This was our last day in The Netherlands and we were scheduled to travel on Eurostar back to London from Brussels. Rather than spend a lot of time in Brussels the itinerary had been changed by the Newmarket Holidays’ tour manager and we were now going to spend time in Antwerp. We were scheduled to travel on Eurostar back to London from Brussels. We had enjoyed our time in Utrecht and adding Antwerp to the schedule made this last day even more enjoyable!
Day 4: Tuesday 15th July 2025: Helmond
The plan for the day:
We had our case out early at the side of the coach and we met a lady who was driving this Google Street View car. This one of two cars that she had at the hotel. The other being a diesel. She told us about the switch from a taxi driver to driving thousands of kilometers a year for Google.
One last look at the hotel before we boarded the coach for Antwerp.
On the way to Antwerp
On the road as we passed the outskirts of Eindhoven, we passed one of the ASML sites – important for chip manufacturing worldwide.
Then we were in the outskirts of Antwerp.
Day 4 Tuesday 15th July 2025: Antwerp, Belgium
The coach was heading for the River Scheldt and we were dropped off on Jordeaenskaai. Then we headed into Antwerp towards the market square.
Lunch
We stopped at a restaurant on Oude Koornmarkt.
While we sat and enjoyed the sunshine I watched others walking and riding by.
Opposite the restaurant I watched organised groups of tourists going down an alley, Vlaaikensgang. After lunch I went down the alley to the have a look. Down the alley were interesting buildings and at the end was an open air restaurant.
The guild buildings around the square had lots of gold covered statues adorning their roofs.
The Nello & Patrasche Statue and next to it was this lady sitting on a block with an attached picture.
From a viewpoint over the river…
Back on the coach for the last time.
Day 4 Tuesday 15th July 2025: Eurostar
We had only a little time to wait before we entered the check-in for Eurostar. Once through security and passport control we sat and waited. Around us the space was being worked in with bare plasterboard on walls.
The queue for boarding was through Duty Free and we only joined it when it snaked out into the waiting area.
We may as well have been on London Underground in our seats on Eurostar, seat 23 in coach 9. Our view was completely blocked!
Our carriage was one of the buffet cars and as the train pulled out I picked up coffees and some snacks.
Once back in St Pancras we decided to avoid the Underground and instead caught a taxi to Waterloo. At one of the many traffic lights, this one on Southampton Row, the taxi stopped at I spotted this quote from @7soulsdeep.
Make the
World
feel something
@7soulsdeep