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frame Guildhouses in the Grote Markt

Antwerp ( Dutch: Antwerpen, French: Anvers) is a city and a municipality in the province of Antwerp (and its capital), in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. On January 1st, 2004 Antwerp had a total population of 455,148 (222,395 males and 232,753 females). The total area is 204.51 km² which gives a population density of 2,225.51 inhabitants per km².

Antwerp is notable as a centre of the diamond industry, both for trading and for cutting and polishing. Antwerp is also famous for its seaport with a lot of cargo shipping. Since the 1990s it has been recognized as a fashion design city, namely because of some graduates of the Royal Academy of Fine arts - Fashion, became internationally successful.

The river Scheldt passes through Antwerp. Antwerp is one of the largest ports in the world, linked to the North Sea by the Scheldt and the Westerschelde.

Antwerp Stadhuis (Town Hall) in Grote Markt

Antwerp is also notable for its zooA zoological garden or zoo for short, is a place where wild animals are encaged in an artificial environment and exhibited to the public. The first zoos were private menageries, usually belonging to kings. After the French Revolution, the Paris zoo was op, which is one of the oldest and most famous zoos in the world. The Antwerp Zoo is located in the middle of the city and hosts more than 4000 animals. The Royal Society for Zoology has been watching over the welfare of numerous animals and helping to protect threatened animals for more than 100 years.

Antwerp is nicknamed "The Jerusalem of the West" because of its large orthodox JewishThe word Jew is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to either a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or a member of the Jewish culture or ethnicity. This article discusses the term as describing an ethnic group; for a ( hasidic) community.

In the Eighty Years' WarThe Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt from 1568 to 1648 was the secession war in which the proto- Netherlands first became an independent country. During the war, the Dutch Republic became a world power for a short time (mainly through its naval strength) on November 4November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. Events 1576 Eighty Years' War: In Belgium, Spain captures Antwerp (after three days the city was nearly destroyed). 1612 Moscow China Town tak, 1576Events May 5 Peace of Beaulieu or Peace of Monsieur (after Monsieur, the Duc d'Anjou, brother of the King, who negotiated it). End of the Fifth War of Religion Once again, the Protestants are granted freedom of worship. October 3 The " Spanish Terror"., SpainThe Kingdom of Spain is a country located in the southwest of Europe. It shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra. To the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. It inc captured the city and nearly destroyed it after three days.

During World War II the city was occupied by Germany and was liberated on September 4, 1944 when the British 11th Armored Division entered the city. After this, the Germans attempted to destroy the port of Antwerp, which was used by the Allies to bring new material ashore. The city was hit by more V-2 rockets than any other target during the entire war, but the attack did not succeed to destroy the port. The city itself was largely damaged however.

The city got its name from a legend surrounding a giant that lived in the river Scheldt. This giant exacted a toll from passers-by who wished to navigate the river. On refusal, the giant often severed one of their hands. When the giant was eventually slain, his hand was sliced off and thrown (Flemish: hand werpen) into the river. Hence the name.

Antwerp also hosted the 1920 Summer Olympics.