🇧🇪 Antwerp: The Hidden Gem You Can't Miss!

✨ An Unplanned Final Stop on Our Euro Trip Originally not on our itinerary, we spontaneously hopped on a train from Brussels to this "Diamond Capital" (though we didn't spot a single 💎—lol!) and discovered a city bursting with modern art, history, and charm. 🚂 Antwerpen-Centraal Station Built in 1895-1905, this architectural marvel features a 75m-high dome and is one of the world's most beautiful train stations. Fun fact: Trains run on multiple levels—perfect for epic photos! 📸 (No filter needed!) 🏰 The Legend of the "Hand-Throwing" Local lore tells of a giant who terrorized the Scheldt River, cutting off hands of those who refused to pay tolls. A brave hero defeated him and threw the giant's hand into the river—hence the name Antwerpen ("hand-throwing" in Dutch). 🤚💦 ⛪ Cathedral of Our Lady & the Heartbreaking Tale of Nello & Patrasche Outside the cathedral, the statue of a boy and his dog honors the 1872 novel A Dog of Flanders. It tells the tragic story of Nello, a poor orphan, and his loyal dog Patrasche, who froze to death together on Christmas Eve after admiring Rubens' paintings inside the church. 😢🐕 (Bring tissues!) 🍽️ The Perfect Ending We capped off our trip with an unforgettable Belgian meal—because what’s better than waffles, fries, and beer? 🍟🍻 #Antwerp #BelgiumTravel #HiddenGems #EuroTrip #TravelDiaries