PART 9 OF 17

ANTWERP, BELGIUM



Took this picture in the early morning.



John working on Sudoku puzzle and hoped to win a prize.  Did he?





National Scheepvaart Museum
'Steen' is the Dutch word for 'stone'. In Antwerp the 'Steen' is the name
of the little castle that can be seen at the entrance of the city center
The Antwerp Steen has been renovated numerous times. It was probably
built as a part of the fortification around the city in the 13th century.
At the entrance a relief statue can be seen of a man with spread out legs.
This statue also used to have a very large penis and was therefore venerated
by numerous women looking for a cure against infertility. The Jesuits found
the statue too obscene in the 17th century . . . and off went the decoration of the statue!
The Steen was used as a prison from 1549 until 1823.
As from 1862 it was used as the Archeological Museum.



This statue once had a very large penis that was cut off later.











The old Meat Hall (or Butcher's Hall)
The elegant building in Gothic style was built with alternating layers of red
bricks and white sandstone between 1501 and 1503. Architect De Waghemakere
built it for the guild of the butchers of Antwerp.  After the French Revolution,
the guilds were abolished and the Meat Hall lost its original function.
It was later used as a theater and as a storage building for wine.
Note of interest: Blood from meat cutting running from this building to the canal.



Part of original, old fort wall







A hotel for drunkards of old times





A drunkard must be able to open the door with a key.
This door has a special key lock to help him find a hole.



Inside De Kathedraal







One of three Rembrandt paintings









Belgium's 280 different kinds of beer

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LIER, BELGIUM
Took an afternoon tour in Lier







Walking toward Zimmer Tower



Zimmer Tower

The Zimmer tower which was originally part of the 14th century city wall.
The tower houses since 1930 the Jubilee clock,
made by the Lier clockmaker Louis Zimmer (1888-1970).

The clock displays 13 faces on which can be seen: the official Greenwich
Mean Time, the lunar cycle, the signs of the zodiac, the solar cycle,
the 7 days of the week, the globe with the meridians, the 12 months, de eternal
dates, the seasons, the tidal waves in Lier, the age and the phases of the moon.

On the right side of the tower four statues  display the four seasons
as phases of human life. The figures represent famous artists from Lier.
Under these statues, statues of the Belgian kings and the mayors
of the town parade every day at 12 o'clock.

The Pavilion This building was inaugurated in 1960 by the city of
Lier to accommodate the Astronomical Clock.  Louis
Zimmer has constructed this huge clock for the Brussels
World Exhibition in 1935. In 1938, the clock was
sent to the United States for the New York World Fair.
This masterpiece is 16 feet high and weighs over 4500
Ibs. It contains 93 dials and 14 automatic machines.
In this pavilion is also displayed the original workshop
of Louis Zimmer as well as a number of his smaller
masterpieces. Furthermore a sculpture made by the art
metal-worker Lodewijk Van Boeckel and a silver necklace
from the Guild of the Saint-Sebastien crossbowmen
(1643-1930) are shown.





 
Cobblestones was built about 750 years ago.





The City Hall was built in 1369.  We as tourists were fortunate to
be able to enter because it is closed to the public.



The staircase with arch support only.





This room is used for civil ceremonies (divorce and wedding).







Drinking Belgium's Cherry Beer -- delicious!



Easter's Day happens to fall on that day and the ship is full of Easter decorations.









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