The city has been the world centre of diamond trading and cutting for five hundred years; DIVA is the museum that tells the story. The collection covers diamond mining and cutting, Antwerp silversmiths from the 16th and 17th centuries, and contemporary jewellery design. The route through the museum is presented as a series of themed rooms — the wonder cabinet, the workshop, the dining table — each with its own atmosphere.
The Wonder Cabinet and the Atelier are the most engaging spaces. Allow about ninety minutes. Located just off the Grote Markt, within easy walking distance of most central sites. The shop has work by Antwerp jewellery designers worth looking at even if you do not buy. Closed Wednesdays.