Antwerp I didn't really like. It was the only place in Belgium that I didn't feel safe, it felt like a seedy kind of town, dirty and run down. There were some attractive old buildings, but everything looked like it needed a bit of attention. The main square and the cathedral were quite nice, but they were about it. It reminded me a bit of Naples, which is the only place in Italy so far I haven't liked. I wouldn't rush back, and I'm glad I only did a day trip there rather than spending the night.

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March 06

Since I visited last year and made these comments, I have actually been back to Antwerp a number of times and have enjoyed myself immensely. I realised on my return that I wandered to the "wrong" part of town, and after spending a few days in Brussels and Ghent, Antwerp seemed very different! It was also a grey, dreary day, the first I had encountered on my trip. My boyfriend is now living there so I visit him regularly, it is a lovely, small city, with lots of nice bars and restaurants. There are some seedy areas, but if you avoid them, it is great. Probably not so much for tourists to do other than a wander around to see the main sites, but a nice place to live, or visit someone who lives there.