Hessenhuis

You can find The Hessenhuis in between the Paardenmarkt and the old docks, a trendy area known as the 't Eilandje (little island). It was built in the the middle of the 16th century and is one of the finest renaissance buildings in Antwerp. Orginally, it was used by German merchants as a warehouse and hostel for ferrymen. When trade declined, the building subsequently functioned as a protestant place of worship, a barracks, a fire station and a municipal workshop. Today, restored to its old glory, it functions as a museum and exihibition venue. The Hessenhuis also includes a bar and restaurant, which attracts a mostly gay crowd.