How the City of Antwerpen Got Its Name.

Hey Guys!

Yesterday was a big day. I learned all kinds of the things about people with names like Antigoon and Silvius. I met Jessie, the daughter of Di and we hung out together for 5 hours. I like Jessie and might see if I can bring her home with me. Sssh, don't tell Di.

Jessie and I had fun. She would lift me up and put me into the corner of any photographs Di was trying to take. We thought we were very funny. You can see how I am smiling in the first photograph.

The next photograph ... don't be afraid but can you see me?
I'm there, right in the bottom of the photograph, sitting at the feet of Lange Wapper, a giant water ghost from Antwerp's past.

Now the story goes that there was another giant called Antigoon living here in the city of Antwerp a long time ago. The River Scheldt runs past the city and this giant used to stop all the ships passing by. He would make the captains pay him money before he would let them continue on up the river.

Some captains dared to refuse and do you know what he did?

He would chop off one of their hands and throw that hand into the river!

One day, a Roman soldier called Silvius Brabo came to the city. The silly giant tried his old trick and Silvius killed him, then chopped off his hand and threw it into the river.

And this story is actually the story of how the city of Antwerp (Antwerpen in Dutch) got its name. You see, in Dutch, 'werpen' means 'to throw' and the 'Ant' at the start of Antwerpen used to have an 'H' in front of it a long time ago. 'H'Ant meant 'Hand'.

We took some more photographs of Silvius Brabo throwing the hand and of ships on the river ... without a real-life giant there to stop them.

Tot straks!
It means, see you soon!

Flat Stanley Rides with the Giant Antigoon.

This might not look scary and I might be smiling but I was SCARED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Silvius Brabo,a Roman soldier

Can you see the man at the top of this sculpture?

That is Silvius Brabo, the Roman soldier, throwing Antigoon's hand into the river.

In summer, this huge sculpture becomes a beautiful fountain and can be found in Grote Markt (the Great Market square), in Antwerpen.

Can you see the beautiful buildings in the background?
They are called guild houses but perhaps I will tell you the story of them another day. We might visit because Di's husband works in one of them. Let's just concentrate on giants today.

I promised you a castle ...

What do you think?
I think this castle is very cool.
And King Stanley sounds good, doesn't it.

This castle is called the Steen (the Stone in English) and it used to be part of an old fortress. It was a PRISON in the Middle Ages.

Do you know how long ago the Middle Ages were??
A clue, this castle is rumoured to be the oldest building in town and there are some very old buildings here.

Flat Stanley Arrives at Di's Place in Belgium

Dear Van and Classmates,

I have arrived safely in Belgium. A little bit flatter than when you put me in the post but safe and in one piece.

So far, it has been interesting.
Belgium is a very small country. It is 11,787 square miles in size and has a population of about 10.7 million.

But you sent me to Di.
She is not Belgian, did you know it? She is a New Zealander and her accent is a little bit difficult to understand.

This morning I had my first traditional Sunday Belgian breakfast.
I might stay here. Do you know, they go out to the bakery and buy bread and cakes?!!

I am sorry to say, I forgot to take photographs for you but perhaps I will do it next Sunday and anyway, it would have just made you hungry.

Tomorrow Di has promised to take me into Antwerp city with the camera.

Some things you need to know about Antwerp.
It is located in Flanders - the Flemish side of Belgium. (The other side is called Wallonia).

In Flanders they speak Dutch (they call it Nederlands here) and the Wallonians speak French. It will be okay for me though, as they speak a lot of English. Di likes this too.

Antwerp's population is 472,071 and it is the home of the world's fourth largest port.

There is so much more to tell you about!
We will visit a castle tomorrow, Di will also tell me where the name of the city comes from and we will talk of the giants who used to live here. I am a little bit scared.

I will write soon.

Lots of love
Flat Stanley, in Belgium.