Where it all started
The story begins in a time long before Antwerp was the bustling metropolis that it is today. In those days, and for a long time after, the River Scheldt was the main artery of the region, providing a port, transport options and a food source for local people. At the time, a fierce giant named Druon Antigoon ruled over its waters, and he was not kind to people who wanted to cross. He was greedy and demanded a high toll from all who wished to cross the river. Those who refused or could not pay were met with a gruesome fate. Antigoon would cut off their hand and unceremoniously throw it into the river!
A man called Silvius Brabo, a Roman soldier and nephew to Julius Caesar, visited Antwerp one day and wanted to cross the river. He was a brave and fearless man and an excellent warrior. As he approached the river he was confronted by the giant Antigoon, of whom he had heard tales, but he was not afraid. Brabo stood up to this fearsome giant resolutely denying his request for a toll, resulting in a battle that would decide the fate of the river’s future travellers.
The battle that ensued was fierce and took a long time to be resolved but ended in the victory of the fearless Brabo. In his final act of the battle, Brabo cut off the giant’s hand and cast it into the river leaving Antigoon defeated and dejected. Brabo is said to be responsible for the start of Antwerp’s time as a vibrant and exciting city which welcomes thousands of travellers and tourists every year, without fear of the greedy giant.
How did Antwerp get its name?
The legend of Brabo and Antigoon is more than just a tale of heroism. The battle and the story behind it are said to have given Antwerp its name. In Dutch, “hand werpen” translates to “hand throwing.” The city’s name is believed to be derived from Brabo’s act of hurling Antigoon’s hand into the River Scheldt. There is another saying that the origins of the name of Antwerp comes from the phrase aan de werpe, which is Dutch for “at the throw”, referring to where the river throws sand. No one knows for sure where the city got its name from as these stories pre-date modern history. We like to believe that the legend of Antwerp is the true origin!
Visit the Sites of the Legend of Antwerp
Today, this famous story is immortalised in the city’s art and architecture with several displays of the myth adorning the city’s streets. The most notable representation of the tale is the iconic Brabo Fountain, located in Antwerp’s central square, the Grote Markt. Designed by Jef Lambeaux and unveiled in 1887, the fountain features a bronze statue of Brabo standing atop a pedestal, triumphantly holding Antigoon’s severed hand. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Antwerp. In front of Het Steen, a medieval castle that served as the city centre of Antwerp, stands a bronze statue of a towering giant terrorizing townsfolk, much like Antigoon. A statue of the legendary giant’s severed hand also sits on Antwerp’s popular shopping street, The Meir in 1992.
Check out the sights and sounds of Antwerp when you book your stay in PREMIER SUITES Antwerp. You can visit the river and the statues and walk in the footsteps of brave Brabo and terrible Antigoon. Our reception team would be happy to give you directions to these interesting sites
