Antwerp Photo Gallery - Cathedral of Our Lady

Antwerp's historic centre has several grand churches. While they charge admission to enter, it is worth spending a little money to do so and admire the spectacular interiors. The Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal) is a Gothic church which mostly dates from the mid-15th century and took about 200 years to build. Its spire rises 123m and dominates the skyline. Inside, there is a rich assortment of paintings, including works by Peter Paul Rubens. With a 12 euro admission charge, head in and be amazed. Rubens was a famous Flemish painter who studied in Antwerp. He was appointed court painter for the Dutch in 1609 and was immensely successful, branching out to diplomatic duties from the mid-1620s onwards. At the time, it was common for painters to visit foreign courts, so adding political assignments seemed a logical choice that won't arouse suspicion.