We speak diamond

In Antwerp you'll find Chinese, Indians, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews… trading freely amongst each other. The diamond trade employs 73 nationalities. A diamond merchant once put it like this: ‘We speak diamond’. The Indian and Jewish communities are the largest community.

Jewish community

After 1492, many Jews escaped Catholic Spain and Portugal. It was especially these Sefardian Jews who brought diamonds to Europe and Antwerp. That is why the Antwerp diamond sector still boasts many Jewish traditions. When selling diamond, buyer and seller shake hands with the words mazal um oevraha, which freely translated, means 'happiness and blessed'.

Indian community

Until 1720 India was the only diamond-producing in the world. Since the 1960s, the Antwerp-Indian community has played an important role in Antwerp. Indian diamond traders saw a new niche in the market: they had very small diamonds, in which other traders were not interested, cut in Antwerp and then sold in Antwerp.

Eating cultures

One of the attractions of the diamond community is its culinary diversity. In the many eateries, you meet and taste a melting pot of cultures. At Hoffy’s for example you'll find traditional Yiddish dishes and kosher cooking. If you love Indian vegetarian food Aahaar is the place to be in Antwerp.