Note to tourists that to tread outside of the shops in the Antwerp Diamond Jewelers Association (see http://www.adja.be) was an unwise move. The majority of shops do not display details of what is in the window so it is impossible to window shop sensibly. Do some homework before you go - perhaps contact some jewellers by email -  so you can know that you are using your time (and spending your money) most wisely.

That said, Antwerp has other things to see than diamonds – The cathedral with its Rubens adornments, Rubens' house and the newly re-furbished Diamond Museum with a wealth of background information and a chance to see diamond cutting in progress and also speak to the craftsman (unlike the Diamondland setup behind glass). But beware it is closed all day Wednesday.