The Flemish city of Antwerpen is famous for the trading and
cutting of diamonds. Art has also played a big part in the
culture of Antwerpen, Rubins created some of his most
famous paintings here.
Antwerpen is a major sea port and it is from the early
links to the sea that the city gets its name. Legend has it
that a giant would extract a heavy toll from the captains
of ships. If the failed or refuse to pay he would cut off
their hands. A hero, Silvius Brabo decided that this had to
be avenged, so he fought the giant and won. To show that
the giant was slain he cut of his hand and threw the hand
into the sea. Hence the name of Antwerpen , which in
Flemish means "hand throw".
The alternative and perhaps more accurate reason for the
city's name, is the bend in the river. For me, I like the
myth.
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