Antwerp

Antwerp (English: /ˈæntwɜrp/; Dutch: Antwerpen, [ˈɑnt.wɛr.pə(n)]; French: Anvers, [ɑ̃vɛʁ] or [ɑ̃vɛʁs]) is a city and municipality in Belgium and the capital of the Antwerp province of Flanders. Antwerp's total population is 507,007 (as of 31 December 2011), making it the largest municipality in both Flanders and Belgium in terms of its population. The inhabitants of Antwerp are locally nicknamed Sinjoren, after the Spanish honorific señor. It refers to the leading Spanish noblemen who ruled the city during the 17th century.

Antwerp has long been an important city in the Low Countries both economically and culturally, especially before the Spanish Fury of the Dutch Revolt. It is located on the right (eastern) bank of the river Scheldt, which is linked to the North Sea by the estuary Westerschelde. The city has one of the largest seaports in Europe.