Antwerp has conducted business on the River Scheldt since the Middle Ages, and has the centuries-old Diamond District (and Europe’s second-largest port) to show for it. The #35 Economic Output ranking is proof that this second city still defines hustle, and the #35 Unemployment Rate ranking proves its citizens do, too. But it’s not just diamonds behind the prosperity. Innovators are finding a foothold here, drawn in by incubators like The Beacon and Dunden, and supported by the University of Antwerp and nano-tech pioneer, imec. Start-ups have sniffed out the opportunity, choosing Antwerp’s time-tested riverbanks as home base as they push the frontiers of pharma, cloud computing, AI, and beyond.
In exchange, Antwerp shares its cultural bounty with generosity, even as it reckons with a drug trade that has jostled its storybook image in recent years. Despite it all, this city remains a jewel box of cobblestone streets, high style, and vibrant museums. The newly announced M HKA Museum of Contemporary Art means there’s more for art lovers on the way. In the meantime, catch a show. Antwerp is a born performer, ranking #25 in our Theatres & Concerts subcategory. Don’t miss the magnificent Toneelhuis – a neoclassical gem in a city of gems – before it closes for renovations in 2026.