the historical significance of the different tombs and shrines including the Flemish Baroque artist Peter Paul Reubens. They are currently taking donations to continue their renovations of this incredible...