Diamantaires District

The Diamond District, world capital of diamonds in Antwerp

At the foot of Antwerp-Central station lies one of the most fascinating places on the planet: the Diamond District. Within a tiny perimeter, dizzying quantities of diamonds pass through each day. The Antwerp audio-guided tour stops here to reveal the behind-the-scenes of this world centre of the precious-stone trade.

A square kilometre at the heart of the global trade

The Diamond District, located around Pelikaanstraat and Vestingstraat, at the foot of the central station, covers about one square kilometre. A world centre of the diamond trade, it concentrates workshops, traders and specialised exchanges, where hundreds of thousands of carats pass through each day. This discreet but colossal activity has made Antwerp an essential diamond hub for centuries.

What to see

The district is explored as a singular place of life, between jewellers' windows, cutting workshops and lively lanes at the foot of the station. Its atmosphere, at once hushed and hectic, tells of centuries of craftsmanship and trade. It is an astonishing stop to understand a little-known facet of Antwerp, the world capital of diamonds.

Practical information

The Diamond District lies at the foot of Antwerp-Central station, around Pelikaanstraat and Vestingstraat, reachable on foot and by train. It is an urban district, freely accessible in its streets, discovered mainly from the outside. The shops have their own hours; it is a professional area, to be explored with discretion.

Where is the Diamond District of Antwerp?

At the foot of Antwerp-Central station, around Pelikaanstraat and Vestingstraat, over a perimeter of about one square kilometre.

Why is Antwerp linked to diamonds?

Because the city has for centuries been a world centre of the diamond trade and cutting, concentrated in this district at the foot of the central station.