A jewelry designer guide for Antwerp

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I was born in Gante and arrived for the first time to Antwerp to study at the city’s ballet school for more than 15 years. I had to stop dancing after starting to experience physical difficulties in my last year, but I was lucky to find another passion in the jewels shortly after moving here. Antwerp is known as the capital of the world of Diamond and we are fortunate to have some of the best juggers and distributors in the city, so there is a lot of knowledge and crafts when it comes to jewels.

What makes Antwerp so unique is its creative energy: since the seventeenth century it has been a center of different handicrafts and interesting artistic profiles, from artists such as Peter Paul Rubens and Rinus Van De Velde to the fashion photographer Willy Vanderperre and designer Pieter Mulier. There is a tolerance and openness that makes it a very inspiring place to live, but everything is still on a human scale. Every time I travel to a bigger city like Paris or London, I’m always happy to return home.

On a typical Saturday, I will start the day with a little yoga, then I will go to breakfast in the magazine in the south of the city with my husband or friends before seeing an exhibition. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts has one of the biggest collections of [Belgian painter James] Great in the world, so you can really take your time and walk. There are also contemporary galleries such as Tim van Laere and the Cultural Complex of Axel Vergoordt about 15 minutes by car from the city. He often has interesting events and presentations of the artists he represents, it is definitely worth visiting if he has time.

To go shopping, I trust Dries Van Noten: He is the Pope

When it comes to restaurants, we are very spoiled: new things always appear. One of my favorites is Pottenbrug, a small French-Belga-property bistro of family property. It feels very authentic, and everything in the menu is good, although I especially like Turbot. If you like Fish, Misera, who is in the new part of the south, it is also a great option. But on Sundays, I love to go to art, a classic Italian who has the best atmosphere: many people join, so it is likely to always run into someone. It is a good way to finish the week and start the next. Cotoletta Milanese is always delicious.

To go shopping, I trust Dries Van Noten, he is the Pope. I try not to buy too much clothes and the best thing about the brand is that you can wear your pieces for a long time and combine them with the things you already have. Another big store is Houben, which stores elegant brands such as row, although I have to stay away, since it is dangerous. And if you like antiques, I recommend going to Kloosterstraat, a street around the corner of my exhibition room that has many old and old stores, as well as Erik Tonen Books, one of the best libraries in the city. I am addicted to buy books and I have a large collection of works in vintage jewels.

Much of my inspiration comes from walking through the city: architecture in Antwerp is a good mixture of modern and very classic buildings, which is something that I try to combine in my work. Something that most tourists do not know is that the Cathedral in the center of the city has a garden, which is very set. It is the best place to relax because it is walled, so you do not listen to anything.

There are always new things to discover in Antwerp and people are adventurous here: they dare to assume risks and build their own stories. Yes, it could be one of the smallest cities in Europe, but it is very vibrant with great creativity. Design and crafts are still in the city center, which gives it a certain energy and a feeling that people can be free and totally. There is nothing more inspiring than that.