Here's the city's 16th-century Grote Markt, or Central Square, with its grand city hall and a fountain depicting the Roman soldier Brabo throwing a giant's severed hand into the river—part of a medieval legend that gave the city its name (the act of throwing the hand is referred to as 'handwerpen' in Flemish). Today you see the hand icon everywhere in Antwerp, from the town flag to boxes of hand-shaped chocolates. Photo 8 of 15 in Best of Belgium: Three Days in Antwerp by Jaime Gillin

Best of Belgium: Three Days in Antwerp

8 of 15

Here's the city's 16th-century Grote Markt, or Central Square, with its grand city hall and a fountain depicting the Roman soldier Brabo throwing a giant's severed hand into the river—part of a medieval legend that gave the city its name (the act of throwing the hand is referred to as 'handwerpen' in Flemish). Today you see the hand icon everywhere in Antwerp, from the town flag to boxes of hand-shaped chocolates.