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Hoogstraat - Grote Pieter Potstraat

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Strolling to the Carolus Borromeus church

Rockoxhuis- Rubens tomb at St.Jacobskerk

Cogels-Osylei area, unique in the world (1)

Cogels Osy area, unique in the world (2)

Exiting from café “Pelgrom” continue the Pelgrimstraat until the end. At the Reynderstraat you will see at the other side of the street another famous Antwerp tavern, just elected as “THE tavern of the year” by the European cafes association. “De Groote Witte Arend” with its interior courtyard and small chapel next to a gallery of contemporary art. Exit the Witte Arend and continue to the left. At the corner of the Reynderstraat and the Hoogstraat make a right. The “HOOGSTRAAT”, first Antwerp pedestrian street, redesigned in the seventies, existed already in the 13th century. It housed the broadcloth industry. Jacob Jordaens birth house is at no.13. A pity that a fire destroyed all wooden houses and facades in 1443. Today, the street is a very good sample of the Antwerp architecture over the ages. Look at houses no.3 and 5 (Renaissance style). Built in 1580 they were transformed in the 19th century. The house at no.11 has a Second Empire façade. You will notice that a lot of houses wear a name. That was usual in the 16th century. Like here “De Gulden Cop”, “Den Grooten Gulten Schild” and “Den Wolsack” at nos. 15, 15a and 17. They all date from the second half of the 16th century but certain parts (like the baroque porch, right) has been added.
Always animated, the Hoogstraat is also very seducing due mainly to her close location to the Grote Markt and the quays of the Scheldt. This old street attracts a lot of loiterers, especially during the weekend. Shops have replaced the old craftsmen and lives mainly of tourism. The KLEINE PIETER POTSRAAT to the left, bordered by small little workmen houses now mostly rearranged into apartments. Students, old people, artists live here. The street comes out on the GROTE PIETER POTSTRAAT that connects the SUIKERRUI to the VLASMARKT.
Well known for its trendy cafes, especially the tavern “Het Spiegelbeeld”, the Grote Pieter Potstraat houses also a few picturesque restaurants. Always very animated on Monday nights in the summer when the cathedral carillons give a concert, the Grote Pieter Potstraat attract mostly youngsters who come to have a good time in the numerous cafes with strange names. The street ends in the Suikerrui, which was originally a canal forming the first defence line of the city. Today it’s packed with restaurants and houses the “Ethnographical Museum”.
Take the direction of the Vlasmarkt returning to the Grote Pieter Potstraat. Look at the house at no24 (Potstraat) called “Den Hopsack” with a decorated façade dating 1624. At the VLASMARKT make a left. At no.26-30 a vast house with interior courtyard. It is the old “Ouden Munte” from the 16th century where the money was made. At the end of the street, make a right and you’re again the Hoogstraat. At the corner of the street look up to the Virgin and her Child of end 17th century. What is more beautiful than this mother look, tender compassion of the Virgin towards Jesus? Notice that in the 18th century more than 500 statues of the virgin decorated Antwerp streets. At the beginning of the 20th century, only 260. At no.70-72 of the Hoogstraat used to be a “hospitality Saint-Julien” giving food and lodging for the poor and pilgrims passing in the city.
Turn around and take the Heilige Geestestraat, bordered by beautiful houses of the end of the 16th century. Stop at no.9, a patrician house very well conserved and restored. “Den Gulden Cop” or “Huis Draecke”. It’s a typical example of a hanseatic house with interior courtyard, interior chapel, hexagonal tower from 1540, and a gallery that used to come out in the Hoogstraat.

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