Alles voor de reis. Koffers voor Africa – ‘Everything for the Journey, Suitcases for Africa,’ reads a vintage sign above the Hotel Riga entrance in central Antwerp.
The building at Korte Koepoortstraat 4 dates from 1938 when Marcel Riga opened a shop here selling sturdy suitcases for Belgians heading to Africa.
The building is now a stylish hotel in the heart of the old town. The rooms are bright with high ceilings and parquet floors. To add interest, a few relics are displayed from Riga’s original shop.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
