Antwerp is run by a populist extreme right neoliberal party.
They just think the south takes too much advantage ( eg. with 4 million people they have the same voting % in the country as the north with 6 million people).
While the "right" north has to subsidize the "socialist" south for more than 40 years without no improvement at all ( eg. just check the unemployment %)
Highest criminality rates in Belgium are in Brussels, Molenbeek, ... with also, no improvement in the foreseeable future. Station north is a public train station where everyone stays away from ( too dangerous ).
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A9phane_Moreau_(homme_po...
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nethys
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enodia
All financial political scandals are involved with leftisch politicians: Publifin, La Carolorégienne, Anne-Marie Lizin, Michel Daerden, Van Cauwenberghe ( Charleroi), Agusta-Dassault, ...
And last but not last, specific for Brussels: Samusocial where Yvan Mayeur ( the ex-mayor of Brussels) was involved with Fraud and intimidation, with their "non-profit for homeless people", LOL! It's despicable!
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samusocial_Brussels
I'd prefer Antwerp above Brussels every single day of the year.
To give one example:
"Brussels has gone yet further. From May 4, the Belgian capital’s entire city core will be a priority zone for cyclists and pedestrians, one in which cars cannot exceed a speed of 20 kph and must give way in the roads to people on foot or on bikes. This comes on top of an ongoing pedestrianization plan designed to make Brussels’ core a more attractive place for people on foot."
https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2020/04/coronavirus-r...