HAND WERPEN = ANTWERPEN

So this is a statue of Silvius Brabo, in the Grote Markt of Antwerp, Belgium. Notice the giant hand he is about to throw into the river Scheldt. Legend has it that a giant named Antigoon set himself up at the bend in the river and levied a heavy toll on all passing shipmasters. If you didn't pay the toll, the giant cut off your hand and threw it in the Scheldt. Finally, along came Brabo, a Roman centurion, who killed the giant, cut off his hand, and threw it in the river. (On the other side of the statue lies the fallen giant, water squirting out of his severed bronze wrist.) Thus the name: Handwerpen (werpen means to throw) which was later changed to Antwerpen. Though Americans call it Antwerp. Now you know.

Of course, there is also the more probable theory that the name Antwerpen derives from the word aanwerp, "an alluvial mound in the River Scheldt." Hardly the stuff of good legend.

I thought they spoke French in Belgium because my friend Tracey served a mission here and spoke French. So imagine my surprise when we arrived in Dutch-speaking Antwerp. Actually, some native Belgians do speak French. Others speak Dutch. Still others German. At least they use the common Euro. Oh, there's the fallen giant right behind Grace's head.