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Discover Benelux | Antwerp | City of Diamonds
stimulate the flow of diamonds in and out of Antwerp, the Belgian government set up a Diamond Office in the city’s newfound Diamond District, facilitating the trade in diamonds with a minimum of intervention and red tape, the opposite of a diamond city such as Amsterdam. It resulted in Antwerp’s ‘golden sixties’, a decade when the diamond business was booming.
diamond city. It has shown time and time again that the city is a safe and trustworthy haven in a stable region for diamond trade. After five centuries, Antwerp remains the capital of world diamond trade.”
Visit the Diamond Pavilion – This is a joint venture between the (currently closed) Diamond Museum and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. The Diamond Pavilion explains why Antwerp is a global diamond centre and gives an insight in the current world of diamonds. Unlock diamond secrets – The app ‘Antwerp Loves Diamonds’ will give you the virtual keys to open the normally very closed doors of the Antwerp diamond district. Available in four languages, the application can be downloaded for free from the App or Google Play store.
Today, times have changed. Developing countries offer to cut diamonds for a low price, there are strict European guidelines for trading and several oil states in the Far East charge no taxes for the diamond industry. Because of this, Antwerp now focuses on trade, rather than diamond cutting. Looking at the future, Vleeschdrager says: “Antwerp will never lose its name as Antwerp’s most brilliant The city of Antwerp and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre developed their own jeweller quality label ‘Antwerp’s Most Brilliant’. The label is for the most reliable jewellers in town and will guarantee consumers and visitors the quality of diamonds. Labelled jewellers are recognised by the ‘Antwerp’s Most Brilliant’ sticker in the shop window and from the free Visit Antwerp flyer available online or in the Visit Antwerp store.
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A sparkling city
Diamond discovery tour – Looking for a diamond tour in Antwerp? Download the free diamond map and get an overview of historic and contemporary monuments and shops all over town as well as unique tips and useful information about Antwerp as a city for jewellery. Alternatively, you can take a two-hour guided tour around the diamond district and find out what Antwerp means as a world centre for diamond trade. Download the map or get more information about the tour on www.visitantwerpen.be Behind the scenes – This group tour will give you the opportunity to get a glimpse behind the scenes of a diamond polishing workshop and a diamond exchange. A unique experience, because you will visit places an outsider will never see. You can book the tour via info@ diamant.provant.be