The Wondrous City: The Legend Behind Antwerp’s Name

#falladventures What a marvelous city! Here’s the story of how Antwerp got its name: The statue in front of the City Hall celebrates the legend of how the city was named. A mythical giant named Antigoon (or Antigon) lived beside the river Scheldt and demanded a toll from everyone who crossed the river. If someone refused to pay, Antigoon would cut off their hand. One day, a brave young soldier named Brabo cut off the giant’s hand and threw it into the river. That is why the name Antwerpen comes from the Dutch words that mean “to throw a hand” (hand werpen).