Christmas in Antwerp, Belgium (photoshopped city image from 2006)
This year, the start of the Yule-tide season managed to surprise me, in a “wow, I actually survived it all” sort of way. Looking back during these weeks leading up to Christmas, 2009 became a pivotal year, one that made me reassess my priorities, and frequently, blogging was not one of them.
Although most major annual celebrations do have a certain amount of repetitiveness that is essentially inherent to the occasion, I was able to geographically relocate my Christmas 2009 celebrations. And that became basically a relief: I’ll enjoy a seasonal dinner in the company of a few select loved ones, while the loud, overcrowded, downtown public Antwerp Christmas of 2009 (a recession-hit copy of last year’s event) will most likely pass me by unnoticed. Feel free to browse some of my recycled 2008 Antwerp Christmas images and have yourself a memorable & peaceful festive season.
This blog is not affiliated with or endorsed by the city of Antwerp, Belgium.
I’m glad to see you back online Peter. I know it’s been a bumpy ride these past few months and I wish you both a memorable and peaceful Christmas.
Christmas is still not yet in town. Antwerp city decided to hold for the opening of the downtown ice skating rink and Christmas market until Dec 9, only two weeks before Christmas. I walked through the main shopping area and apart from some store windows, not much of Christmas is visible yet in Antwerp city.
[Blog author: "Thanks for being such a supportive friend Steven. As for Christmas: I guess that after the hard and relentless blow to the local economy we all need some magic this year, although even Santa had to forget about a ferris wheel along the Antwerp riverbanks this year: it just won't be build. But I'm grateful for the small, but ever so uplifting gestures my SO extends to me. "]
Comment by Steven — December 1, 2009 @ 1:17 pm |
it looks like brussels still has the money to put on a real big christmas show downtown
http://www.winterwonders.be
[Blog author: "with over 250 stands, a huge open-air ice skating rink and lots of magical light shows throughout downtown historic Brussels, the capital has managed to capture a huge influx of tourists with http://www.winterwonders.be Brabo. Winterwonders opened and has been pulling a crowd in Brussels, while Antwerp-city blissfully waits to turn on the seasonal lights Dec 9, only 2w before Christmas. And that's way too late and really a shame."]
Comment by Brabo — December 2, 2009 @ 3:24 pm |
happy christmas!
.
let’s hope it doesn’t take too long before the economy gets back on its feet.
some small comfort this season will be that apparently a lot of season’s products will have to be sold cheaper. It’s small comfort, as i said, a lot would rather see more jobs getting available i suppose, but anyway, cheers, and till your next post
[Blog author: "Best wishes to you too. I'm not yet sure about the direction or even timing of my upcoming post - at present this blog runs on auto-pilot with many of the previous regular readers/commenters having relocated to Facebook & all the related social networks. "On Verra" )
Comment by i.b — December 12, 2009 @ 10:27 am |
i wouldn’t mind reading about antwerp then and now stories. i’m particularly curious about the antwerp of the ’70s til ’80s (i’m an immigrant, but a good one, mind you
).
just got reminded of this curiosity of mine when i saw the old taverne Fouquets being hideously transformed apparently into some fastfood place. i’ve heard that it used to be one of the most popular places to hang out in, and i once took a japanese tourist there to sample belgian beer. she was quite impressed. too bad the de keyserlei area is losing its class.
[Blog author: "you ask, we provide it
I've got some breaking news regarding the declining "de keyserlei" : the city of Antwerp has decided (in its often clouded yet infinite wisdom) to turn the entire avenue into a car-free walking zone. Sounds great during the summer, but with six months of rainy weather expect more wide open, yet empty & totally useless deserted spaces being created all over this town. Somehow city hall is importing many great ideas, if only Antwerp had a Mediterranean climate. I'll check whether I'll find worthwhile info regarding the 70s era of this pocket sized metropolis. "]
Comment by i.b — December 22, 2009 @ 8:15 pm |
that is indeed breaking news. now, if i’m right in following the ‘logic’ (or lack of it) of this measure, that would mean clogging the already chaotic f. rooseveltplaats-astridplein axis. you’re right, that would mean the end of all the long-running horeca establishments in the area and what little is left of shops elsewhere. not to mention attracting the wrong kind of people to hang around the central station area.
frankly, i think the economy should be the priority nowadays, attracting long-staying business instead of all these foreign fastfood chains who come and go as they please.
[Blog author: "I couldn't agree more: the economy should be the priority nowadays, especially with downtown Antwerp unemployment reaching 20%. The current urban design approach of Antwerp city is becoming an utter nightmare, with those who are responsible for these disastrous plans retiring to their upscale homes in green suburbia at night. "]
Comment by i.b — December 23, 2009 @ 9:33 pm |
Oh joy, De Keyserlei car-free means a Central Station you can’t reach by car, that is going to be fun!
Oh joy, De Keyserlei car-free means a lot more busses on the “Leien”, that is going to be fun!
Oh joy, De Keyserlei car-free spells disaster not unlike the Astridplein (the square in front of the Central Station)
Does anybody know the word “Faceplant”? ( http://www.failfunnies.com/30/images/ultimate-faceplant-fail.jpg <– just to illustrate!)
[Blog author: "let's just hope Antwerp-city runs out of money to finance this insane concept Sven. The plans state they want to create a "walking boulevard" between the station and riverbanks (closing the "suikerrui" as well). The traffic will probably need wings, with a large capital A. "]
Comment by Sven — December 28, 2009 @ 3:20 pm |