For many foreign students, living in Enschede is a chance to come and experience a new culture. As a relatively small country, it is easy to travel within the Netherlands or venture into a neighbouring land for a daytrip or a long weekend.
Just over the Dutch border in eastern Flanders, Antwerp (Antwerpen/Anvers) is Belgium's second largest city. Known for its world famous diamond-cutting industry, Antwerp also has a vibrant fashion scene, great restaurants, incredible museums (Pieter Paul Rubens called it home), and amazing art-nouveau architecture. About 3 hours by car, about 4 ½ hours by train (around €40.00) from Enschede, the manageably-sized city has more than enough to see and do in a weekend. If you go by car, look for cheap parking south of the city center. The city's official website is a good place to start for general information about accommodations (lots of great B&Bs), tours, museums, and festivals: (http://www.antwerpen.be)
As a celebrated centre of fashion and design, Antwerp has more stores (high and low end) than you'll have time to enjoy. The fashion quarter is in St. Andries; for an enormous outdoor market, find the Grote Markt near the historic centre. For art, see masterpieces by Rubens at Onze Lieve Vrouw Kathedraal the largest and finest Gothic cathedral in Belgium, or spend time at the expansive Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Royal Museum of Fine Art).
There is no lack of great spots to eat. A short list of places to dine for the beginning gourmand:
Most remarkable restaurant: Het Pomphuis (http://www.hetpomphuis.be/home.htm). Take a taxi to this refurbished pumphouse located in the middle of the city's active warehouse district.
Best seafood: Cleyn Seelant (a little north of the city centre)
Best pub: Kulminator, serves vintage beers (http://www.xs4all.nl/~patto1ro/antwpubs.htm)
Best lunch place: Sjalot en Schanul, great salads and cozy atmosphere
Best place to buy spices: Cajun (http://www.cajun.be/)
